Accessible Summer Camp Opens Registration, Winnipeg, MB

Prairie Strides, formerly MRDA, provides accessible horseback riding to children aged five – fifteen, living with a disability. Riders may have a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD, FASD, impaired mobility, Cerebral Palsy or other. The program has returned after a two-year hiatus, due to Covid-19. Our Fall session is scheduled to resume in September. In the meantime, we are hosting a one-week Virtual Summer Camp in August 2022.

What is Virtual Summer Camp?

• Each child is eligible to participate in one week of virtual summer camp. Camp will run August 8th to 12th. Thanks to The Winnipeg Foundation, the camp week is offered at no cost to families.

• All activities, with exception of the barn tour and use of the gift card, will be done from the safety of your home. (Barn tour and all activities are optional!) While some games and activities will be done via Zoom, many of the videos we send can be completed at your leisure.

• The week ahead of camp each child will be dropped/ pick up scheduled for a bin which will include all the supplies required to participate in virtual camp. (Each bin is valued at approximately $100). Supplies will be labeled with the day and activity they are to be used for and will include craft supplies, sensory items, Lego, baking supplies and more!

• Each child will also be assigned a horse for the week. The bin of activities will include information and pictures of their assigned horse.

• Each morning videos will be sent to our campers with activities they can participate in throughout the day. We are still finalizing activities but some of the planned videos in past have included presentations for music therapy, Zumba, yoga, special guests, a paint

party, crafts, baking and more! Activities may require caregiver support (and in some cases, could be messy!) We understand each child may or may not be interested in each activity, which is why each will be optional to complete. Prairie Strides is unable to provide an electronic device for use during camp week. Campers must be able to access videos with the internet on a computer, iPad, Chromebook, phone etc. Videos will be sent via YouTube links, website links or through Google Drive. • There will be optional activities for campers to participate in, via Zoom. These activities include games such as bingo, scavenger hunt show off, visit with a horse, chat with friends etc. (activities and games are still being finalized).

• Friday of camp will include a scheduled barn tour, where campers can bring the tasty horse treats, they bake, for their friends to try. Barn tours are available between the hours of 9am – 4pm. This short tour will be provided to the camper and a caregiver. At the tour, each child will have the opportunity to say hello in person to the horses at West Wind Stables! To maintain social distancing protocols, siblings and additional family members will not be able to participate in this tour. Transportation will not be provided. Each child must be accompanied by a caregiver who is able to ensure that social distancing protocols are maintained. Upon entering West Wind Stables each child and caregiver will be asked to complete waivers and sanitize hands. We ask that if the caregiver or child is unwell that the barn tour is cancelled. We ask that families use the attached self screening tool from Shared Health. https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/

• Each child will also be provided with a $25.00 Gift card to a local restaurant (TBA) to purchase lunch or dinner for before or following their tour. Any charges over $25.00 are the responsibility of the caregiver/ family.

• Our camp week can accommodate a maximum of ten campers. Registrations will be accepted on a first come/ first serve basis.

• We are anticipating the videos may include one to two hours per day of activity.

Prairie Strides Inc. is a charitable organization that runs on the generosity of sponsors and donors. The organization is sustained by over one hundred volunteers who include volunteer side walkers, horse leaders, therapists and certified Instructors.

We are always seeking riders and volunteers for the program. To register please email exedir@prairiestrides.com.

For further information, please contact:

Krista Kowaluk, Executive Director

204-925-5905 | exedir@prairiestrides.com

www.prairiestrides.com