Camp Mohaven Equine Program Makes a Difference

Photo Credit: Camp Mohaven Staff

Camp Mohaven Equine Program Makes a Difference

Story by Heidi Shoemaker

Mention Camp Mohaven to members around Ohio and almost everyone will probably envision summer camp adventures, past and present. Mention the Danville-based camp to ranger Dave Robinson,and he will gladly tell you about Mohaven’s growing equine program led by Barb Banbury, CHA, which is benefiting kids from the local public elementary school.

Behaviorally challenged students in grades 2-6 at Danville Elementary School leave their classrooms every Friday during the school year to visit Camp Mohaven, where horses are their teachers. Educators in the school say they find that the horses are good for the students, some of whom have autism and ADHD.

“The kids that I work with have a lot of behavior problems for a variety of reasons, and so they come out here and learn to build a relationship with horses because the horses are nonjudgmental," says Lisa Muncie, an intervention specialist and special education teacher in Danville.

After only a year in operation, the results are impressive. Behavioral data shows a reduction in bus referrals (including suspensions) from 12 to two, and office referrals (fighting, harassment, disruptive behavior) from 14 to five. Breakthroughs for students are tangible, emotionally and academically.

"There's a young lady here with us right now, she hadn't really smiled in three years, and now that she has been out here with the program, you can't smack the smile off of her," Muncie says. In the classroom, she notes that students have gained self-confidence and improved their test scores. "What we noticed was, of the six kids I had last year, five of those kids made as much growth in this half year as they did all last year," she says.

“Mohaven is a vibrant ministry of the Ohio Conference. We reach out to many different groups, both constituent and non-constituent. We are blessed the Lord has opened the door for us to utilize His camp to help change the lives of these young people in our community,” says Robinson. Plans to expand the equine-assisted education program are on the horizon, allowing Mohaven to make an even bigger difference in the lives of these young people.

For more information, contact Robinson at campmohavenman@gmail.com or (740) 599-6111.