GENERATIONS saddling up for some bonding Age 10 is ticket to ride with Grandma
Grandmother continues tradition of taking grandchildren on one-on-one trips when they turn 10
Date published: 10/6/2007
BY LUCIA ANDERSON
FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR
CRANDALL, Ga.--They call the program "Just Horsin' Around."
It's billed as a week of riding horses and learning to care for them, with a horse auction and other extras thrown in. To a 10-year-old girl, it sounded like just the ticket for her special trip with Grandma.
Two years ago I took my grandson, Jack, on an Elderhostel intergenerational trip to Yellowstone National Park, promising his little sisters that they would each have a special trip when they got to be 10. This year it was Moira's turn.
I had sent her a list of possible trips that fit my budget and, I hoped, her interests. I'm told the choice took no time at all. Horse camp was the runaway winner. And it lived up to our expectations.
georgia on our minds
The program is located at Cohutta Springs, a conference and retreat center in northwestern Georgia run by the Seventh-day Adventists. Moira and I flew from Providence, R.I., her hometown, to Atlanta, where we rented a car. We could also have flown to Chattanooga, Tenn., but I thought there might be more to see in Atlanta.
Before we left the city we visited the Georgia Aquarium, a really neat place with some stunning exhibits. It's divided into different habitats--penguins and beluga whales in one area, river otters and piranhas in another. The highlight is a glass tunnel through a tank, where the fish swim over top and alongside the people. Cool!
We still had plenty of time to get to Cohutta Springs, an easy two-hour drive up Interstate 75 and U.S. 411.
There were 48 of us in the group, fairly evenly divided between grandparents and grandchildren, with a couple of parents included as well. The children ranged from 9 to 15. Some had never been on a horse before, others owned a horse or had taken lessons. Most of the adults had ridden some, but for almost all of us it was a long time ago.
feeling neigh-borly
We met our horses the morning after our arrival. There were only 24 horses, so we had to share. This was actually a good thing, because grooming and tacking up goes a lot faster with two people sharing the chores.
| Hints for successful travel with grandchildren:
Don't start too early. I have found 10 to be a wonderful age--my grandchildren have been old enough to follow directions and enjoy what was being offered, without being so old that being with Grandma was distinctly uncool. On both trips there were 9-year-olds who got a little whiny and middle-schoolers who didn't want anything to do with the scheduled program.
Make sure you get full instructions from the child's parents on any health issues or necessary medications. Does the child need a night light to go to sleep? Is he really, really cranky if he doesn't get eight hours of shuteye? Does he get airsick/carsick? Are there things the parents don't want the child exposed to, such as certain TV shows?
It doesn't hurt to check out dietary quirks, either. But, aside from food allergies, stay loose. If the kid won't eat anything but bread, mashed potatoes with gravy or ice cream, don't sweat it. This isn't the time to insist on green, leafy vegetables and lean, grilled meats. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.
If you're traveling by air, check out the baggage situation. Unless the parents do a lot of air travel, they may not be up on all the latest Transportation Safety Administration hurdles. In fact, since these seem to change moment by moment, make sure you know if there have been any changes since the last time you flew. Make sure the child has a change of underwear and any necessary toiletries/medications in his carry-on luggage so that if the checked baggage ends up in Lower Botswana, you can survive for a day or so.
Many organized programs last for less than a week. Check out what else is in the neighborhood that might be fun or instructive to visit. No sense in flying hundreds of miles from home and not taking advantage of what's available at the destination.
Above all, enjoy this special time with your grandchild. Most of us don't get a chance to spend much time alone with just one of them. Get to know what makes him/her special, and maybe you'll get a chance to let him/her know what makes you special, too. At any rate, you'll both have some wonderful memories.
|
|
In addition to the Elderhostel week, Cohutta Springs is open to individuals, families and other groups. Reservations are strongly encouraged to ensure availability of accommodations.
In addition to motel-style rooms with lake views, there are chalets with their own kitchens, and RV and tent camping sites. Trail rides are usually limited to groups of six or more. There is also a swimming pool, canoeing on the lake and miles of beautiful hiking trails as well as horseshoes, volleyball and tennis. Phone 706/695-9093; the Web site is cohuttasprings.com.
|
|
Date published: 10/6/2007
|
