I had the incredible opportunity to work at a few summer camps, as a Horseback Riding Instructor, across the United States in my youth. Unfortunately, it also ended up taking a toll on my body....even knowing this, I still would not have traded the experience for anything.
My first camp job was at a Girl Scout Camp in New Windsor, Illinois called Pipper Hills. I was a general counselor assigned to the Horseback Riding program, under the direction of Penny Youngquist. The sleeping accommodations consisted of platform tents. For those of you who have never experienced them or even heard of them....they are made up of small wooden planks built to form a platform or a little stage...the platforms are on short "stilts" that raise them a bit off the ground, just high enough to keep rain flooding the floor. Then a frame is built onto the platform, it somewhat resembles the "bones" of a house that's under construction. To enclose this, a canvas tent is tied to the platform's frame to keep rain and pests out...when it works...LOL
The tent that I shared with two other staff members leaked every time it rained, mouse would run along the framework and, although the floors never flooded, the ground directly outside of the door collected rain. It was definitely an experience that will last a lifetime.
The horse I rode as my "regular" mount was named Harley. He was a stocky black grade horse with a couple of "distinct" features. The first of these unusual characteristics was his blond mustache. It was so long that the farrier would shave it for him when he came out to trim the horses' hooves. The second, and most profound thing about my dear Harley was the fact that whenever you went to mount up, he would emit gas. Not a long draw out one or even a little "toot"...his gas passing sounded like you were revving up a Harley Davidson motorcycle...hence his name "Harley".
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