AUGUST NEWS FROM THE BARN |
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Happy August!
This summer is whizzing by with fun days in the sun full of horses and campers! All too soon we will be buying school supplies in preparation for the return to school. Below you will hear from Chelsea about the startup of the academic program in September and from Emily looking for those critical volunteers. As resources allow, we anticipate a larger program this year with several new and expanded programs such as our Reins of Empowerment and Memory Care. Please feel free to reach out directly with any questions or to learn more. In the meantime, enjoy the heat and the remainder of your summer.
Be well,
Kitty
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Amy McWilliams
Amy has been volunteering as an office volunteer since 2018. High Hopes is so appreciative of her ever-present smile greeting participants, volunteers, and guests. Walk in or call on a Wednesday afternoon, and Amy is the first face you’ll see or the first voice you’ll hear…what a wonderful, friendly representative of High Hopes! In addition, Amy is a great support to all staff. Be it stuffing and sealing envelopes or rolling napkins for an event, Amy always helps out. Thank you, Amy, for all you do!
To get to know her better, we asked her a few questions:
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What are your favorite foods?
Eggs, avocados and CT oysters are some of my favorites.
What does your “Best Day Ever” include?
55 degrees and sitting on my front porch, or any day on a cruise ship to Alaska.
What is the best part of volunteering at High Hopes?
Always the people. Seeing smiling faces on everybody's face, especially after masks were removed!
What is your favorite thing to do at High Hopes?
Greeting everyone and watching interactions with the horses and staff.
Anything extra to share?
I really admire the dedication and enthusiasm all of the staff and other volunteers display in every moment. High Hopes is a wonderful organization, reaching out to help many and contributing to the quality of life in CT. Whenever I mention HH people always know about HH and often have stories of friends or family members participating.
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In our last weeks of summer program and camp, participants have enjoyed the lovely summer weather (after a few weeks of oppressive heat and what seemed like never-ending rain). Marie or Chelsea will be in touch shortly to make participant confirmations and request registration as we plan the schedule for the academic session!
We’ll be closing out the summer with a special “Connect, Learn, and Play” day at High Hopes on August 24th. We are happy to host this community-building event in collaboration with the Lyme Youth Service Bureau and several other local organizations that support the needs of people with diagnoses. Join us for paddock tours, trail walks, yoga, therapy animals, Del’s Lemonade, and supportive drop-in educational offerings.
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High Hopes is busy gearing up for our Academic semester running September 2021 through May 2022. We are now starting to onboard new volunteers! Are you available and interested in joining us as a volunteer? We are specifically in need of volunteers to assist with:
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Feeding: volunteers ages 18 and older, able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs, able to self-monitor safety, work in all types of weather, and available 8am-10am at least one day a week.
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Office volunteering and reception: a friendly, welcoming face at our front desk, able to direct participants, answer the phones, and submit cancellations using the computer. Ages 14 and older.
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Horse leaders: Ages 14 and older, join us with previous horse experience which may include a combination of: grooming and tacking, leading and working with horses on the ground, working hands-on with and riding horses for a year or more (lesson experience, owning or leasing a horse).
Retired or have a flexible schedule, available between 9am and 3pm, and interested in joining the Volunteer team? We also have specific needs for morning and mid-day volunteers in various roles for this upcoming semester. Other additional roles may include: facility, barn volunteers, carriage driving headers, and side walkers on a limited basis depending on availability, skillsets, and interests.
Interested? Reach out to High Hopes' Volunteer Manager, Emily, for more information at [email protected].
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Holiday Market 2021
Calling all vendors, artisans, makers & small businesses! Your favorite Holiday Market is back and in person this year, happening on Sunday, November 14th from 11 AM to 4 PM. If you would like to learn about vendor levels and participation, please visit the link below or contact Trudy at (860) 434-1974 ext. 123.
The deadline to participate is September 1st!
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STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY |
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Lauren is a strong-minded, energetic 19-year-old with expressive language and attention challenges. Over the 15 years of Lauren’s journey with High Hopes, she has progressed from working on lead, following simple directions, and being supported by volunteers to working independently and becoming a regular High Hopes barn volunteer.
Lauren is one rider whose participation at High Hopes is made possible by generous support from the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. In 1997, community leaders from across Middlesex County established the Community Foundation of Middlesex County (CFMC) to enhance and improve the quality of life in the area. Over the years, as the Foundation has grown, its positive impact on the community has become significant. High Hopes is proud to be one of the many non-profit organizations that benefit from funding provided by the CFMC. To learn more about the CFMC visit their website at https://middlesexcountycf.org/
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Please note that Lauren is also featured on the cover of the latest issue of the High Hopes Rider, which you can read by clicking below. |
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A research-based literacy & equine learning program
Reading Reins is designed to allow any therapeutic riding professional, regardless of their background in literacy, to collaborate with school systems and emerging readers to teach reading skills in a logical, skills-based progression.
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Looking for CEU Hours for 2021 or something to do from home?
Purchase the recorded version of some of our latest educational webinars:
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