“Camp Farwell is where girls shine”
27 Day Equestrian Summer Camp for Girls in Newbury, Vermont, USA
Camp Farwell, 421 Camp Farwell Drive, Newbury, Orange, Vermont, USA
USA Horseback Riding Camp for Girls
The Camp Farwell horseback riding program offers the highest level of instruction in the camping profession. Your classes and activities are crafted for all abilities and interest levels.
Key information
- Tack Type: English tack
- Horse Breed: American Quarter Horse
Meet the instructors
Tish
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Highlights
- 20 days of activities
- Weekly horse riding sessions
- Approximate daily riding time: 1 hour
- Living in the middle of nature in a family-like environment
- Learning new skills and chose from the wide variety of activities offered
- 26 nights accommodation
- All meals
Skill level
- Beginner
Styles
20 days with instruction
Accommodation
Campers live in a cabin that has wooden bunk beds and wooden drawers for clothing, etc. There is a half bath attached to each cabin for nighttime use. Each cabin typically has four to six campers and two counselors living in it. The log cabins have screened windows, doors, and electric lights. Each cabin has its own toilet and sink. Additional toilets and showers are in adjacent buildings.
Program
For many campers, horseback riding is just one of many activities they participate in each day. However, for campers with a keener interest in riding, they have the option to participate in more than one period of horseback riding as well as other activities offered by the equestrian center. And for those “horse-crazy” campers who are absolutely passionate about horseback riding and horses, they can elect to spend their full day up at the equestrian center involved in both horseback riding and other horse-related activities.
Farwell’s horseback riding program is structured to meet the interests and needs of all its campers. Whether you want to have your first up-close and personal experience with horses this summer, just want to take some casual lessons, or you are a barn baby through and through and want to spend your entire day at the barn, you will find everything you are looking for at Camp Farwell.
Beginning riders receive an hour lesson, and approximately half the time will be spent on horseback. They find that beginner riders tire more quickly while on the horse, and half an hour is a good amount of time to be on horseback. The remaining half hour is spent in the lesson, learning to become comfortable and confident around horses. Beginning riders receive one 30-minute semi-private lesson in five periods per week.
Skill levels
The four main groups of horseback riding abilities are cougar, jaguar, tiger, and lion. Each of these is further broken into two or three levels each containing a skill set. Campers have the opportunity to pass their levels and move on to the next level each week, or sooner if indicated. Each level is mastered by accomplishing specific basic objectives. However, the goal of the riding program is to help campers develop not only good skills but also the confidence to go along with their new skills.
As campers move from one level of the horseback program to another, it is important that the riding staff feels the camper is ready to move on to that next level, but even more important that the camper herself feels comfortable and confident to move forward.
The best horseback riding program in all of camping
- Girls ride five days a week Monday to Friday
- Ring lessons offered in one of the four riding arenas
- Trail rides in the beautiful green mountains of Vermont (they also have a hunt field for more advanced riders)
- Nine distinct levels of instruction
- Classes offered in stable skills, horse theory, and vaulting
- Small riding classes of up to four girls
- Private lessons are available at an additional cost
Other activities
The activity program is an elective one. The only requirement is that beginning swimmers take swimming lessons. Now is the time for your daughter to perhaps try something completely new in a supportive, family-type environment. The activity program includes horseback riding, vaulting, and other horse-related activities, swimming, sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, water skiing, gymnastics, tennis, land sports such as soccer, volleyball, etc., arts and crafts, drama, dance, photography, and photo processing, camping, hiking trips, and more.
While they have an extensive activity program for the campers to select from, they firmly believe that the process of learning a new skill is more important than the skill itself. Most of the activities are open to all campers, however, some activities such as boating have swimming skill prerequisites.
Why Camp Farwell?
- Farwell is the place where girls can learn, play, practice, and rehearse for what comes next in their lives.
- Farwell is the first and oldest girls' camp in the United States (maybe the world!). Founded in 1889, Farwell has been continuously running for 131 years. The campers are part of their legacy.
- Girls Empowerment Program woven into the fabric of everyday camp life: shine
- Family-owned and run since 1978 - the Hansons have over 100 years of combined camping experience.
- One of the lowest camper-to-staff ratios in all of the camping - less than 2.5:1
- Completely elective (but accountable) activity program - your daughter only participates in the activities she selects
- Diverse community with campers from all over the US and world (15 percent come from abroad). They celebrate their differences and host special “International Days” throughout the summer.
- Traditional camping program that promotes a “can do” attitude to enhance girls’ self-confidence
- Safe location - they are physically located at the end of a one-way private road and they are the only summer camp on Halls Lake. They know all of their neighbors very well and have many local friends. Only 20 minutes to the closest hospital and 50 minutes to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital.
- Management team is second to none (with over 130 years of camping experience and leadership at Farwell)
- Open communication policy - parents can call/email/text/WhatsApp Marley at any time to see how their daughter is doing. All parents are provided with Marley’s personal cell phone number on the opening day of camp. Parents can even check in on the first night. After one week at Camp Farwell, campers can call home with camp-provided cell phones. There is no cost for this service to you or your child.
- Advanced three-year counselor-in-training and leadership program offering certifications in First Aid and ARC Life Guarding. Additionally, Marley provides summer and yearlong college admission counseling, drawing on her years of experience as a college admissions counselor at Simmons College.
- Housing: the campers live in solid log cabins each with a flush toilet and sink for nighttime use.
Instructors
Tish
Tish has experience as a horseback riding counselor, and will be overseeing the equestrian center at the camp.
Location
Camp Farwell, a Vermont, New England sleepaway summer camp for girls, has been a special place for its campers since 1889. Situated in the Green Mountain State on Halls Lake, this magnificent 100-acre site offers a wonderful location for a rich variety of activities - from horseback riding to water sports, from music and dance to team endeavors and individual pursuits. If there were three ingredients that could be said to form each girl’s Camp Farwell experience, they would be friendship, community spirit, and a warm family environment.
At the heart of the Camp Farwell experience is an underlying belief in the importance of personal growth, self-confidence, and an appreciation for nature’s beauty. Camp Farwell has thrived as a New England overnight summer camp for girls for over 130 years and through each summer the camp has continued to draw enthusiastic campers returning for their second or fifth season, new campers who leave with a heightened sense of beauty and friendship, and a dedicated staff who love the work they do and respect the role that Camp Farwell plays in the campers’ lives.
Distances
- Boston, 3 hours
- Montreal, 3 hours
- Hartford, over 3 hours
- Fairfield County, 4.5 hours
- Westchester County, 5 hours
- New York City, 6 hours
- Philadelphia, 8 hours
- Washington DC, 10 hours
Food
Three daily meals are included in the price. The dining room is centrally located in the Main Lodge and overlooks the waterfront. Meals are served cafeteria-style in one sitting with campers proceeding through the serving area by table groups.
Now, about the food. Farwell’s population consists of approximately 120 girls aged from six to 17 and approximately 65 staff members - from college age to maturity. The geographic spectrum of the population is as varied as the age range. The campers and staff come from throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
As you can imagine, trying to please the taste buds of such a diverse group can be difficult, but they manage to do this with flying colors throughout the summer. In fact, in past years’ "Parent to Camper Questionnaires", the quality of the meals are consistently rated excellent.
Meals are kept simple. Not basic, but prepared in a simple manner and a healthy style. They serve food that children like to eat. A fresh fruit bowl every morning (oranges, apples, bananas, grapes, melon), cold and hot cereal, yogurt, and a hot item (fresh-baked coffee cake, eggs, breakfast sandwich, etc.).
Lunch is the major meal of the day. The entree is a hot item accompanied by a salad bar with a large assortment of ingredients and toppings. Traditional sides and Farwell’s famous home-baked rolls round out the main meal. Dessert at this meal is usually sweet of some kind.
The evening meal is a somewhat lighter meal than lunch, but still a substantial offering that includes the salad bar. A sampling from this past summer’s suppers included tacos, make-your-own-subs, chicken patty sandwiches, traditional Friday night pizza, and Sunday evening cookouts.
Dessert at this meal is usually fruit. Milk, a variety of juices, and water are served at all meals. Hot chocolate is available on cooler mornings.
Food allergies and sensitivities are a real concern and in some cases, life-threatening. Therefore, the camp staff asks that no food or beverage be brought or sent to the camp. Chewing gum, also, is not permitted (the bottom of the tables, shoes, and the pets’ fur are surprisingly free of sticky blobs).
The camp serves three substantial meals a day and also a morning and afternoon snack break. In addition, campers who take part in the culinary arts program get to enjoy their creations.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Private lessons are available (but limited) in horseback riding, tennis, and swimming. Please ask Camp Farwell for more information.
What's included
- Horseback riding lessons (depending on the packages you choose)
- Camp tuition and access to a variety of camp activities
- 26 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
What's not included
- Any personal items campers may need
- Transportation
- Additional tuition charge for international campers (350 USD)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
BOS
Logan International Airport
211 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Logan International Airport (BOS). Transfer from and to the airport is included for international campers only. Camp Farwell will pick you up from the airport. For USA-based campers, transfers can be arranged at an extra cost. Please know that Camp Farwell does work with a private transportation company that can bring campers from Boston Logan to camp for an additional fee. For more information, please send an inquiry.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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