Affordable Horseplay at Camp Pokamoke

Having a horse-crazy daughter when you own no horse can be a problem - and an expensive one to fix.

The YMCA's Camp Pokamoke comes to my rescue each year with summer day camps to keep my equestrian-minded kid busy learning about, caring for and, of course, riding horses. Never has my eight-year-old daughter come home as absolutely filthy, exhausted and happy as when she attends Pokamoke.

The camp includes more than 100 acres of hilly forests in the Iowa Bluffs near Crescent. You only have to find it on Family Night though, because each day buses pick up and return campers to their local Y branches.

Campers in the horse riding sessions also partake in traditional camp activities like swimming, hiking and crafts. Sessions for kids unconcerned with the horsey life include mountain biking, archaeology, archery and soccer. Most week-long camps cost $150-190 - far less than some local stables charge. Plan to spend a little extra for camp t-shirts, Family Night dinners and a candy store allowance.

Pokamoke is an excellent entry point to traditional camp life before kids commit to a sleep-away camp. To check out which sessions are still available, visit www.metroymca.org.

Strategy tip: For the best selection, register for camp in January. First-time campers will enjoy the self-guided open house tours. Watch for special horse-related events at other times of the year.

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