Horse Guard Hosts Summer Camp

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) hosted a summer program for students attending Summer Bridges at Children’s Community School (CCS) in Waterbury, CT. 2GHG 2nd Lt. Cindy Joyce taught Art and Photography at CCS over the summer, and brought students to the Fairfield Hills property once each week from July 21 through August 9.

The group enjoyed the horses, open space, nearby woods, and Deep Brook Stream. There were many special activities, starting with a visit from Adam Taylor of Trout Unlimited. Taylor gave a lesson on stream activity, fishing crayfish out of the stream, and explained to the children why it is so important to keep our waterways clean.

The children also had a visit from Karen Hoferichter, a science teacher from Fox Lane School in Bedford, New York. Hoferichter brought her collection of corn snakes and pythons, introducing the children to tiny snakes and slowly moving up to a five-foot python. Attendees were able to pet and hold the snakes, and also learned about snake behavior and fun facts.

There was a mini-lesson for a group of children who were lucky enough to come on one of the cooler days in which the weather allowed for riding. Most had never been on a horse, so this remains one of the highlights of the summer program. On the final day of  the program, Sgts Gabriel Rosario and Jeffrey Holyst of the 928th Military Police Kennel Master Team gave the attendees a tour of the CTARNG Kennel Facility on the Fairfield Hills Property. This included a demonstration of training techniques and a photo opportunity with the dogs. Everyone enjoyed the canines and gained a new respect for the process of training working dogs.

The staff and students of CCS are ever grateful to all who helped make this a very memorable summer program; and especially to 2GHG for hosting this program. CCS is a private, non-profit, nonsectarian school that exists first and foremost to offer educational services to children from environmentally, socially and/or economically disadvantaged homes that are in need of extra support. Summer Bridges was a nine-week program open to all elementary school students, focusing on reading, math, computers, art and photography.

2GHG is a 100 percent volunteer organization dedicated to serving the Governor, the Adjutant General of the Connecticut National Guard and the citizenry of the State of Connecticut. Upcoming events include:

*2GHG Open House on September 12: Games, Displays, mounted demonstrations

*2GHG Annual Benefit Trail Ride for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.

Visit the new website, www.thehorseguard.org, for details. The 2GHG Troopers and mounts remain “Ready to Serve.”