Creating Memories: Summer Camp at the Equestrian Center

By Hannah Williamson ’19

Summertime at the barn is my favorite time of the year. Houghton’s campus is a bit emptier, the students have gone home, and things seem to be quieting down . . . but not at the Equestrian Center. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The Houghton equestrian program hosts and organizes two large, recognized dressage shows at the start and end of the summer—and sandwiched in between, we keep busy running multiple weeks of equestrian camp for horse-loving youth.

Over the course of the summer, Houghton University runs five weeks of girls’ overnight residential equestrian camp for riders ages 10-18, and one week of day camp for girls and boys ages 7-14, hosting upwards of 100 campers. The goal of our camps is to create a fun and safe environment where campers will see and feel God’s love lived out while learning and growing in their horsemanship skills. We welcome riders of all levels and experience to join us for a great week at camp.

During their time at camp, riders are able to choose what skills they would like to work on. They have the opportunity to use one of our amazing lesson horses, or can bring their own horse for the week. Campers are able to work on dressage, hunters, jumpers, eventing, and/or western during their time at camp. Whether they are brand new to horses, improving current skills, or experienced riders eager to try something new, there is an opportunity for everyone.

I think it is incredible how broadly known Houghton’s equestrian camp is. We have campers who come from all over the country and even internationally. In recent summers, I have had campers come from as close as just down the street to as far as California, Florida, Saudi Arabia and even Russia. I always ask the campers coming from farther away how they heard about us. Sometimes, they have a Houghton connection through friends, family, or their church, but often they reply, “Your camp is one of the first ones to pop up when searching for best overnight equestrian camps.”

Our small equestrian camp program is such a big draw that can lead to potential college students who may otherwise not have discovered Houghton. Many summer campers have turned into Houghton students who become involved in our Equestrian Program by either pursuing a major or a minor in an equestrian field. Every year, we have students in our incoming class who have been campers, some years as many as five students. Many incoming students have shared that their time as a camper impacted their college decision in choosing to come to Houghton.

Students in our program, whether having been a camper previously or not, can have the opportunity to work over the summer as a camp counselor and/or instructor. This is a great hands-on learning opportunity for current students to build on their leadership skills and better prepare themselves for future jobs in the equestrian field. For those who started as campers, it can be a fulfilling full-circle moment to be on the other side of camp to help campers create special memories.

Coming full circle is something I understand well. Although I didn’t attend Houghton’s equestrian camp, my start with horses kicked off at Royal Ridges Retreat, where I was a camper at their equestrian camp. I later worked as a camp counselor and then as a camp wrangler. Those experiences led me to pursue my degree at Houghton and then stay on to direct our summer camp program. Looking back, I never would have thought that my start in summer camps would have been so influential—but here I am, 15 years later, able to give all of the campers who come through Houghton’s equestrian camp those special summer camp memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Hannah Williamson ’19 has served at Houghton since the summer of 2019 as the Assistant Equestrian Program Director and Equestrian Events Coordinator. Her role as the Equestrian Camp Director officially started the summer of 2022 after having worked as a counselor and assistant director in previous summers. She holds a bachelor of science in equine studies from Houghton University and is a Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor and Equine Facility Manager.