Reader Lisa Faye Toman-Bukholder recently sent me this fun activity that they are doing for the last week of sessions. I love making the last week something special! She writes that “I am using a theme for our last week of school here in Highlands County, FL, which we are calling, “Heartland Fish Camp.” Here in FL there are a lot of fish camps for real, so it seemed a logical theme! It may not translate as well to your Northern readers…but here it is”. Thank you so much for sharing this activity, Lisa! Without further ado…
Fish Camp Activity
Set Up
The arena will be set up with an obstacle course that includes a “fishin’ pond” in the middle where we will use a magnetic fishing pole and fish in a kiddie pool which is attached to a table.
Activity
- The students will ride the obstacle course, stopping at the “pond” to fish and will put their catch into a bucket nearby.
- This will earn them their “bait bag” of goodies (Swedish Fish and gummy worms in a little treat bag) and their prize bag with flippin’ frogs and fish tattoos.
- There will also be Goldfish bags (goldfish crackers) to give out.
- We will serve “worm juice” (green Kool-Aid)
- and allow the riders to paint a wooden fish, play the fishin’ hole game (corn hole), and just hang out together at the tables which are covered in plastic fish-themed covers.
- I will set up a tent and make a “campfire” ring to add to the camp idea.
Cautions
Cautions would include nut allergies, dye allergies, or milk and soy allergies. These students may need an option of fruit leather or fruit juice and skip the sugary stuff.
Lesson Plan
Click the image for a bigger picture of the lesson plan for the Fish Camp riding class, or click the link below it to download the PDF.
Download the PDF: HHEAL Fish Camp Game Day PDF
Flyer to Volunteers and Instructors
HHEAL HEARTLAND FISH CAMP flyer
Supplies
I found much of these items either at Oriental Trading Co., or at Walmart. Walmart gave us a gift card to cover the cost of the food items. We usually have 3 days of classes during the week, so this theme will be fun and give a sense of continuity and celebration to all our riders for the last week of school.
Here are some pictures of the supplies.
And here’s a pic of fishin!
Concluding Thoughts
This activity is very adaptable to most riding skills, so you can use it for all your riders all day, just add a lesson plan objective that is specific to your rider’s skill. I also love that besides having a special lesson activity, she is having additional activities outside of the arena to celebrate the last day of sessions before summer! Are you doing anything special for your last week of sessions?
Thank you again Lisa for sharing! I hope this inspires all you instructors out there 🙂
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Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement! If you would like to contribute an activity or article, please contact me here, I would love to hear from you!