WESTLOCK – School‘s out for the summer and kids may be enjoying their carefree, lazy summer days but there’s one learning program that may get them off the couch.
Paradise Acres Ranch in Sturgeon County, which is holding summer horse camps, has opened spots for youth in Westlock and area.
“We take all-ages half-day camps for younger kids and we do full-day camps for ages eight to 16,” said Jocelyn LaCoste. “We take all abilities as well. Neurodivergent we work with everybody.”
The horse camps teach horseback riding, and horse care, as well as arts and crafts with a horse theme. There are plenty of games and activities.
“We have a therapy aspect involved as well,” said LaCoste. “These kids are learning communication, verbally non-verbally trust, relationship building leadership, big focus on learning those skills through partnering with horses.”
The summer horse camps help youth gain confidence in themselves.
“We have some that come in and have never seen horses,” said LaCoste. “It’s a confidence builder. We are very focused on building that confidence and developing those skills to build yourself up and utilizing your support system to do that.
“We do trust building exercises where kids are on a horse and their eyes are closed and there’s a leader on the ground that is taking them through an obstacle course, so they are building those connections and trusting pieces. Not only with the horse but with the person on the ground.”
One youth, whose confidence increased after horse camp, said, “"I feel so brave. Getting on a horse gave me so much confidence. I feel so proud of myself.”
Another youth said, "They are so kind and full of love. I just love horses so much."
The well-trained and certified coaches help youth and LaCoste said the biggest thing they want youth to take away from the horse camp experience is the love and partnership with horses.
“These kids come away with a whole new meaning to what the horses are,” she said. “The kids aren’t just here riding they are learning about connection. We can build trust and relationships with these amazing, magnificent animals. I feel like that is a really big piece that these kids take away, the beauty of what these horses can give to us.”
From their experience, one youth shared, “"We are so connected. I can't believe I can communicate with a horse with my energy."
Paradise Ranch has a wide range of horses, from miniature horses and donkeys to Quarter Horses and Morgans. For more information on how to enroll your child, call 780-217-6434 or email them at [email protected].
