Welcome to camp.
Ellenwood Equestrian Center's summer camp offers a fun filled day of outdoor activities. If your child likes being outside all day, playing hard, getting dirty, learning new things, meeting cool like minded kids, and being around all kinds of friendly animals, then this is the camp for them. Parents can expect their children to get a good introductory education in stable care, horse care, and the basics of English riding from a week of camp. When parents tell me that their child has done every camp under the sun and likes ours the best, or that their child is so worn out that they fall asleep on the way home, we know we've done our job.
Camp is run by Lynn Marks, the owner of the center. Lynn is a native of Chicago and attended Antioch College earning a degree in Social Work. She has lived in the Atlanta area for 30 years and has owned and run her stable for the last 11 years. She teaches riding lessons year around and is an avid rider and dressage competitor.
Our safety record is one of our proudest accomplishments. Riding is a somewhat risky sport but we are proud to say that in ten years we have had virtually no accidents, serious or otherwise. The most we've had were a few innocuous falls off the horses, which is to be expected while learning to ride. Usually we have as few as only one or two falls each summer, a rather spectacular statistic considering we have over 300 campers per summer, and most of them are beginner riders. This safety record holds true each summer due to a variety of factors: the excellent quality of the ever patient lesson horses, the training and knowledge of the staff, and the overall commitment to safety that has given our barn the reputation it enjoys.
Campers should bring lunch, snacks, and water bottles. They should wear jeans or long shorts, and sturdy shoes and socks. Tank tops or t-shirts are fine. The center furnishes riding helmets and riding boots so it is not necessary to purchase these items for camp unless you desire your child to have their own. Please don't send your child with a bicycle helmet as they are not suitable for riding - all of our helmets are safety approved for the sport. Send a bathing suit and towel for the pool, and flip flops and a change of clothes for them to change into for the very end of the day. If they use sunscreen and bug spray please send it and we will help them with it.
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit our facility while considering signing your child up for camp. A quick phone call is you need to set up a time for your tour.
Rounding out the crew is the greatest set of barn helpers any stable can hope for. The helpers are all long time riding students who have been at the barn for many years and know how to run things to Lynn's meticulous satisfaction. These girls range in age from 10 - 17 and most weeks there are at least 7 or more helpers working besides Lynn and Leah.
Lynn's next in command is her 19-year-old daughter Leah, who has grown up in the business. She assists in all aspects of running the center, from the barn work to working with students. She is a nationally-ranked champion dressage rider/competitor, holding many prestigious awards. She is an inspiration to the students and campers with her accomplishments, all on horses that she has trained herself.