for kids who love horsin' around
Do you have an interest in horses? Have you been wanting to learn or try horseback riding? Then this week of camp is for you! Spend time learning about horses, talking about horses, grooming horses, riding horses, and making horse-themed crafts. Yee haw! Of course, the week will be rounded out with all the classic camp fun like climbing on the climbing tower, boating, fishing, swimming, and nature activities. Saddle Crew campers will explore bible discovery with just their small group but will have time with other camp programs to enjoy larger group activities.
The Saddle Crew campers get to spend three of their mornings off-site at Golden Reins Equestrian Center, located in Annville, PA. Through arena riding and hands-on lessons from experienced staff, campers will learn beginner riding skills in the saddle, basic horse handling, grooming, and more. Riding instruction will be a mix of English and Western riding — so campers will "trot" away from this week with the knowledge of multiple different riding disciplines. Golden Reins has 16 horses on the farm, and staff stay busy year-round with lessons, shows in local rodeos and barrel races, and training projects. If you have any questions about this off-site trip, please call our office at 717-273-6525 or email camp@gretnaglen.org.
Our Goals for every camper
Our goal for all overnight campers is to create an environment where they can THRIVE:
Try new experiences
Camp is great exposure to new people, news skills, and new challenges.
Hear Good News
We are here to share in the joy of knowing and following Jesus Christ!
Reset and Renew
We work hard to create a place where campers can be themselves, unplug from devices, and rest.
Inspire One Another
Community experiences and culture creation are intentional, key aspects of every week.
Value Themselves
Campers learn they can do more than they thought possible by learning and growing all week long.
Explore Possibilites
Campers are encouraged to ask questions about their faith, their future, and their world.
More Than a Riding Lesson
A week with horses does something that is hard to explain until you see it. Campers learn patience because horses demand it. They learn confidence because a 1,000-pound animal responds to calm, clear communication. They learn respect because horsemanship is half riding and half listening. By Thursday, kids who showed up hesitant are leading their horse across the arena on their own.
The Gretna Glen half of the week gives it balance. The mornings are focused and skill-building. The afternoons are the classic camp week that Saddle Crew campers come back year after year to experience alongside new friends who share the same love for horses.
WHERE YOU'LL STAY
Campers stay in cabins on Gretna Glen's main campus. Cabins feature bunk beds, a changing area, and a modern shower house built in 2018. Saddle Crew is a mainsite program, so campers eat in the Dining Hall and have full access to main campus facilities between riding days.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW
No prior riding experience is needed. Every skill is taught from the ground up, and Golden Reins pairs campers with horses matched to their experience and confidence level.
Gretna Glen is ACA-accredited, meeting over 300 health, safety, and quality standards. All equestrian instruction is led by certified staff at Golden Reins, and helmets are required and provided.
Off-Site Transportation
Gretna Glen staff transport campers to and from Golden Reins on riding mornings. All transportation is included in the program cost.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
- Kids 9 to 12 who love horses or have been asking to ride
- Campers looking for a program with a real specialty focus
- First-time riders ready for a guided, confidence-building introduction
- Returning riders who want more hands-on time in the saddle