Week 5: Christmas in July

Event: Operation North Pole at the Barn

Something magical has happened at Highland Saddle Club… Christmas has arrived in the middle of summer. Santa’s barn helpers are in trouble, holiday cheer is disappearing, and the campers have been chosen to save Christmas before it is too late.

This week, campers become honorary elves and official helpers for Santa’s sleigh team. From the moment they arrive, they are welcomed into a festive world filled with decorations, surprises, holiday games, and magical missions. Their biggest job of all is making sure Christmas stays on track.

At the start of the week, each camper is given a special Christmas gift from the North Pole, a wrapped present that must be protected all week long. These gifts are meant for Santa’s sleigh delivery, and it is the campers’ responsibility as elves to keep them safe until Christmas can be saved.

If the gifts are lost, stolen, or left unprotected, Santa’s sleigh cannot be loaded and Christmas at Highland Saddle Club could be ruined.

Each day brings a new Christmas challenge. Campers may complete ornament making contests, holiday scavenger hunts, candy cane relays, horse friendly treat decorating, barn decorating competitions, and Christmas themed riding games to earn points and protect the gifts for Santa’s sleigh.

Campers will continue learning horse care, grooming, tacking, and riding skills while enjoying festive barn activities built into every part of the week. Riding lessons may include holiday obstacle courses, reindeer relay races, or special Christmas themed horse games that make learning even more exciting.

But there is one big problem… The Grinch has made his way to Highland Saddle Club and he is determined to steal Christmas in July. He wants to take the presents, ruin the holiday spirit, and stop Santa’s sleigh from leaving the barn.

Throughout the week, campers must work together to stop his sneaky plans, recover missing decorations, protect the gifts, and make sure Christmas can still happen. The Grinch may leave behind clues, steal supplies, hide surprises, and appear for special challenges that keep campers on their toes all week long.

If a camper leaves their gift unprotected, the Grinch may try to take it. This adds an extra layer of fun, teamwork, and excitement throughout the entire week as campers work together to guard the presents and save Christmas.

Camp staff help keep the mystery alive as Santa’s helpers, holiday judges, and protectors of Christmas magic.

By Friday, campers complete the final mission, defeat the Grinch’s plans, successfully protect the gifts for Santa’s sleigh, and officially save Christmas during the family horse show where friends and family are invited to celebrate the week together.

Christmas in July is full of laughter, kindness, teamwork, and the kind of magic that makes Pony Camp unforgettable.