CHIMACUM — Marlaina Verreas wasn’t too sure about the path ahead of her Wednesday morning.
Despite that uncertainty, she buckled on a helmet, was helped aboard a horse and rode around the woods at Beausite Lake with the assistance of experienced horseback riders.
Verreas, an adult who is developmentally disabled, is one of about two dozen campers at the Northwest Kiwanis Camp, a weeklong camp for physically and developmentally disabled people, who got to hop aboard horses this week.
For most, it was their first time going for a ride in the saddle.
What began as a slow trot through the grassy parking lot, looking for balance, turned into a confident, laughter-filled ride through the woods.
And it ended with a simple request, “Can I do it again?”
The horses come from across the North Olympic Peninsula from members of local chapters of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington.
The horsemen come too.
“It’s soul-replenishing,” said Betsy Wyatt, a member of the Port Angeles chapter of riders.
“It just makes you feel good to come out here and help everyone go for a ride.”
Juelie Dalzell, a member of Jefferson County’s chapter of riders, described it as a heart-warming experience.
“You have people who are blind, deaf and in wheelchairs,” Dalzell said.
“They start off scared or yelling or asking us to not let them fall.
“Then they come back smiling. It’s wonderful.”
For four weeks every summer, the Northwest Kiwanis Camp offers physically and developmentally disabled people a one-week trip to their camp on the shores of Beausite Lake.
The location serves as an opportunity for special-needs individuals from ages 6 to 65 take part in the outdoors experience at their own pace. Activities include much of what goes on at any summer camp, from horseback riding and fishing to arts and crafts and songs by the campfire.
Chris Wheeler, program director, said overall, the camp serves as an opportunity to have fun.
“We have an abundance of activities here,” Wheeler said.
“We get a lot of people from all over who both want to come to the camp and who want to work as counselors.”
Counselors are paid and range in age from 16 to college age.
“We are full this year, but we are accepting applications for the next year already,” Wheeler said.
And while the camp isn’t free, it does offer financial assistance to campers who otherwise can’t afford it.
The camp relies heavily on donations and volunteers to keep up the facilities.
This year, they built a new restroom facility. Next year, they hope to create a central pavilion and bunk houses to expand the camp.
“It’s a small group of people trying to do some big things,” said Nadiene Jonientz, a member of the board of directors.
“A camp like this gives people a chance to participate in some specialized activities that they otherwise might not get to enjoy.”
Jonientz said the camp is now in its 20th year and more applications come in every year.
“We are seeing more and more kids come in who are diagnosed with autism,” she said.
“This camp is specialized to deal with that.”
The horses might have something to do with that, Dalzell said.
“When I came here last week there was one camper with autism who was always running around and really active,” she said.
“They had to have one counselor just following him around to keep him in the area.
“When he got in the saddle though, it was different, he was completely calm.”
Ford Kessler, a member of Jefferson County’s chapter of riders, said he believes the horses are aware of their purpose at the camp.
“I think they really do know what they are doing,” Kessler said.
“They know they are doing something special when they get out here, and they are happy doing it.”
For more information, phone 360-732-7222 or click on http://kiwaniscamp.com/.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
