Can campers try Camping Skills or Outdoor Skills if they've never camped before?

That's exactly who those activities are built for. Girls learn to set up a tent, build a fire, and navigate the Chicagami Trail with staff guiding every step. First-timers usually leave wondering why they waited so long.

What if my daughter doesn't want to get in the water?

She never has to. Adventure activities include plenty that have nothing to do with the lake — archery, biking, camping skills, outdoor skills. A girl can have a full adventure week without getting her hair wet once.

Is archery supervised? What does safety look like on the range?

The archery range runs with a certified instructor on-site for every session. Campers learn proper form and range rules before they ever pick up a bow. No one draws until the range is clear and the instructor gives the signal.

Do campers need experience to try sailing or kayaking?

No experience needed for any of it. Staff teach from the beginning — proper paddling technique, how to read wind on the water, how to handle a bow. Girls who've never been in a kayak are in the majority, not the minority.

Can my daughter try multiple adventure activities or does she pick one?

Campers build a schedule that includes multiple activities, so there's no need to choose just one. A girl can spend time kayaking on Hunter Lake, try archery on the range, and go out on the sailing dock in the same session.

How are adventure activities structured throughout the day?

Campers choose their activities at the start of each session and build a schedule around them. Adventure programming runs throughout the day, so girls spend real, repeated time on the water and outdoors, not just a one-time sample. Repetition matters. A girl who tries kayaking on Hunter Lake on day one is noticeably more confident by the end of her session. The structure gives that progress somewhere to go.

What if my daughter is nervous about trying something new outdoors?

Everyone's at least a little nervous, honestly. A girl who has never stood on a paddleboard or held a kayak paddle is not unusual at WeHaKee. Staff introduce activities in a way that makes the first try feel manageable, not like a test. The camp setting helps too. When your daughter sees a cabinmate try something and laugh about it, the pressure drops. Most of the nerves disappear by day two.

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Trail rides, horse care, grooming & more

Horseback Riding

At WeHaKee, horses are part of daily life. Girls ride, groom, tack up, and care for their horse every day in the Wisconsin Northwoods. First-timers welcome.

All skill levels

8 activities

English Riding

Grooming

Horse Care

Jump Skills

Riding Basics

Tacking Up

Trail Rides

Western Riding

Riding, Grooming, and Everything In Between

The horseback riding program at Camp WeHaKee goes deeper than lessons. Campers groom, tack up, and care for their horses every day, building the kind of relationship with an animal that takes consistency and patience to earn. Riding instruction covers arena work and trail rides through the Northwoods, with skill groupings so beginners and experienced riders both progress at the right pace.

More advanced riders work on jumping, western, and English riding technique.

What she takes home

Horses do not respond to effort you're faking. That's what makes this program different: the growth is real and visible.

Riding skills matched to each camper's experience level
Daily horse care: grooming, tacking, and stall work
Responsibility and patience through working with animals
Confidence that builds visibly across the session

Stacie & Cory

Directors

"The barn has a way of leveling things. The girl who arrived nervous and timid is beaming with pride atop her horse by the end of the session."

More photos

Take a deeper look into the wonderful activities that make Camp WeHakee unforgettable.

FAQs

Have questions?

Does my daughter need to bring her own helmet or riding equipment?

No. Helmets are provided and required for all riders. WeHaKee supplies the equipment campers need for the riding program. If your daughter has her own helmet that fits properly and she prefers to use it, that's fine, but nothing needs to be purchased or packed specifically for riding.

What makes horseback riding at WeHaKee different from a regular lesson program?

Most lesson programs put you on a horse for 45 minutes and send you home. At WeHaKee, campers are in the barn every day. They groom, tack, and care for their horse before and after each ride, which means they actually build a relationship with the animal over the course of the session.

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That ongoing connection changes what the riding means. Girls who are nervous at the start of the week are often the ones who don't want to leave the barn by the end of it.

How much time do campers spend riding versus doing horse care?

Both are real parts of the day, not one padded by the other. Campers ride regularly and spend time in the barn doing grooming, tacking, and general care. The split varies by day and session, but it's not a program where horse care is the whole thing with a few minutes in the saddle.

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Girls who want more riding time can add the horseback riding add-on, which gives dedicated extra time in the ring and on trails beyond the standard program.

How are riders grouped by experience level?

At the start of the session, staff assess each camper's comfort and prior experience. Complete beginners work on balance, basic control, and building confidence at a walk before moving on. More experienced riders continue developing their skills at a more advanced pace.

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No one is placed in a group that's above or below where they actually are. The goal is for every girl to feel capable and make progress, not to move everyone through the same curriculum on the same schedule.

How is safety handled during horseback riding?

Campers are closely supervised during all riding and barn time by trained staff. Before anyone rides, there's instruction covering how to mount, how to handle the horse, and what to do if something unexpected happens. Girls are matched with horses that fit their experience level, not just whatever is available.

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Helmets are required and provided. WeHaKee's ACA accreditation means the riding program's safety standards have been reviewed and verified by an outside organization.