Child 1 Age 11 - 15 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Horseback Riding/Equestrian
(5) Overall experience
My daughter has been attending horse camps with Wildflower Community Farm for the last 5 years and it is always the highlight of her summer! She is eager to go in the mornings and comes home dirty, tired, grinning and bursting with fun stories from the day. She’s made wonderful friends and has learned a great deal about horses (and the chickens, goats, and other animals). The staff are enthusiastic, funny and well trained to manage a diverse group of children and teens. I cannot recommend this camp enough!!
(5) Reason for choosing the camp
I have 3 kids and amongst them they have gone to dozens and dozens of different summer camps. The Wildflower camps rate at the top of my list! My daughter has always had an interest in horses and other animals, but all of the camps I found were unaffordable, too far away or had such large groups of kids at a time I was worried about safety and how much time the kids would really get with the animals. At Wildflower my daughter was with the same instructor and small group of students each day. They tailored the instruction and activities to the kids skill levels and interests. My daughter was never bored even as her skills increased year to year. She also had a single horse that was “her horse” for the week so she got to bond with and really know the horse.
(5) Program quality and activities
The camp far exceeded my expectations for what my daughter would learn and get to do. The first year I thought she’d learn some very basic skills so I was shocked to see her riding so well at the celebration show at the end of the week. The company owners are incredibly hands-on and work with the staff to develop the program. They also monitor and assess the staff and I’ve seen them hanging out in camps offering support and suggestions (and getting to know the kids!)
(5) Social dynamics and experience
The benefit of the small groups is that the kids get to know each other well very fast. By the end of the first day they’re all yelling goodbye to each other and laughing about things that happened that day. In 5 years I have not seen any bullying or things I would be concerned about. As far as inclusion goes, this camp is hands down the best I have seen. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable about neurodiverse individuals and provide a fabulous environment for youth with learning differences, ADHD, etc. Kids and all treated with great respect and are accommodated in a smooth, seamless way.
(5) Skills and growth
My daughter learned a great deal about horses (handling, grooming, riding, care, food, horse first aid, etc). Just as importantly, social skills development was weaved into each day so that she was learning to be a more accepting and kind person. She also got to experience farm life - being outside all day, moving between barns, arenas and pastures, seeing where and how horses live. My daughter came home exhausted and grinning everyday. She often napped on the way home which she hasn’t done since pre-school!
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The staff are welcoming, accessible and kind. This isn’t a drop off like a big camp where you slow down and your kid hops out and you drive off. You can park, walk your child in and say hello to everyone. You can see the barn and arena they hang out in. You see the horses in the pastures and your child can introduce you to “their horse”. The owners are experts in the equine field and their passion for horses and kids comes shining through.
(5) Advice and tips
My advice would be don’t just think of this as a camp for kids who love horses and want to ride. This is a camp for anyone who likes, or has an interest in animals. The kids spend the majority of the day with the horses, but they also hang out with the goats, check to see if the chickens have laid eggs, play games, have water fights, etc. In our high tech world it’s nice to provide our kids with an opportunity to go offline and be in the beautiful outdoors for a week. The property is gorgeous, animals are everywhere you look and if the length of the drive is a turn off don’t let it be—it is well worth it!!
Our experience with our daughter at Wildflower has been so helpful in building our daughter’s confidence. Our daughter has struggled in regular school and sport programs. The instructors at Wildflow...
My daughter attended the week-long, overnight Explorers Camp at Wildflower Community Farm last summer and it was hands down the best camp she has ever been to. She came home a more peaceful, confident...
