Summer Programs

there is nothing better than

Summer Camp at High Hopes

Each summer High Hopes is pleased to offer five sessions of an inclusive summer camp. The sessions are designed to meet the needs of our campers’ ages and riding skill levels. Throughout our four-day camp sessions, participants experience grooming, tacking, daily riding lessons, trail rides, gymnastics on horseback, carriage driving, arts and crafts and of course play inclusive team-building GAMES!

All sessions are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Each session enrolls a maximum of 16 participants.

2019 Camp Session Schedules are as follows:

Week 1, June 24 – June 27, 2019
9am – 1pm for ages 3-6

Week 2, July 8 – July 11, 2019
9am – 1pm for ages 7-12

Week 3, July 15 – July 18, 2019
9am – 1pm (3:00pm with extra fee)* for ages 4-12

+++ UPDATE +++ Week 4, July 22 – July 25, 2019
9am – 1pm for ages 3-12

Week 5 July 29 – August 1, 2019
9am – 1pm for ages 7-12

*To be confirmed subject to demand the fee will be $40 (whether for one or four days, cannot be pro-rata).

A number of dedicated camps for different populations are also available during the summer. Scroll for more information.

Community Riding Lessons

Learn to ride at High Hopes

Our program is designed to open up the world of horses to our local community in a safe and fun learning environment.  Our horses are specifically chosen for their good nature, patience and willingness to interact with people.  Our professional staff has received extensive training on safety and the most effective teaching methods to reach all individuals.  Our community lesson programs offer something for all levels of riders from someone who has never ridden to someone who is looking to further their riding and horsemanship skills.

Dates and times will be announced mid-March – register your interest before then with Rachel.

for children of military families entering grades 5 -8

VetKids for Grades 5-8

Children of veterans are a population generally underserved by traditional veterans programs, which tend to focus more on the service member and their spouse or partner. We wanted to create a program that focussed 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. All our participants and many parents commented on how important it was that everyone in the program “was in the same boat,” with shared experiences and shared emotions; something that is not the case in educational settings.

VetKids Camp: August 12 – 15, 2019

Please note that your place at this camp has been significantly subsidized through a donation from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut Foundation.