Community
For some middle school students, a day without school is a welcome opportunity to spend time with friends, participate in organized activities, or enjoy time with family. For others, it can mean hours with little to do, few opportunities for enrichment, and limited access to the experiences that help young people discover new interests and build meaningful connections. Community School Collaborative (CSC) strives to make these kinds of experiences available as often as possible for Park County youth, regardless of their family's circumstances.
That's why CSC, an independent Park County nonprofit, offers free Pop-Up Clubs that take students beyond the classroom and into their community, where they can explore careers, discover strengths, meet caring adults, and experience something new. On Thursday, October 15, that opportunity took the form of an afternoon with the horses at Windhorse Equine Learning. The Pop-Up Club brought Sleeping Giant Middle School students together with equine professionals for four hours of hands-on learning, connection, and discovery. Students learned about horse behavior, grooming, and careers involving horses, including the important role horses can play in therapeutic and educational settings.
"I got to learn how to groom a horse," one student reported.
"Horses can be used for therapy," another observed.
But the learning extended well beyond career awareness. For CSC, the value of Pop-Up Clubs begins with a simple understanding: young people need opportunities to feel connected, capable, and valued. Research suggests that young people who can imagine positive futures for themselves are more likely to make healthy decisions, develop higher self-esteem, avoid risky behaviors, and remain engaged in school. CSC's programs help create the experiences and relationships that support that sense of possibility.
Pop-Up Clubs give students access to activities and experiences that might otherwise be unavailable to them. They also provide opportunities to interact with adults outside their families and classrooms: people who can introduce them to new interests, encourage their curiosity, and help them recognize their own abilities.
CSC also provides meals and snacks during these activities, recognizing that access to nutritious food is not something every Park County family can take for granted. In a community where families face rising living costs, limited youth programming options, and other economic pressures, these seemingly small details matter. A free afternoon activity can mean a new friendship, a discovered interest, a caring adult connection, and a good meal.
At Windhorse, students had the opportunity to interact with horses under the guidance of a team experienced in equine care and learning. Kate Johnston led the experience, joined by Windhorse founder Darcy Minter and team members Nikki Lorton, Molly Williams, Demi Hagler, and Madelyn Leier. Several of the professionals had previously worked with Eagle Mount, bringing valuable experience in helping people with different abilities participate in meaningful activities involving animals. Their patient, attentive approach helped students become comfortable with the horses and created an environment where all of the students CSC brought could participate. One student developed a special connection with a horse named Taco. Others discovered how much they enjoyed grooming and spending time with their new equine companions.
The afternoon also offered a reminder that a student's initial attitude doesn't always predict what an experience will mean to them. A couple of students arrived reluctant to participate. By the end of the afternoon, both were smiling and clearly attached to the horses they had met. Sometimes a young person simply needs the right opportunity to discover something that brings them joy.
CSC's Pop-Up Clubs are one part of a larger effort to help Park County middle school students develop the confidence, skills, and connections they need to become healthy, thriving adults. Through an incredible partnership with Sleeping Giant Middle School, CSC offers Career Days, job shadows, and smaller hands-on experiences like this one, introducing students to the possibilities within their community while helping them build relationships with people who care about their futures.
CSC is deeply grateful to the Windhorse Equine Learning team for opening their doors and hearts to local youth. And CSC is equally grateful to the donors who make these experiences possible. All CSC Pop-Up Clubs are offered to participating students at no cost. That commitment depends on community support.
If you believe every Park County child deserves access to meaningful experiences, caring adults, and opportunities to discover what makes them feel capable and connected, please consider making a donation at csc4kids.org.