Did you see the most recent edition of the SMILES Hoofprints Newsletter?? There is a lot of great information in there! Click the link below if you haven't seen it yet!
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Even though we are only halfway through the Spring Session, it's time to start thinking about summer!!! Because of YOU, our dedicated VOLUNTEERS, we are able to take on some new clients this summer!! Yay!! Because of this, we would like to get our volunteers signed up as soon as possible, so that we know what classes we have some extra volunteers in!
This is what we are anticipating our Summer Session schedule to look like:
Mondays: 9:30 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Tuesdays: 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Thursdays: 9:30,10:45 4:30, 5:45, 7:00
Saturdays: 9:30, 10:45, 12:00
Please sign up using the following link! Thank you for taking the time to sign up NOW, so we can welcome some new clients!!
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Visitors/Extra Volunteers at the Facility |
We've had a few volunteers bring guests to the facility during this session, and while we love the fact that you would like to show off SMILES, we would appreciate it if you could alert the staff first. We have very full classes, with lots of volunteers, and if we have extra guests show up, we'd like to be aware and try to manage that when it is not so busy! We also require all guests to sign a liability release if they are planning to enter the horse barn. That can be a lot for 1 instructor to manage, so please try to let the staff know first if you'd like to bring a guest.
Also, if you want to volunteer on extra days, please let us know that too!! Again, because we have busy, full classes, we have lots of people in the barn/arena during class time. We'd like to make sure we have assignments for everyone, and if a volunteer cancels at the last minute, it's nice to know if other volunteers are planning to be here! We understand if your schedule doesn't permit you to commit to an entire 9-week session, but if you could tell us ahead of time you plan to volunteer on a specific day, that will help us with our volunteer assignments.
Thank you for your cooperation!! These are all good things, as it means our program is flourishing after the struggle in 2020!!
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Please remember to fill out your Volunteer Update Form! Every active volunteer needs to have one filled out. Thank you!
Click the LINK BELOW to begin filling out your form!
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How to pass in the barn aisle! |
With busier classes, it means more horses are coming and going, so we thought we would refresh everyone on how to safely pass with horses in the barn aisle! |
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**Thank you to Tiffany, Katie and Liz (behind the camera) for making this video! |
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Here are the basic steps to passing:
- Announce to the volunteers in the barn aisle that you need to pass.
- Make sure the horses in the barn aisle are moved to the side. To do that, you must drop one side of the cross ties.
- Try to pass "person to person." We know that might not always be the easiest, but it is the safest!
- Lastly, walk through quickly, keeping the horses' heads straight (no sniffing on the way by!)
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SMILES' YouTube Channel
Click the link below to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
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Thanks to all our volunteers!!
National Volunteer Week was April 18-24! We celebrated our volunteers with gifts, yummy treats, and by getting to know you better with our special clients in the arena! We took some pictures, and we know you are eager to see them! Click the link below to see all of the pictures from this fun week. Thank you, everyone! We appreciate your hard work which keeps SMILES running smoothly!!
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May Spotlight is.....Kathy Monestero!!!
How did you become involved with SMILES, and how long have you been volunteering?
I was looking for a place to volunteer and read a newspaper article about volunteering at SMILES. It sounded like the perfect place for me to volunteer working with animals and people. I have been volunteering at SMILES for 4 years.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois.
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Who is your favorite horse at SMILES and why?
That is so hard to say because I love them all! I would say Junior is a favorite because he was the first horse I worked with and he is so wonderful with all the students.
If you were gifted a million dollars, what would you do with it?
I would love to share it with SMILES and other causes that help people. I would also take care of family and do more traveling.
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What is something you like to do in May?
I look forward to doing some hiking in May. I like to do anything outside and I'm ready for the warmer weather.
What do you enjoy about volunteering at SMILES?
I love getting to work with the horses and to see the joy on the students' faces. I really enjoy all of it!
Is there anything else you'd like your fellow volunteers to know?
I am retired and live in Elkhorn with my husband. We have grown children and 2 grandsons. In my working life, I was a social worker at an agency that served children and adults with disabilities.
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Please help us welcome Kayla! Kayla is our newest team member on staff! She started her new position as Barn Coordinator on April 12th. Kayla might look a little familiar to some of you as she was a volunteer with SMILES starting in 2008. Her brother, Cody, was a SMILES rider during that time! Her roots run deep with a passion for horses as she is pictured here with her own horse, Einstein. Kayla is also training under our PATH Int'l mentors to become a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor here at SMILES! We can't wait to see all that Kayla has to offer our team! We couldn't be more excited to have you back at SMILES! |
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The "Mane" Event
Golf Outing
June 23, 2021
We look forward to seeing you at
The "Mane" Event
Wednesday, June 23rd
Hawk's View Golf Club
7377 Krueger Road, Lake Geneva
To volunteer to help at the event on 6/23 click here!
No golf experience necessary!!
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Monique Gonzalez, May 1
Gloria Reed, May 3
Judy Adams, May 4
Troy Boyer, May 6
Alison Brown, May 18
Sara Roth, May 21
Pat Walsh, May 25
Ken Monestero, May 25
Jerry Klobuchar, May 26
Gina Twing, May 30
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SMILES transcends traditional therapeutic methods by offering individuals with special needs the joy of participating in an equine-assisted program which provides social, emotional, physical and personal rewards. |
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