Many youth believe that the horse they meet at camp wants a friend as much as they do. The experience of learning new horsemanship skills, making lifelong friends, and riding different horses than you could at home is extremely appealing to many horse-crazy kids. At Camp Liberty in New Liberty, Iowa, girls meet, learn about, and ride well-trained horses on 245 acres of woods, meadows, and lake.
This Girl Scout summer camp with American Camp Association accreditation offers a wide range of experiences. Programs are designed to challenge youth to find independence, create friendships, and take risks in a safe and supportive environment.
These accredited camps make safety their priority by following 300 safety standards. The well-trained and dedicated staff at Camp Liberty support, teach, and lead campers through new skills where they explore the outdoors and can just be themselves.
But what if the cost of summer camp has always seemed just out of your family’s reach?
What Makes Camp Liberty Different
According to their brochure, “To accommodate all of our families, there are three pricing levels. Choose the tier that is most suitable for your family. Each household makes this decision, and additional financial documents will not be required. When you register, you will be asked to select the tier your family can afford.”
Staci Conforti, vice president of property and outdoor experiences, explains that the counselors aren’t told which tiers the families use to register. All girls experience the same activities for the session they choose. Financial assistance for individual girls also comes from grants.
Most of the girls live in the council areas in Iowa and Illinois, but some come from other parts of those states and beyond. All girls are welcome at Camp Liberty. For non-members, the Girl Scout membership fee is only $25, and opens up the opportunity to join outdoor events throughout the year. Any girl who joins to attend summer camp does not need to join a troop, although the membership team is happy to help her find a troop.
New Friendships
Girl Scouts attend summer camp on their own or with a buddy at a time that fits their schedules. Because most girls are attending individually, camp is a great opportunity to make new friendships that will last a lifetime.
The No. 1 response on the post-camp survey for what campers liked most about camp is “making new friends.” Parents and leaders notice a growing sense of independence and learned outdoor skills.
Camp Liberty offers a Progressive Equestrian program that ranges from meeting horses and learning about them to understanding barn management. The sessions are based on school grade level. Attending each year allows girls to build on their growing knowledge and experience.
The program teaches everything horse, from care to how to ride. Campers can improve their horseback riding skills and horsemanship knowledge and have fun riding with friends. The Equestrian Center includes a covered arena, tack room, modern classroom and bathrooms, and many trails that range from grass paths to woodlands.
The Horses of Camp Liberty
The camp leases 20 horses from a stable that supplies horses to a number of camps, according to Bryanna Wright, equestrian experience manager. She requests the same group each year, replacing a few as needed. The horses are all geldings and range from 15 to 20 years old. They live together comfortably in large, grassy pastures at the camp from spring to fall.
When camp is not in session, they are used on troop camp weekends for trail rides and badge work, and they have been trained for working with children and adults.
At the beginning of each session, Bryanna Wright talks with each camper to determine the best match with a horse by temperament and experience. There are horses that will offer more advanced riders the chance to continue learning, although most campers don’t take lessons outside of camp.
The horses receive excellent care, which is evident in their coats, weight, and demeanor.
Other Activities
Girls in the equestrian program will also have opportunities to swim, use the challenge course, and try other outdoor activities without additional cost. Kailyn Miller, camp director and outdoor experience manager, also touts the Environmental Learning Center located near the lake where STEM education activities happen. She says that Camp Liberty fits what parents want for their children.
Horseback riding camp sessions that are not part of the Progressive program are also popular and available to introduce girls to horses. These camps include other classic camp activities, plus rock climbing, hiking, and more. Campers can attend a session and earn their Junior Horseback Riding badge and get first-hand experience in the Camp Liberty Equestrian Program, where they learn the basics of riding, horse care and safety.
Girls who continue in the Progressive Riding Program learn advanced skills, meet with equine professionals, take an off-site trip to ride, and learn what it would be like to manage a barn. Bryanna says that some girls who go through the program fall in love with horses and even turn it into a career!
Learn More
To find out more about Camp Liberty in the Girl Scouts Summer Camp Guide, which answers to all your questions about the highly rated equestrian sessions, visit www.girlscoutstoday.org. You can also call 800-798-0833 or email info@girlscoutstoday.org for additional questions about Girl Scout summer camp.
This article about Camp Liberty appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
