Fall Horse Program at Camp Maripai

Camp Maripai in Prescott, Arizona is offering horsemanship programs every day from August 6th, 2010 through October 30th, 2010!  Check out our program offerings below. If you are interested in participating or have questions please contact Tara Ervin at 602-452-7145 or by e-mail at taraervin@girlscoutsaz.org.

Total Horsemanship Program

Camp Maripai provides a 2-hour "total horsemanship" program for registered Girl Scouts on Saturdays and Sundays which includes 1 hour of un-mounted topics such as horse behavior, breeds of horses, or horse care, in addition to 1 hour of riding instruction. Girls may be provided the opportunity to lope only after successful participation in a walk/trot program or lesson.

Trail rides are also available for girls who have previously participated in an arena lesson at Camp Maripai or have equivalent experience. Trail rides will be walk only and because of the time required to adjust stirrups and ensure that all riders can control their horse before leaving the arena, the actual time spent out on the trail is approximately 45 minutes.

Fee: $30/person
Grades:
Participation for arena lessons is limited to girls in 2-12th grade.
Participation for trail rides is limited to girls 4-12th grade.
Times: Weekend sessions are offered Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm
Capacity:
Arena Lessons- 10 riders/hour
Trail Rides- 8 riders/hour
Registration Opens March 15th, 2010

Just for Daisies! (K-1st grade)

Enjoy a short orientation on safety followed by an introductory ride (up to 1 hour) in our arena. An adult must accompany each rider and be able to walk next to and lead the horse. Adults will not ride in this program.
Fee: $25/person
Grades: Kindergarten -1st
Times: Weekend sessions are offered Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, and 3:00pm
Capacity: 8 girls per hour
Registration Opens March 15th, 2010

Girl Volunteer Opportunities

Do you have a daughter or a troop that loves horses? Girls can come spend time hanging out with our horses while learning what it takes to keep up with their care! Girls can clean and polish tack, groom horses, shovel manure, fill water troughs, and help out with other important "barn chores".
Fee: FREE
Grades: 4-12
Times: Weekdays after school
Please call to schedule volunteer opportunities

Weekend Horse Program for Encampments

If your neighborhood has a currently scheduled weekend encampment at Maripai in September or October, we would be happy to offer horse programming to your troop or group. Please note that girls will have priority and adults will only ride if youth spaces are not filled. Please contact your encampment director for more information about horse program opportunities. If your encampment is choosing not to participate in horse program but your troop would still like to participate, we would be happy to coordinate with your encampment and shcedule your troop.

Weekday Riding Lessons & Trail Rides

Riding Lessons

Lessons will last approximately 1.5 hours (1 hour mounted). Students prepare (grooming and saddling) their horse for each lesson and these skills are taught in your first lessons. After lessons, students are required to untack their horse and prepare it for turnout. Currently, we are able to offer beginning and intermediate Western lessons and beginning English lessons.

Grades: 2-12 and adults
Group Lessons (up to 4 riders): $30/per person
Private Lessons: $40/ per person
Registration: Opens February 1st, 2010

Weekday Trail Rides

Group trail rides are available on weekdays for $30/person per hour. Trail rides are only avilable for riders who have previously participated in an arena lesson at Camp Maripai or have equivalent experience. Trail rides are walk only. We can accommodate 3-7 riders at a time, please call Tara Ervin at 602-452-7145 to schedule your troop or group.
Grades: 4-12 and adults
Group Trail Rides (up to 8 riders): $30/person per hour

Additional Information

Required Dress

Long pants and socks must be worn. Participants should also wear a bandana to help maintain the cleanliness of our helmets. Shirts with sleeves are recommended for trail rides. Shoes or boots with at least a 1/4 inch heel and smooth soles are required, however a limited supply of loaner boots are available at camp. We do NOT permit sneakers, sandals, or fashion boots. Riding helmets are provided for all riders.

Supervision:

Leaders/parents in SafetyWise ratio must stay at the riding arena while girls participate in riding activities. Tagalongs/Siblings are not permitted on site. Our fall horse program is directed by a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Level 2 English & Western certified staff member and all riding staff and volunteers complete an application, background check, and training.

Cancellations

If you are unable to attend a program, you must notify the camp in writing at least 7 business days prior to the program date to avoid being held financially responsible. If you have cancelled at least 7 business days prior to the event, you will recieve a refund for the total amount paid for that event.

On rare occasions we must cancel program due to unforeseen circumstances including weather (primarily monsoons), volunteer availability, and horse injury or illness. We will try to communicate cancellations with as much advance notice as possible, however in the time that it takes you to travel to camp a storm can move in on an otherwise perfect day and force us to cancel program. If this occurs we will refund your program fees and offer a complimentary 1-hour indoor educational program related to horses.

Equine Waiver (pdf file)

Waiver must be signed by every rider or a parent/guardian if the rider is under 18 years of age.

Contact

Tara Ervin, Program Executive and Maripai Camp Director
Certified Horsemanship Association Level 2 English and Western Instructor
Heart Saver First Aid/CPR Certified.

Become a Volunteer Riding Instructor or Trail Guide!

We are seeking adults with extensive horse experience to instruct arena lessons, instruct ground/unmounted lessons, assist riding instructors with lessons, lead & drag trail rides, groom and tack horses, work horses during the week, and assist with general care of horses. Current First Aid/CPR certification is preferred. Weekend accomodation for volunteers is available at no cost.

E-mail taraervin@girlscoutsaz.org for more information. Or to complete a volunteer application please visit http://www.girlscoutsaz.org/join-us/become-a-volunteer/