MAGICAL MOMENTS

Letter from Cherie Hammer,

NCEFT Development Director

Our newsletters are always exciting opportunities to reflect and report on all the happenings at NCEFT.

As always, this issue is full of news and events around our Center, from summer camps and horsemanship academies to new staff members and NCEFT’s upcoming Gala.

NCEFT is about compassion, inclusiveness, and offering the highest level of service to those in need. Did you know program fees paid by clients only account for about 15% of NCEFT’s annual budget? The remaining 85% is raised through donations and our annual Gala fundraiser.

Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting NCEFT. You make a difference that betters our small corner of the world, and for that we are grateful.

Cherie Hammer, NCEFT Development Director

NCEFT HOLDS TWO SUMMER CAMPS

Special Weeks of Fun & Learning

This summer, our Center had a little extra energy abounding, as NCEFT held two summer camps, Trailblazers and Happy Trails Camp.

Trailblazers, a one-week resilience camp for middle school students, welcomed 8 youth with a focus on resilience, wellness, and horsemanship. Each day, participants interacted with horses and each other in a safe and relaxing environment, building horsemanship knowledge, social skills, and resilience tools all while having fun! Other activities included nature walks, games, arts & crafts, and even a live demo from NCEFT’s farrier, Don Gustafson, of Performance Horse Shoeing.

Happy Trails Camp, NCEFT's summer day camp for our clients, welcomed 13 campers, all current or past clients of our therapy and AR programs. Campers ranged in age from 6 to 18! All were partnered 1:1 with teen and young adult Buddy volunteers, and together they enjoyed grooming and leading horses, First Responder Day, a petting zoo, creating DIY chia pet heads, and tossing over 1,000 water balloons in one short week.

In the words of one camper’s parent: "Happy Trails Camp was absolutely magical for my son…He experienced so much in a relatively short time—met new friends, enjoyed making art in all forms, learned how fun water balloons can be, got up very close to horses and farm animals, and was able to get the ATV rides that he was looking forward to, among other things. All of the buddies and volunteers were very patient, empathetic and genuine with the campers. Thanks so much for offering this very special camp to our kids.”

13TH ANNUAL GALA

Heroes and Horses, Jewels & Jeans Gala Saturday September 17th, 5pm

Get ready to don your jeans and jewels for the 13th annual Heroes and Horses, Jewels & Jeans Gala held under the twinkly lights of our covered riding arena.

This highly anticipated evening features a barn open house to meet our horses, 4-course dinner, live auction, mystery box drawing, silent art auction, and a very special fund-a-need.

All proceeds support NCEFT’s equine-assisted programs for children and adults living with disabilities.

Date: Saturday September 17

Time: 5pm

Tickets, sponsorships and information at www.NCEFT.org/2022Gala

HORSEMANSHIP ACADEMY

NCEFT'S Latest Adaptive Riding Program

NCEFT’s newest Adaptive Riding Program, Horsemanship Academy, is a ten-week, unmounted program which develops fundamental horsemanship skills and fosters the powerful relationships individuals can build with horses.  

Each week, participants engage in hands-on, practical learning with horses. With guidance from NCEFT’s riding Instructors and staff, participants work both individually and as a team to explore the ways horses communicate, think, and thrive.

The curriculum covers a wide range of topics that are essential to working safely and effectively with horses, including equine behavior, body language, stable management, grooming, groundwork, health, nutrition, and more. 

This program will provide a strong foundation for any individual hoping to enter the Adaptive Riding program. While the Horsemanship Academy is not a prerequisite for Adaptive Riding, it provides a unique opportunity to begin developing an important skill-set that will prove useful both in and out of the saddle. 

To learn more or to apply for the Horsemanship Academy program, visit nceft.org/services/ha/

STAFF SPOTLIGHTS

Samantha Lotto & Wendy Lucas Join Our Therapy Team

Recently, NCEFT welcomed two outstanding practitioners to our therapy staff. Samantha Lotto is a physical therapist, and Wendy Lucas is an occupational therapist. They have both jumped into their new roles with enthusiasm and professionalism, quickly adapting to a new setting and filling out their client schedules. Read further to learn more about each of these dynamic and talented staff members.

SPRING CAMPAIGN DONORS

NCEFT Extends Its Gratitude to 40 Donors

Spring Campaign 2022 Donor List

Donors with an * denote members of the Barb Heine Giving Circle, reflecting lifetime giving of $5,000 or more to NCEFT. We express our thanks to these donors for their leadership and generous support.

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