Riding Arena for Sunset Lake Camp
Donation protected
Our Need
We desperately need a covered arena for both our summer and year-round seasons. During summer this arena will provide shade and a cooler place for our more advanced or sensitive riders. During the rest of the year, it will provide a warmer, drier, and safer environment for all of our clients. Our design will also include bathroom, office, and classroom facilities with a viewing area for parents.
Who Will You Help?
Our horsemanship program serves many in our community:
Seattle Childrens' Hospital has been running their annual Stamm Camp at Sunset Lake for over 30 years. They run a horse program for children with severe, chronic, and terminal illnesses--giving many children their first camp experience. Because of the hot afternoon sun, Stamm Camp is unable to use Sunset Lake's outdoor arena and sets up their temporary horse program in a field.
Sunset Lake has hosted Law Enforcement Youth Camp (LEYC) for over 20 years. LEYC serves children in the Puget Sound area who come from at-risk homes or neighborhoods and provides positive interaction with law enforcement that can change children's lives. Many children in LEYC have their first horse experience during their time at Sunset Lake Camp.
Each summer, Sunset Lake Camp hosts National Camps for the Blind for a week of camp. Campers experience all of Sunset Lake's activities including: wakeboarding, zip line, bmx biking, and of course horses. Riding in the outdoor arena can proove a challenge for Blind Campers, as many also suffer from other disabilities (ie seizures) can can be aggrevated by the heat.
Our year-round lesson program serves many, many clients who gain life-changing experiences from their time spent with horses.
Stories and Testimonies
My 8 year old daughter has been taking lessons for the better part of one year now. She loves the instructor, the horses, and the facility. Instruction is age appropriate and well-paced. The staff is friendly with flexible schedules. I highly recommend Sunset Lake for anyone looking to improve their horsemanship skills.--Scott P.
My son and I both take lessons from Moriah. She has been the best equestrian teacher that I have had the pleasure of taking lessons from. I have learned things from her that I was never taught by the many teachers I have had over the years. She is also great with my 4 year old and I am amazed at how much he learns at each lesson. He absolutely loves it and he can't wait to see his "best friend Moriah" whenever we are at Sunset Lake. --Heather Clay
Take the story of one of our young clients. He was a kid who obviously had trouble fitting in. Even when other children reached out to him, he secluded himself and stood in a protective stance. As the boy was grooming his horse he asked about some marks that his horse, Fabio, had. Our staff explained that Fabio was low in the pecking order and had been picked on by other horses in the past, leaving scars. The staff hoped the boy would make a connection with his horse and their similar stories, but the boy remained aloof and continued grooming, the staff assumed that the boy either hadn't heard, or didn't really care. After the grooming exercise, the staff began to gather the students. The young boy turned and ran back over to Fabio. Assuming the boy had forgotten the rules and perhaps left something near his horse, the staff immediately moved over to remind the student about the safety rule to walk around the horses. That's when the staff saw the boy look around to make sure no one was watching. Curious, the staff moved closer and saw that she needn't have worried about this student missing a connection earlier. The young boy reached up and gave his horse a hug and with his eyes cast to the ground he whispered, "It's okay, Fabio, I get picked on, too. We'll be okay. Promise." That's the power of a listening ear and a gentle heart. That's the power of a connection. That's the power of horses. Help us create moments like this year-round by funding our covered arena and classroom.
How You Can Help
1. Donate: large or small, it all helps.
2. Share: facebook, twitter, instagram or the old-fashioned word-of-mouth way--help us get the word out and the funds in!
Who We Are
Sunset Lake Camp is a non-profit kids' summer camp and year-round retreat center serving the community of the greater Puget Sound, Washington since 1957. We have a growing horsemanship program that serves many groups both in the summer months and year-round. To visit our horsemanship website, click here.
We desperately need a covered arena for both our summer and year-round seasons. During summer this arena will provide shade and a cooler place for our more advanced or sensitive riders. During the rest of the year, it will provide a warmer, drier, and safer environment for all of our clients. Our design will also include bathroom, office, and classroom facilities with a viewing area for parents.
Who Will You Help?
Our horsemanship program serves many in our community:
Seattle Childrens' Hospital has been running their annual Stamm Camp at Sunset Lake for over 30 years. They run a horse program for children with severe, chronic, and terminal illnesses--giving many children their first camp experience. Because of the hot afternoon sun, Stamm Camp is unable to use Sunset Lake's outdoor arena and sets up their temporary horse program in a field.
Sunset Lake has hosted Law Enforcement Youth Camp (LEYC) for over 20 years. LEYC serves children in the Puget Sound area who come from at-risk homes or neighborhoods and provides positive interaction with law enforcement that can change children's lives. Many children in LEYC have their first horse experience during their time at Sunset Lake Camp.
Each summer, Sunset Lake Camp hosts National Camps for the Blind for a week of camp. Campers experience all of Sunset Lake's activities including: wakeboarding, zip line, bmx biking, and of course horses. Riding in the outdoor arena can proove a challenge for Blind Campers, as many also suffer from other disabilities (ie seizures) can can be aggrevated by the heat.
Our year-round lesson program serves many, many clients who gain life-changing experiences from their time spent with horses.
Stories and Testimonies
My 8 year old daughter has been taking lessons for the better part of one year now. She loves the instructor, the horses, and the facility. Instruction is age appropriate and well-paced. The staff is friendly with flexible schedules. I highly recommend Sunset Lake for anyone looking to improve their horsemanship skills.--Scott P.
My son and I both take lessons from Moriah. She has been the best equestrian teacher that I have had the pleasure of taking lessons from. I have learned things from her that I was never taught by the many teachers I have had over the years. She is also great with my 4 year old and I am amazed at how much he learns at each lesson. He absolutely loves it and he can't wait to see his "best friend Moriah" whenever we are at Sunset Lake. --Heather Clay
Take the story of one of our young clients. He was a kid who obviously had trouble fitting in. Even when other children reached out to him, he secluded himself and stood in a protective stance. As the boy was grooming his horse he asked about some marks that his horse, Fabio, had. Our staff explained that Fabio was low in the pecking order and had been picked on by other horses in the past, leaving scars. The staff hoped the boy would make a connection with his horse and their similar stories, but the boy remained aloof and continued grooming, the staff assumed that the boy either hadn't heard, or didn't really care. After the grooming exercise, the staff began to gather the students. The young boy turned and ran back over to Fabio. Assuming the boy had forgotten the rules and perhaps left something near his horse, the staff immediately moved over to remind the student about the safety rule to walk around the horses. That's when the staff saw the boy look around to make sure no one was watching. Curious, the staff moved closer and saw that she needn't have worried about this student missing a connection earlier. The young boy reached up and gave his horse a hug and with his eyes cast to the ground he whispered, "It's okay, Fabio, I get picked on, too. We'll be okay. Promise." That's the power of a listening ear and a gentle heart. That's the power of a connection. That's the power of horses. Help us create moments like this year-round by funding our covered arena and classroom.
How You Can Help
1. Donate: large or small, it all helps.
2. Share: facebook, twitter, instagram or the old-fashioned word-of-mouth way--help us get the word out and the funds in!
Who We Are
Sunset Lake Camp is a non-profit kids' summer camp and year-round retreat center serving the community of the greater Puget Sound, Washington since 1957. We have a growing horsemanship program that serves many groups both in the summer months and year-round. To visit our horsemanship website, click here.
Organizer
Sunset Lake Horsemanship
Organizer
Wilkeson, WA