Horizons summer programs at SEMO give children new learning experiences

A week of rock climbing, making mirrors, fragrances and plastics or assembling and disassembling a computer are some examples of the 27 programs available for children 9 to 14 at Horizons. Most of the 27 programs took place on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, but venturing outside the classroom for field trips was not uncommon. Four one-week sessions were offered in the morning or afternoon from June 6 to July 1. The average fee for each session was about $99.

"In the Saddle," new to Horizons this year, was held at Cane Creek Ranch in Jackson. Because of its popularity, a second session was added.

Instructors Bob and Debra Wolfenkoehler have limited the class to 12 instead of the typical 15 students. "Twelve's a handful. They'd get more out of it with less students," said Bob Wolfenkoehler.

Parents and siblings watched students ride after tasks of grooming, haltering and saddling were completed and were invited to ride on the last day.

Chris, Bruce and Tyler Qualls of Chaffee watched their daughter and sister, Molly Qualls, taking lessons. Molly learned she was good at riding and wants to continue with lessons. Her mother, Chris, said, "Debra and Bob have done an excellent job working with the kids."

Bruce, her father, said, "It [the class] included behind-the-scenes stuff. They learned about the full responsibility they need to take on when they're serious about horses. They see there's more to it than just riding."

Four horses were used for the students' lessons with everyone getting a chance to ride each horse. Bob Wolfenkoehler said, "The children learn more than basic horsemanship and care of horses. Responsibility is learned in saddling, haltering and grooming the animal, patience is learned by waiting their turn and sportsmanship in the challenges of maneuvering and controlling the horse."

Steering, stopping, pole bending and an extended trot were some of the skills taught in the ring.

Sarah Cleaver, 9, of Cape Girardeau learned that the trick to haltering is letting the horse eat a little corn unless they come to you first.

Sarah also signed up for the Horizons Junior Veterinarian program. She said, "I love animals. I'm not really sure what I want to be when I grow up yet, but I'd like to take riding lessons here."

The new Horizons programs this year were Livewire: Generating Electricity, Junior Veterinarian, In the Saddle, Photoshop: Graphics with a Twist, Design your Own Webpage and Forensic Science Academy.

Trevor Biri of Jackson began taking Horizons classes three years ago. This summer in "Photoshop: Graphics with a Twist," he learned to combine and create images with the computer program Photoshop.

Horizons recently completed its 19th summer. The program's first year had an enrollment of 71 students.

Nineteen years later, Horizons offers scholarships through a Cape Girardeau afterschool program, the Tiger Initiative. The university provides an in-kind scholarship for every five grant-funded Tiger Initiative scholarships.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133