congratulations! You have been selected as a lead walker!
We want to thank you for volunteering with Camp Reynal this year, as well as offering to help with our lead walker program!
As a lead walker you will be at the horse arena (covered/shaded area) for 10-12 activity periods over the course of the week. You will get to experience all of the campers at camp, not just the ones in your cabin, and connect with them on a more personal level. You will help the Camp John Marc wranglers daily with the horses and leading the horses in the arena when campers are riding...campers do not ride without someone leading the horse. Please plan to bring proper footwear as the area floor is sand. You will be given specific training for this role at camp before campers arrive.
Below are some tips from a fellow counselor and lead walker:
How long have you done both roles?
I’ve done lead walking three different years – including the past two years in a row. 11th year as a counselor.
How you handle being a counselor and lead walker?
Our cabin was pretty proactive, we knew our responsibilities well in advance of camp. So, the head counselor and other counselors aren’t surprised when the lead walkers leave a little early from an activity or don’t join the cabin at swimming. Making sure every cabin counselor is on the same page prior to camp is a huge plus.
What are the challenges and how you handle them?
Bringing the right clothes is nice.
Tall boots, either cowboy boots or rain boots are nice. Tall socks. I would bring one pair of tall
socks for each day.
Giving yourself a couple of minutes to run back to the cabin to change into your socks and boot are nice if you can make it happen. Or, take a backpack with you and pack your socks and boots in your back pack. If your boots are too smelly or dirty, then just rig a system to clip on the outside of your back pack so your boots don’t dirty up the inside of your pack. I used a carabineer and
zip ties.
Another challenge is trying to stay excited and motivated for the activity. I treat it like it may be the campers first time ever on a horse. So, make it special. Even if the Wranglers are doing the exact same routine 4 -5 times a day, don’t ever make it seem like you’re bored.
If a camper is a bit timid. Come up with little questions while you walk with them. Try to distract them a bit:
Best parts of lead walking?
You are out of the sun!!
Having the one-on-one time with other campers that aren’t in your cabin. Let’s you connect on a more personal level and know other campers throughout camp. Now high-fives throughout the week can be given out to others besides the campers from your cabin.
You also get to know the wranglers and other counselors during the Horses activity.
As a lead walker you will be at the horse arena (covered/shaded area) for 10-12 activity periods over the course of the week. You will get to experience all of the campers at camp, not just the ones in your cabin, and connect with them on a more personal level. You will help the Camp John Marc wranglers daily with the horses and leading the horses in the arena when campers are riding...campers do not ride without someone leading the horse. Please plan to bring proper footwear as the area floor is sand. You will be given specific training for this role at camp before campers arrive.
Below are some tips from a fellow counselor and lead walker:
How long have you done both roles?
I’ve done lead walking three different years – including the past two years in a row. 11th year as a counselor.
How you handle being a counselor and lead walker?
Our cabin was pretty proactive, we knew our responsibilities well in advance of camp. So, the head counselor and other counselors aren’t surprised when the lead walkers leave a little early from an activity or don’t join the cabin at swimming. Making sure every cabin counselor is on the same page prior to camp is a huge plus.
What are the challenges and how you handle them?
Bringing the right clothes is nice.
Tall boots, either cowboy boots or rain boots are nice. Tall socks. I would bring one pair of tall
socks for each day.
Giving yourself a couple of minutes to run back to the cabin to change into your socks and boot are nice if you can make it happen. Or, take a backpack with you and pack your socks and boots in your back pack. If your boots are too smelly or dirty, then just rig a system to clip on the outside of your back pack so your boots don’t dirty up the inside of your pack. I used a carabineer and
zip ties.
Another challenge is trying to stay excited and motivated for the activity. I treat it like it may be the campers first time ever on a horse. So, make it special. Even if the Wranglers are doing the exact same routine 4 -5 times a day, don’t ever make it seem like you’re bored.
If a camper is a bit timid. Come up with little questions while you walk with them. Try to distract them a bit:
- What do you think is the horse’s favorite meal?
- If you had a horse, what would you name it?
- If you could paint your horse, what color would you paint it?
- Who is older, you or Patches?
- How many apples do you think it would take for Lefty to eat before he gets full?
- What does a horse sound like? Let me hear you quietly neigh.
Best parts of lead walking?
You are out of the sun!!
Having the one-on-one time with other campers that aren’t in your cabin. Let’s you connect on a more personal level and know other campers throughout camp. Now high-fives throughout the week can be given out to others besides the campers from your cabin.
You also get to know the wranglers and other counselors during the Horses activity.