Thank You

Another successful year has drawn to a close. There are so many that had a hand in making our 2019 Summer Camp a success. 

First, we would like to thank Jim McDonough, of Jim McDonough Cutting Horses, his family and staff for hosting our 2019 TACO Camp. Our volunteers and campers loved being back under cover for the riding portion of camp. We are so thankful for the use of the indoor. Not only did Jim provide us with an indoor he also brought a ton of energy and enthusiasm to the ring! The campers (and volunteers) thoroughly enjoyed Jim's enthusiasm and the music he added to the ring (check out our Facebook page if you haven't already! There were a lot of dance moves happening this year!). We also greatly appreciate Jim and his clients generosity in allowing us the use of their horses. Jazzware, Bo, Classy, and Casey made wonderful camp ponies this year!

While on the subject of camp ponies, we can't thank Mike Simmons and PJ enough for making the trek to Orange every day! As always, PJ and Mike are valuable assets to TACO. 

Throughout the week we had various entertainments. We'd like to thank Michaela McDonough for her barrel racing demonstration, Lieutenant Sigler, Investigator Brown and Blue from the Orange County Sheriffs Office for coming to teach us about Blue's job at the Sheriff's Office, and  Jim McDonough for a cutting horse demonstration. The campers and volunteers enjoyed all of the demonstrations.

This year we added a new area to camp; music. We'd like to thank Lindsay Latham for putting together and running a great music station during camp this year.  All of the campers and volunteers loved participating. 

Each day campers were provided with an afternoon snack and popsicles. We'd like to thank Orange Baptist Church, Church of the Nazarene, Emmanuel Episcopal Church and  Christ Anglican Fellowship for their donations of afternoon snacks for the campers. 

On Friday we rounded out our week with a pizza and taco party! We'd like to thank La Naranja for their generous donation of tacos for our last day of camp! Everyone loved having tacos at TACO! 

Also, a huge thank you to Orange County Public Schools Transportation Department for transporting our campers to and from camp each day. 

We'd like to thank Jeff Poole and the Orange County Review for outstanding news coverage. In addition, we'd like to thank Jim White, Orange County Board of Supervisor, for coming out to learn more about TACO. 

A huge thank you to Village Motorsports for purchasing our TACO art work at the Orange County Fair Auction. We'd also like to thank Jes Cifizzari for her contribution to our auction piece this year. 

As always, we'd like to thank our committee who put in countless hours to make our 2019 camp a success. However, without the dedication of our volunteers, none of this would have been possible. We cannot thank our dedicated volunteers enough for all of the time you have volunteered with us! Camp would not be possible without all of your help. We'd also like to thank Rappahannock Electric for sending three of their employees to volunteer. In addition to our volunteers, we'd like to thank all of our campers parents who trust us with their children daily. We love working with every one of our campers. 

Be sure to checkout our Facebook page for photos and videos from the week. 

Thursday

Humidity... that was the word of the day and boy did everyone feel it!!

Today in arts and crafts campers finished up their DIY Pillow Case. They also made sculptures with "Magic Nuudles." Side note.. if you've never seen Magic Nuudles before (and I hadn't until I bought them for camp) they're awesome and very amusing to people of all ages (just ask some of our volunteers, haha). 

In the ring campers brushed up on their steering skills. They also practiced their Egg and Spoon and Relay Races again in preparation for tomorrow's horse show!

Today Lindsay was back with us for Music. The campers had a great time playing instruments, singing and dancing.

During entertainment, campers got to see what kind of riding Jim does. Jim, his family, and staff went to great lengths to put on a cutting horse demonstration today for us. Checkout our Facebook page for the video of his demonstration. 

Tomorrow is sadly our last day of camp. We are getting ready for our horse show and pizza and bubble party! 

Make sure you check out our  Facebook page !

Wednesday

Wednesday is always the day that Monday and Tuesday catch up to everyone! And this year was no different, we were all moving in slow motion.

In the ring Jim taught campers how to steer and back their horses, while showing them off of his own horse Spoons. The campers thought it was awesome that Jim rode with them. They worked on steering and backing and even tried their hand at opening gates! Of course we had to have some Egg and Spoon and Relay Race rematches today!

In Arts and Crafts campers built their own bird houses and painted them. They also started working on DIY no sew pillow cases! 

Recreation was a huge hit today! We had some HUGE bubbles! The campers loved playing with the bubbles and went though almost 5 gallons of bubble solution! 

We'd like to thank the Orange County Sheriffs Office for coming out to TACO today. Unfortunately our previous entertainment had something come up at the last minute so we greatly appreciate them joining us at the last minute. 

Campers also enjoyed snack provided by Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Popsicles from Christ Anglican Fellowship. 

Make sure you check out our  Facebook page ! We have tons of photos from today and some videos of our bubble station! 

Tuesday

Day 2 is in the books... and I am sure all of our side walkers and horse leaders were ready for a nap when they left camp today! Jim kept us hopping today in the ring! We're going to need some more side walkers next year if we keep up this pace! If you're reading this and don't already volunteer with us- keep us in mind next summer. Even if you can only volunteer a day- that would be a huge help! 

In the ring Jim kept everyone moving today! Campers started their group by stretching and having some lessons on trotting. After that... the games began! Campers had egg and spoon and relay races today! There was LOTS of trotting... more than we have EVER done in one day at camp before (just ask our wonderful leaders and side walkers), LOTS of smiles and laughs, some competition and even some music! I don't think anyone left the ring today without a smile on their face!! We can't wait to see what is in store for us in the ring tomorrow.

In Arts and Crafts campers worked on building stained glass from lasagna noodles, making thank you cards, and building bird feeders out of Popsicle sticks. 

Campers also got to experience a new area of camp this year--music! One of our volunteers brought homemade instruments and the campers were able to enjoy making music and dancing with her. We are grateful she shared her talents with us this year.

Campers also enjoyed snack provided by Church of the Nazerine and Popsicles from Christ Anglican Fellowship. 

To round out our second day, campers got to learn about Barrel Racing from Michaela McDonough
 and watch a demonstration of her barrel racing! 

Make sure you check out our  Facebook page ! We have tons of photos from today and lots of videos of our egg and spoon and relay races, in addition to entertainment! 

Monday

Our first morning of camp started a little damp but luckily cleared up. We loved seeing all of our campers and volunteers back at camp! We had a great first day and loved being back at Elmwood. 

Campers rotated through 3 stations this morning including arts and crafts, horseback riding, and recreation. 

In arts and crafts campers worked on decorating picture frames, making bird baths, and decorating masks. 

In recreation, campers built marshmallow shooters and then tested them out.

In the barn campers stared their group working with Jim on horse safety and how to groom and tack up their horses. Afterwards, they learned how to mount using a western saddle. This was the first time some of our campers have ever ridden in a western saddle! Campers enjoyed getting back in the saddle. They got to weave through poles, walk over poles, and practice stretching and steering their horse. Campers also got to meet 3 new camp "ponies" this morning; Jazzware, Classy, and Bo and of course we welcomed PJ back this year! 

Campers also enjoyed an afternoon snack provided by Orange Baptist Church and popsicles from Christ Anglican Fellowship. 

We'd like to thank Jim McDonough, his staff, family and clients for welcoming us back to Elmwood and allowing us the use of their horses. 

We are looking forward to Tuesday! 

Visit our Facebook page for more photos from today.