Spirit Farms Riding Center at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin

08/08/2024

We are still in need of volunteers for this fall!!

Starting September 9th on Monday and Wednesday mornings, we will need volunteers to assist with our special needs riding partnership with Thornapple Kellogg Schools. Volunteers will assist with leading, sidewalking, grooming, and/or tacking. No horse experience needed, we will train you!

We look forward to you joining us 🤠

Sign up link here:
https://grymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/251

08/01/2024

Do you like horses?
Do you like kids?
Do you have availability on Monday and/or Wednesday mornings this fall?
Come volunteer with us!

Starting September 9th on Monday and Wednesday mornings, we will need volunteers to assist with our special needs riding partnership with Thornapple Kellogg Schools. Volunteers will assist with leading, sidewalking, grooming, and/or tacking. No horse experience needed, we will train you!

We look forward to you joining us 🤠

Sign up link here:
https://grymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/251

05/31/2024

This crew (minus 2 staff who will be joining us) is officially ready to kick off Summer 2024 at the barn! This week they completed skills training and got to know the herd. Next week they'll learn how to be the BEST counselors. We can't wait to teach your kids all about our favorite 4-legged friends starting in just over one week! 🤠

05/20/2024

Today marked the end of our spring special needs riding session and we lucked out with a beautiful day! We love and appreciate our volunteers so much and are glad we were able to take them for a trail ride of their own. Unfortunately, not all were able to join us, but we hope they will join us again next fall!

If you are interested in volunteering with us for our fall session, reach out to Keri at: [email protected]

05/20/2024

Our final Meet the Horse Staff Monday before staff training begins next week! Meet ELI!! This will be Eli's 1st summer on staff, but his 12th summer spent here at camp. Fun fact about Eli is that he owns a Transformers collection. This summer, Eli is excited to give campers the opportunity to have great experiences like he had as a camper. Welcome back to camp Eli!

05/13/2024

For your bonus Meet the Horse Staff Monday this week... meet RACHEL! This will also be Rachel's first year with us here. Fun fact about Rachel is that she loves riding on the beach. This summer, Rachel is most excited to meet people from all over the world and teach your campers how to ride horses! Welcome to camp Rachel!!

05/13/2024

This week we bring you not one, but TWO Meet the Horse Staff Mondays! First we have LUCI! This will be Luci's first year on staff with us. Fun fact about her is that she has been to 20/50 states (that's almost half!) and 6 countries. Luci is most excited for each week to be a new adventure and having fun with your campers all summer long. Welcome to camp Luci!!

04/29/2024

Next up for Meet the Horse Staff Monday is DAISY! Daisy will be joining us for her first summer all the way from Great Britain! Fun fact about Daisy is that she is going to study film making. This summer, Daisy is excited for the adventure and meeting new people (like your campers!) along the way. Welcome to camp Daisy!!

04/22/2024

Finally back on track with a Meet the Horse Staff MONDAY! Meet AVERY!! This will be Avery's first year with us on staff, but has had a blast at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin for 5 years as a camper. Fun fact about Avery is that she has been riding for 9 years and 6 of those have been on her school's equestrian team competing in showmanship and saddleseat. Avery is so excited to meet fellow horse people and get to spend the summer with our camp horses!

04/16/2024

Whew, Mondays have been busy! Here's another Meet the Staff Tuesday... meet GRACE! This will be Grace's first year with us here at camp and she is joining us from Australia! Fun fact about Grace is that she learned how to ride at Garah-Boomi Pony Club and rode there for 10 years. Grace is so excited to meet new people this summer and experience a new culture. Welcome to camp Grace!

04/09/2024

Since we missed yesterday... here's a Meet the Staff Tuesday. Meet LILLIAN!! This will be Lillian's 2nd year on staff with 9 years prior as a camper. Fun fact, Lillian has been riding since she was 3 years old and grew up attending YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin as a camper. She is most excited for meeting new campers and growing her friendships with staff from last summer.

04/01/2024

Our next Meet the Horse Staff Monday is LILI!! This will be Lili's 2nd year on staff with many years prior as a camper. Fun fact about her is that she is a 4th generation YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin alum! She is so excited to see old friends, make new ones, and teach your kids at horse camp this summer. Welcome back to the barn Lili!

03/25/2024

Next up, ABBY! This will be Abby's 4th year on staff and she will be back heading up Trail Barn. Prior to being on staff, Abby was a camper here for 7 years. Fun fact about her, she loves to knit and crochet! In summer of 2021, Abby was known around camp for her fun crocheted fruit hats that correlated colors with each of our core values. This summer, Abby is most excited to see past campers and friends as well as meet new ones. Welcome back Abby!

03/19/2024

The agriculture community and camp lost a great man on Sunday. Floyd and his sons have spent countless years taking wonderful care of our horses' feed needs, allowing us to impact thousands of campers and families. Floyd was more than just our feed supplier, but a friend to anyone who stepped foot in his office. Floyd was and always will be a part of our camp family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family in this time. Have an ice cream today in his memory!

03/18/2024

Welcome to our first Meet the Horse Staff Monday! Over the next 10 weeks you will get to meet someone from our horse staff team for this upcoming summer. We still have spots available for your camper to join us!!

First up we have MAGS! Mags will be joining us as the Equestrian Coordinator for her 6th summer here at camp. Did you know that while attending Truman State University, Mags competed in western pleasure while on their equestrian team? She cannot wait to share her love of camp with our new staff this summer and help create memories for your campers!

03/08/2024

Do you or someone you know want to get in the saddle for the first time or refresh skills? We're only one month away from the start of our spring lesson session and we still have plenty of spots left for anyone ages 5+

TO REGISTER:
Use this link: https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com/ First time users will need to create a login and password. Once you are in the system, click on "Year-Round Programs" and your options will be under Horseback Riding Lessons.

For any questions or to setup a group lesson, email [email protected]

We hope to see you in just over a month! 🤠

03/01/2024

Spring Lessons are LIVE!! Our spring session of lessons will have the option to sign up for a 6-week session on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 4:30pm, 5:30pm, or 6:30pm.

Who: Anyone ages 5+
What: Private lesson for 6 weeks
Where: Spirit Farms Riding Center at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin
When: The week of April 9 through the week of May 14

TO REGISTER:
Use this link: https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com/ First time users will need to create a login and password. Once you are in the system, click on "Year-Round Programs" and your options will be under Horseback Riding Lessons.

For any questions or to setup a group lesson, email [email protected]

We hope to see you in just over a month! 🤠

02/02/2024

Spring is right around the corner and that means it's almost prime riding season! We have the pleasure of working with TK Schools to provide their special needs students with six weeks of therapeutic riding experiences.

This year, our season will run on MONDAY and WEDNESDAY mornings beginning the week of April 8 and ending the week of May 13. To make this happen, we depend on volunteers just like YOU!

Don't worry - you don't need any horseback riding experience in order to help. We'll take care of the training so you can feel confident supporting the students during their lessons. If you're interested, click the link https://grymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/229 to learn more or apply. Volunteers must be 14 years or older.

Please contact Keri with any questions: [email protected].

02/01/2024

Coming to the camp store in 2024! Do you see your favorite horse? 🐴

12/08/2023

There's still plenty of openings for horse camp 2024. Register before the end of the year and you could be one of the 280 to receive a limited edition YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin beanie!

Only a few more weeks left to register to qualify for a special gift from camp!

The first 280 campers that register before December 31 will receive their very own Camp Manitou-Lin beanie in the mail!

https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com

11/21/2023

Register for Horse Camp 2024 now and you could be 1 of the 280 campers to get a limited edition CML hat!

A Gift from Camp! 🎁

Sign up for Summer Camp 2024 before December 31st and your camper(s) will receive limited edition YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin winter hat in the mail. This special hat will not be sold in our camp store and will only go to the first 280 campers who have signed up for camp between October and December 31st.

To register for Summer Camp 2024, use the link below! ⛺️🌲⛺️

https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com/

10/31/2023

🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃

Loki had a special visitor at camp this past weekend that shared their halloween costume with him.

Let us know what you are dressing up as this year!

06/13/2023

Summer is finally here! Our summer session of lessons will have the option to take lessons on Mondays or Wednesdays at 4pm, 5pm, or 6pm beginning next week. With the craziness of family trips, sports, camps, etc. during the summer, you have the ability to completely customize your lesson schedule! Cost will be $40 per lesson.

TO REGISTER
Use this link: https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com/. This link will bring you to our Camp Brain login (our new software system). If you already have an account, you can login with your user name and password. First time users will need to create a login and password. Once you are in the system, click on Year-Round Programs and it will be under Horseback Riding Lessons.

We hope to see you out at the barn this summer 🤠

06/03/2023

Yesterday this crew finished their skills training for summer 2023! It was a HOT week, but they pushed through and are ready to meet and teach your kids all about horses this summer 🤠

03/30/2023

It's finally starting to feel like Spring and we still have a few spots open for our upcoming lessons!

Who: Anyone ages 5+
What: 1hr private lesson for 6 weeks
Where: Spirit Farms Riding Center at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin
When: Begins the week of April 10th

TO REGISTER
Use this link: https://campmanitoulin.campbrainregistration.com/ First time users will need to create a login and password. Once you are in the system, click on Year-Round Programs and it will be under Horseback Riding Lessons.

We hope to see you in just over a week! 🤠

01/27/2023

Spring is right around the corner and that means it's almost Therapeutic Riding season! We have the pleasure of working with TK Schools to provide their students with six weeks of therapeutic riding experiences. This year, our season will run on MONDAY and WEDNESDAY mornings beginning the week of April 10 and ending the week of May 15. To make this happen, we depend on volunteers just like YOU! Don't worry - you don't need any horseback riding experience in order to help. We'll take care of the training so you can feel confident supporting the students during their lessons. If you're interested, click the link https://grymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/150 to learn more or apply. Volunteers must be 14 years or older. Please contact Keri with any questions: [email protected].

08/17/2022

Our favorite time of year: Therapeutic Riding AND Fall Fest! Check out this post to see how you can get involved in these awesome fall activities and programs!

Summer camp has wrapped up and we’re quickly switching gears to fall! It’s always busy at CML during the autumn months and this year is no exception. We’ve got plenty going on and we want YOU to join us!
🍂 Volunteer for our Therapeutic Horseback Riding program, a partnership with Thornapple Kellogg Schools that serves students with special needs. Volunteers are needed on Monday and Wednesday mornings beginning the week of September 12. Learn more and sign up to volunteer here: https://grymca.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/122
🍂 YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin Fall Fest is just around the corner… Come on down to have fun for a good cause! Visit the event page for volunteer signups, wish list/donation opportunities, and activity & event information. We are currently in need of wish list donations (candy!) and additional sponsorships!
🍂 Spots are still available for Outdoor Education school trips this season! Bring your class, grade level, or school, and we'll take care of the rest. Whether you visit for the day or want an overnight camping experience, we'll help you arrange a custom itinerary that's perfect for you and your students. Email [email protected] to get on the calendar!

07/05/2022

Good morning, camp families! We hope you had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had too much fun last night and we are currently without power!

We have a generator keeping the kitchen “online” but our phones and internet have been affected. Restoration is currently estimated for 1:30pm.

All activities and programs will proceed as usual, unless thunder or lightning are present, in which case we’ll pivot to indoor activities. Thanks for your patience and understanding!