This is the beauty of the work on our Equestrian Center—all programs benefit. Campers, Vanguard Gap Year students, Passage participants, graduate students, and even our retreat and cabin guests. Let me share some examples.

At the summer camp level, campers engage with horses as an activity and pursue the activity progression through their Basics, Intermediates, and Masters. We just opened summer camp registration, and within about 15 minutes, we had a waiting list for horsemanship. But the impact goes beyond those directly involved in the activity area. Beyond that, I’ve seen cabin leaders use trail rides and even the feeding facility as grounds for powerful Cabin Impacts.

For Vanguard, we recently grew our gap year to include an equestrian track. Vanguards who choose this track spend three days a week fully involved down at the Equestrian Center. They’re seeing all sides of the equestrian industry—from equestrian care and training to site upkeep to how we can work can with horses to learn about our relationship with God and facilitate that for others.

We will continue to offer an undergraduate Wheaton College course in ministry skills using the Equestrian Center as the context. Passage: The Orientation Experience of Wheaton College, features an Equestrian track to introduce incoming students to life at Wheaton.

Finally, our graduate students who are getting an M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership have the opportunity to specialize in equestrian training. They’re equipped to lead equestrian programs and facilities in other camps and similar organizations when they graduate. They’re the ones leading—under the guidance of our Equestrian Program Manager— the programs I just listed.

All in all, our horses and people who work with them are serving the mission on a year-round basis. We need to give them the facilities to fulfill their calling and purpose.

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