Leaving their Legacy
Yesterday was our final full day of activities, and it was packed! Our horseback riders used the final day as an opportunity to showcase their talents in the ring, much to the enjoyment of their friends and counselors who came to spectate. One of our campers, Walker L., took on most of the planning and work to make sure the Horse Show was spectacular. As a Warrior in horseback, the barn staff supported his enthusiasm about planning and setting up the show. He made the announcements in the Dining Hall about signing up to watch, planned the route of each course in the ring, and helped set up the jumps and poles. He did a great job, and Mary, the head of the barn, was singing his praises!
In the morning, the beginner riders had their turn to showcase what they had been working on. The horse show took place in the upper riding ring, right next to the amphitheater where we often enjoy sunset s’mores. Being at the highest point on that side of camp, against the backdrop of the blue ridge mountains, makes for a beautiful setting to ride in. There were four boys in the initial part of the horse show: Gage rode Checkmate, Oliver rode Chico, Amari rode Pharaoh, and Ben rode Buckwheat. They navigated their horses through a series of poles on the ground, showing their confidence and control while riding.
As she went to present the results, Madalyn told the riders how proud they were of them, not just for the horse show, but for their improvement and skill over the whole session. For the results, Gabe was 4th, Oliver was 3rd, Amari was 2nd, and Ben was 1st. The four boys and their horses posed for a photograph together, and Ben told the horseback staff, “Well you guys taught us all this so you should be in the photo too!”
As they walked their horses back to the barn, I noticed that Pharoah’s mane had been impressively styled by Amari, who must have taken great care in grooming his horse before the show. I asked Gabe what the best part was - “everything,” he smiled, “horseback is my favorite activity.”
That afternoon, everyone returned to the barn for the intermediate and advanced horse show rounds. There were dozens of spectators sitting on the grassy hill, enjoying the show. The small crowd included cabin mates and friends, as well as counselors, nurses, and Yates and Marisa. The riders and horses were busy warming up in the ring, and their friends were excitedly whispering, preparing for the show to begin. “Just wait until they start jumping, it’s crazy,” one boy told his friend.
The intermediate group was Sam E. riding Joker, Julian riding Buckwheat, Ransom riding Pharoah, Jazzy riding Stewie, and Marshall riding Kosmo. They trotted, cantered, and even went over some small cross-pole jumps. In the end, Ransom was first place for his great display of horsemanship. As the intermediate riders exited the ring, they high-fived and shared words of encouragement with each other, before joining the spectators to watch the final round.
The advanced riders would be navigating a 10 jump course, as well as trotting and cantering on different leads. They cheered each other on between turns, and everyone watched quietly and respectfully as each rider had their chance in the ring. Walter rode Chance, Jacob B. rode Kosmo, Edison rode HT, Samuel rode Cruz, Walker rode Quincy, and Mike rode Joker. It was impressive to see the horses leap over the jumps, guided effortlessly by their riders. Everyone had strong rides, and we were glad that the campers put themselves out there so we could watch them ride. The top three riders in the advanced group were Jacob in 3rd, Walter in 2nd, and Samuel in 1st. We’re proud of them all!
Also during the afternoon, a group of boys was helping Yates and Zeb with a legacy project: building a new trail from the lower lake to the orchard. The trail will be the quickest way out to Smith Pond and the base of the orchard, instead of taking the gravel road around like we do now. Eventually, the trail will be built up the side of the orchard hill, becoming the fastest and most direct route to the “top of the world” view. This new trail is called “Blue View Trail,” since it will go up to the great view of the blue ridge mountains and blue sky. Thanks to the help of the campers today and staff throughout the summer, the initial clearing of the trail is almost finished!
I walked down the new trail, still spongy from the freshly moved dirt and loam, and smelling nice and earthy in the afternoon sun. I found the trail crew a little ways down, each with a tool in their hands, working away. They were trying to decide which way would be best to have the trail go around a tree, working with clippers, macleods, and hoes. I could hear Yates up ahead with the chainsaw, clearing the larger branches and logs. It was tough work, and I asked them why they had chosen to sign up for this. “It just seemed like something fun and different to do,” Tate shrugged. “I’d love to be able to work here in the off-season like this,” Ryan added, “It would be fun to just come here and do a bunch of projects.” We’ve found that boys love having the chance to use tools to build or repair things around camp, which is mutually beneficial since we love the help they bring to our projects.
As we wrapped up the trail work and got ready for free choice period, the boys were talking about how exciting it was to be a part of something that would be around at camp forever. The new Blue View trail will be enjoyed for years to come once it’s complete, and having that kind of impact with a camp project feels very rewarding. However, I don’t think the campers realize that just by being at camp they were already leaving their lasting impact. Without the people, Falling Creek is just a pretty place. When these campers think back on this session in the future, they’ll remember the impact of the friendships and connections they made forever. We’re grateful for what each individual has brought to our community this summer, and how they added to the continuing history of Falling Creek with their presence. Today is our final day, and it’s sure to be a celebration of all the friendships and accomplishments we’ve made in this past month!