Summer Camp
Equine Assisted Services
A Summer Your Child Won't Forget
Our programs bring together children with and without disabilities and offers a chance to participate in riding and many other equine-related activities. Participants learn tolerance, compassion and respect for differences while improving their horsemanship skills.
While registration is now closed for Summer Camp, it is still open for our VetKids Camp. Please see below for information and the registration form.
Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all camps are subject to change according to direction by the CDC or the Connecticut Governor’s Office.
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for children of military families and first responders
VetKids for ages 8-13
Children of Veterans, active service members and first responders are a population generally underserved by traditional programs, which tend to focus more on the service member and their spouse or partner. The children of first responders and frontline workers face many similar uncertainties in their daily lives, particularly during this pandemic.
High Hopes created a program that focused on character building, emotional regulation, team building, and communications. While some of the participants had ridden before; none had experienced the learning, confidence building, and self-esteem that can come from caring for and working with a horse in the barn.
The bond participants developed with their horses provided a low-key and trusting environment in which they could share their experiences of parents being deployed, or returning from deployment, responding to a crisis call, or returning from one.
All our participants and many parents commented on how important it was that everyone in the program “was in the same boat,” with similar experiences and shared emotions; something that is not the case in educational settings.
VetKids Camp: August 8 – 11, 9:00 am to 12:30 p.m.
Please note that all of our camps are subject to change according to direction by the CDC and the OEC.
Your place at this camp has been significantly subsidized through a donation from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation.
there is nothing better than
Summer Camp at High Hopes
Each summer High Hopes is pleased to offer five sessions of an inclusive summer horse camp. The sessions are designed to meet the needs of our campers’ ages and riding skill levels. Throughout our four-day camp sessions, participants will experience grooming, tacking, daily riding lessons, trail rides, carriage driving, arts and crafts, and more! All activities are conducted in age-appropriate groups. Registration forms and either a nonrefundable deposit of $50 or full payment of $425 is required to hold your child’s place within your select week of summer camp.
Registration for Summer Camp is now closed. Please join our mailing list at the bottom of this page if you wish to be notified of when registration opens for Summer 2023.
All sessions are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Session enrollment maximums will depend on state health guidelines.
2022 Camp Sessions are as follows:
Week 1: June 27 – June 30 (8-13 years old) – FULL
Week 2: July 11 – July 14 (4-7 years old) – FULL
Week 3: July 18 – July 21 (5-13 years old) – FULL
Week 4: July 25 – July 28 (4-7 years old) – FULL
Week 5: August 1 – August 4 (8-13 years old) – FULL
A number of dedicated camps for different populations and interest groups are also available during the summer. Scroll for more information.
responsibility and leadership
Horse Sense for Grades 5-8
This camp focuses on at-risk youth populations and focuses on community and self-development rather than horseback riding skills. The four-day camp includes daily interaction with our horses as well as team-building and communication activities to increase self-confidence, responsibility and leadership potential. This camp serves youth from New London.
Horse Sense Camp: August 15 – 18, 2022, 9:00 am to 12:30 p.m.
Horse Sense Program is offered in conjunction with these wonderful sponsors:
Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation
The R.S. Gernon Trust
James P Shea and Mary E Shea Perpetual Trust
for children with sensory differences and autism
Immersion and My Horse and Me
“Immersion” and “My Horse and Me” are sensory-rich Equine Assisted Services. These programs are collaborations between High Hopes’ highly qualified and experienced Therapeutic Riding Instructors, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Pathologists from Yale New Haven Health Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. A referral is through the L+M pediatric team.
Immersion Camp: June 20 to June 23
My Horse and Me: July 5 to July 7
Forms for Summer Program Participants
Funding, Licensing and Accreditation Partners
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Horses and Humans Improving Lives
The people who come to High Hopes represent all ages & backgrounds.The majority of our participants are between the ages of 3 and 14, some are in their 70’s. Most participants have varying degrees of cognitive, physical, behavioral, psychological or sensory disabilities.
About UsSupporting High Hopes
Your contribution will support our riding program and ensure the ongoing sustainability of our operations, including care of our horses and scholarship support to financially disadvantaged participants.
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High Hopes Therapeutic Riding is located at 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT.
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