The High Hopes
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Inside this issue: Board Chairman & Executive Director Message Spotlight On Success Shining the Light on Ou r Participants
The Spirit of Giving Turning a Want int o Want ing to Give
Ways to Give Holiday Thanks
From the Horse 's Mouth Horse of the Year
High Hopes Happenings New Board Members Open House
In accordance with the Amer icans wit h Disabilities Act, The High Hopes Rider is available in alt ernative formats upon request . Please contact Wendy Kni ght at Ext . 19.
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Therapeutic Riding, Inc. Phone : 860.434 .1974 Fax: 860 .434 .3723 www.highhopestr.org
Winter 2008
Scout Leadership Benefits High Hopes The Boy Scouts
of America, BSA, is an organization that provides an educational program for boys and young men, and helps to build character, train them in the responsibilities of citizenship, develop personal fitness and learn leadership skills. The BSA recognizes the achievements of Scouts through advancements in rank and special awards. The highest rank that can be attained is the rank of Eagle Scout. Very few scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout because attaining that goal requires a great deal of dedication and, often, years of work. Before achieving the rank of Eagle, a scout must demonstrate his leadership skills. This is done by planning and carrying out an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. The project must be directed by the scout himself and be of benefit to the community. High Hopes was very fortunate that three young men from Troop 474 in Guilford decided that their leadership projects would benefit our riders. Each young man worked on their own specific project and involved the members of their troop in that work. Adam Clark supervised the building of a new outdoor mounting block with a long wheelchair ramp. The old mountirig block only had stairs and riders who used a wheelchair had to be carried up the steps. The new ramp and larger block will allow better accessfor all of our riders.
Greg Laird oversaw the construction of a beautiful kiosk that will contain a map of the trails and a description of the Sensory Trail activity sites. Alex Jagielski organized the creation of a new activity for the Sensory Trail, which was a rai lroad crossing. In order to cross the railroad tracks, the rider will have to pull down on a suspended rope handle which will open the gate. Chris Coyle added a bell and train sounds so that the riders can also learn railroad crossing safety. The three projects entailed more than 400 hours of volunteer service. These projects would not have been accomplished without the volunteer help of the scouts. In addition to the extraordinary efforts of the Eagle Scouts, High Hopes has been fortunate to receive support from a number of other community groups, includ ing US Navy and Coast Guard Academy members, employees from CL&P and the Waterford Target store, a number of local Boy & Girl scout troops, St. Andrews Church, Old Saybrook Middle School, Youth & Family Services, and t he Lyme/Old Lyme Middle and Elementary Schools. High Hopes would not be the magical place it is without the help and support of all of its volunteers.