2014 Orange County Fair Auction

I wanted to take a minute to thank the numerous people who had a hand in making last nights auction a huge success for us. We could not have done it without every single persons contribution!

First, I would like to thank the individuals who made the auction piece possible.Vickie Gibson for donating the wonderful painting titled "TACO." Steve Racer of Racer Custom Cabinets in Orange, VA for making and donating the beautiful frame. Patti Harlow for the framing and matting of the painting. Bill Lee for the donation of the mat. Also Ed's Awards and Engraving in Culpeper for making the plate on such short notice.

Next, a huge thank you to Stacy Burleson, Susan Hanner, Jessica Harlow, Amy, Emily and William Fitch, Patti Harlow, Cole Ryder, Renee Bourke, Emily Shifflett, Kane and Victoria Breeding, Sydney and Melissa White and Alexis Leman and Kristen Leman for coming out to the auction to walk our painting through.

I would also like to thank Amanda Settle and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce for the publicity they have given to the auction piece and TACO. Also, Gibson Auction Co for the great introduction of TACO at the auction.

Last but not least, a huge thank you to our bidders, Janie Latham and the Lake of the Woods community, Ralph Short of Wealth Preservers Inc, and our winning bidder Tony Wilson of Wilson Auction Co. I apologize if I missed someone else that bid on the painting.

We would also like to thank Jim and Carolyn Miller for their generous donation to TACO at the auction last night! 

This has been our most successful auction piece to date!! In total, we raised $1,200 last night which will go towards purchasing items for our 2014 Summer Camp. Thank you to all of you for your support and making the auction a huge success for us.

Orange County Fair Auction Piece

2014 Summer Wish List

June News Letter

Volunteer Advertisement

Please take a moment to view the volunteer presentation online: Volunteer Prezi  

Volunteers Wanted!

Southern States SHOW Program **Triple Crown, Legends, and Southern States feed proof of purchases needed!**

Summer Camp Registration

Summer camp volunteer sign up is now available!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1vw6Mf1fQ_ZlWuT_1zAtlL8L6SKn3tdUQYHaHuMQuwEg/viewform

Sign up is now available for campers for summer camp!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oFgShTsM0Q91IOc-qZ2vV4MD-jVkcohhsW1fI2rr3Ao/viewform

2014 TACO Summer Camp Wish List

Here is a general wish list for 2014 Summer Camp (it does not include parade items!)

**None of the items need to be new!! We would prefer used items that you can’t use anymore**
I will post any items that TACO would like for our 2014 Summer Camp in this document. The items posted will be used in arts and crafts, horse education, or the riding area! This will be an on-going list that will be updated as we decided on specific activities for camp.

I will also update the list when the items have been donated!

The hopes with this list is we can save some money by using donated/used items that people have around their house.

TACO’s 2014 Wish List

**None of the items need to be new!! We would prefer used items that you can’t use anymore**

 I will post any items that TACO would like for our 2014 Summer Camp in this document. The items posted will be used in arts and crafts, horse education, or the riding area! This will be an on-going list that will be updated as we decided on specific activities for camp.

I will also update the list when the items have been donated!

 The hopes with this list is we can save some money by using donated/used items that people have around their house J

Item	To be used for…
Button Up shirts	to be used as smocks in arts and crafts
Pairs of colorful socks	Campers will play a game matching different pairs of socks
Small stuffed animals	Campers will play a game “saving the animals” on the trail
Paint brushes	Arts and Crafts

Orange Firemen's Parade- TACO FLOAT!

The Orange Volunteer Firemen's Parade will be held Thursday, June 5. Line up is at approximately 5:30 pm. We will have more information about line up positions and meeting times closer to the parade!

If you would like to join us for the parade, please complete the sign up below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15Z06bExurUwYRV6eAYPorETM9sbcPX0njjg80iFzMC0/viewform

Our theme will be Hawaiian Luau! 

I will send out more information as I receive it.

At this time, the committee plans to meet again on Friday, May 30 to assemble any decorations that we can ahead of time. We would like if possible, to have all donations in by Thursday, May 29 so we know what we have. We will be shopping for any additional supplies needed Saturday, May 31.

You can drop supplies off at the Orange County Extension Office, at PHMS they can be given to Jessica Harlow, at OCHS they can be given to Renee Almondand at LGMS they can be given to Amber Thomas.

We will contact everyone with a time to meet for the parade and where we will be meeting closer to the date of the parade. We would like everyone to wear their TACO Shirt (any year, we'd like a mix of the past year's t-shirts) and a lea!

If you have any other decorations that will go along with our theme that we have not thought of, please feel free to bring them also!

Our wishlist for supplies needed in decorating our float is below! Please contact me if you are able to donate any of the items below! 

2014 TACO Firemen’s Parade Wish List

Skirt Around Trailer	60 ft. grass table cloths/ grass skirts **
	60 ft. lea garland/leas **
Props for volunteers/campers	Approximately 12 “fishing poles” (sticks with line)
	Approximately 12 blow up fish
	Coconut Cups (approximately 15)
	Leas  (approximately 25) **
	Ukuleles (fake) 3-5
	Beach Balls
Center of Trailer Decoration	Sticks (for fire)
	Inflatable pig (for a pig on a stick over fire) **
	Folding bagged chairs (max. 5) **
	Bamboo (approximately 12 pieces) **
	Palm Trees
TACO Cardboard letters	Cardboard for letters
	Leas to cover card board letters **
Rainbow Garland	Staples
	Paper
	String
Misc. Supplies	Zip-ties
	String
	Wire

TACO May News Letter

Button down shirts *wanted*

TACO is looking for some large button down short sleeve shirts to use as smocks for arts and crafts this summer! If you are cleaning out your closet and looking to get rid of some, please let me know!!

Raising awareness of TACO with in the community

When I started thinking of ways we could improve TACO in 2014, the main goal I have for this year is to raise the awareness of TACO within our community and schools!

On April 2nd I had the pleasure of doing a presentation for the Orange County Rotary Club. 

Today I had the pleasure of presenting TACO the special education teachers in Orange County! 

I would like to thank both of these organizations for allowing me the time to speak with them about TACO. Both experiences were fantastic and I was able to meet a lot of very helpful and interested people!

I also attended the Orange County Chamber of Commerce banquet last week and was able to speak with many community members about TACO. 

TACO has also joined the Chamber of Commerce this year in hopes of raising the awareness!

Thank you to everyone who has made this possible! 

Horse Education Activities Wanted!!

 We are looking for horse education activities for our upcoming camps! We would like to find activities  that special education students can participate in but that are "in depth" and time consuming also. We would love very interactive activities that can help the students learn about horses and also allow them to interact with horses and peers. 

If you think about any great interactive activities to learn about horses please send them our way so we can take a look and see if they would work for our campers!

Past examples of our horse education lessons have been: finger painting body parts of the horse, grooming, learning about tack, breeds, disciplines, markings and colorings. 

We appreciate any ideas that are submitted to us, because it eases our workload :)

Craft ideas wanted

Are you a "Pinterest-er??" We are looking for craft ideas for our upcoming camps! We would like to find crafts that special education students can participate in but that are "in depth" and time consuming also. We would like crafts that can be kept as keepsakes and are not overly costly.

So, if you come across some great craft ideas please send them our way so we can take a look and see if they would work for our campers!

We appreciate any ideas that are submitted to us, because it eases our workload :)

Auction Piece Ideas

Every year the 4-H Therapeuctic Adventure Camp of Orange (TACO) puts a piece into the Orange County Fair Auction to raise money for camp.

In the past we have done a wall quilt with campers art work. However last year the interest in the wall hanging quit declined. We are now looking for new ideas for an auction piece! We would prefer that it be something the campers can make or help make.

If you have any ideas we would appreciate everyone's input. 

Entertainment ideas wanted!

We are starting to look at entertainment ideas for our summer camp, and we would love to have suggestions!

In the past we have had entertainments such as: fire deportment, rescue squad, K9 demonstrations, SWAT team demonstrations, pony/hors cart rides, motorcycle rides, jumping demonstrations, cattle working demonstrations and singers.

If you have any ideas for future entertainment ideas, we would appreciate your input! We would like to incorporate new entertainments each year.  

Arts and Crafts Leader Needed

The 4H Therapeutic Adventure Camp of Orange is looking for a volunteer to lead our arts and crafts station at camp.


Responsibilities include:

• Helping to plan and prepare daily craft activities
• Setting up the craft station each morning
• Cleaning up the craft station after camp each day
• Assisting campers with making crafts
• Assisting other craft volunteers with helping campers
• You will have three groups of approximately five students each

Volunteer Requirements:

• Available August 4-8, 2014 from 7:45 am to 12:30 pm
• At least 16 years of age
• Have an interest in arts and crafts activities  
• Attend a training session and committee interview
• Meet with committee prior to camp to plan arts and crafts activities
• Experience working with children (preferred)

Past examples of our arts and crafts activities have been: making stepping stones, painting sea shells, making key chains, decorating horse shoes, making picture frames, and MANY other activities!

If you are interested in applying for this position or would like more information please contact Jessica Harlow at (540)308-0433 or 4HTACO@gmail.com.

Horse Education Leader Needed

The 4H Therapeutic Adventure Camp of Orange is looking for an adult to teach our horse education session at camp.


Responsibilities include:

• Helping to prepare daily lesson
• Setting up horse education station prior to camp each morning
• Cleaning up the horse education station after camp each day
• teaching three groups of approximately five students each

Volunteer Requirements:

• Available August 4-8, 2014 from 7:45 am to 12:30 pm
• At least 18 years of age
• Have at least 5 years horse experience
• Attend a training session and committee interview
• Meet with committee prior to camp to plan horse education lessons
• Safe ground handing practices with horses 
• Experience working with children (preferred)

Past examples of our horse education lessons have been: finger painting body parts of the horse, grooming, learning about tack, breeds, disciplines, markings and colorings.

If you are interested in applying for this position or would like more information please contact Jessica Harlow at (540)308-0433 or 4HTACO@gmail.com.

TACO is looking for back-up camp horse prospects!

Currently the Therapeutic Adventure Camp of Orange has enough horses for our 2014 Summer Camp. However, as all horse people know, horses have their own plans and often decide to get hurt at the most inconvenient time! Therefore, in hopes of prevent future panics of trying to find a suitable horse at the last minute, if a horse comes up lame the week of camp, we would like to have a list of potential camp horse prospects.

There will be two purposes for this “back up” list. We will keep the list up to date in case any of our normal camp horses decide to get hurt right before camp and we need an “emergency backup.”  In addition, we will use this list if we have a camp horse that is retired or that isn’t available for the week due to owner’s vacation etc.
 

The potential camp horse prospects must be "bomb proof," able to handle children with little riding experience, and special needs.

All horses will have a handler (preferably the owner if available, if not an experienced handler, that has been approved by myself and the instructor) and have 2 side walkers with each rider.

Riders will walk/trot only, walk over poles and small "jumps", move objects (small diving rings) from jump standards, and remove objects (sand toys) from various locations in the ring. The camp is held in an indoor ring with open sides. 

All horses must pass an evaluation given by the instructor and myself. 

We are looking especially for horses in the 14 to 15 hand range that can carry campers up to 250 lbs. We try to use stockier smaller horses to make it easier on our side walkers. However, all sizes will be considered! 

If you have a horse that maybe suitable and you would like to add to our list of potential horses please contact myself, Jessica Harlow at 540-308-0433 or 4htaco@gmail.com.

2014 Summer Camp Dates *Input Needed*

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a great Christmas and a great start to the New Year! 

We are working on scheduling a date for our 2014 summer camp. I am requesting everyone's input on dates. However, a final decision will be made by the committee on January 21. We will base our decision on horse and committee member availability first, and then on volunteer and camper availability. 

The dates listed on the poll are based on the start dates of camp. Please pick ALL available dates. The second yes on the choices that is written as (yes) means "if need be/maybe" 

The choices are:
July 14- July 18
July 28- August 1
August 4- August 8

I need all responses by Monday, January 20 at 4pm! Please take a few minutes to take this poll so we are able to make an informed decision. I greatly appreciate your time and help! 

Link to the poll for summer camp dates: http://doodle.com/wqn8s6ffambqrh9g

Thank you,
Jessica -- 

A Great 2013!

We had a great 2013 year for TACO! I don't even know how to begin to sum up the wonderful experiences we had this year! I will try to touch on the "major" ones and hope I haven't forgotten any! 

We got the privilege of meeting and working with some new and wonderful campers. Michelle, Ben, and Alexis, we are so glad to have you both as a part of TACO!

We gained some more incredible volunteers, which you all know camp is not possible with out all of your help!

We had our first ever benefit horse show, which we had fantastic support from the horse community for! We even had the honor of meeting Carol Angle and her horse Tigger who were awarded The Century Club at our Fun Show. To make that even more special, Tigger's breeder was present to present the award!

We received our first grant and held our first fundraisers, which were huge successes thanks to all of our parents, volunteers, and campers!

We also had the pleasure to meet Doug Edwards and Jeff Rankin who performed a wonderful cattle working demonstration at our 2013 Fall Camp.

TACO also had our very first float in the Orange County Christmas Parade and participated in 4H Achievement Night.

Although, 2013 was a fantastic year, we had two campers age out this year, Jeremy and Ashley, all of the TACO volunteers and Savvy will miss both of you greatly!


Without the support of Elmwood Farm Equestrian Center and all of their staff, our committee members, numerous volunteer, and wonderful horse owners and of course parents, we could not have had such a successful year. Thank you for all that you have done for TACO!

Here is to a great 2014!!