50 People for 50 Years: Emiley (Ross) Popp, Volunteer & Camp Counselor
Emiley was 16 and on the way to visit her aunt in Long Valley, when she spotted the “Volunteers Needed Sign” at Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center (now Mane Stream). Looking for volunteer hours to put on her college application, volunteering at Summer Camp sounded like the perfect opportunity for her. Emiley shared, “Volunteering at camp taught me to be responsible, focused, calm, and respectful, and how to work with all different types of people. It was an eye opener, and I loved it!”
Emiley remembers Mane Stream as being a big family where everyone knew everyone. She volunteered on the weekends and during camp, with the same group of people each week. “It was a close-knit family and I fell right into it.” The people she remembers working with the most were instructors, Lisa and Kathy and of course former volunteer coordinator Carol, and Kate, the barn manager at the time, was like a big sister. Emiley remembers looking up to a few of the volunteers like Megan Porzio. Emiley reveals that she had “found her people.” Emiley favorite day as a camp volunteer was trail ride day. “As a volunteer, trail ride day could be rough, but it was really great for the kids. The organization [Mane Stream] does amazing work and I was excited to see the campers grow week by week and year by year; it was cool to see it from the sidelines.”
Emiley confessed that the first year was a real challenge; however, as the years went on, she adjusted to the ebb and flow of the camp’s daily routine. “Coming back to camp each year felt like a family reunion. I loved seeing the inclusivity of the summer camp program and how all of the volunteers were there for the same purpose regardless of age, which ranged from 16 to 65.” She fondly remembered returning campers would run over and give her a hug.
While at Mane Stream, Emiley learned to interpret and understand the abilities within her group, a skill she uses to this day. Emiley felt that the benefit of an inclusive camp like Mane Stream’s was the opportunity to work with all different types of people. In her daily life, Emiley did not have the opportunity to meet people with different abilities. Her experiences at camp taught Emiley how to interact with a variety of people and encouraged her to become confident in many ways.
After volunteering for a few years at camp, Emiley joined camp as a staff member and she loved the challenge of creating arts and crafts projects that could be completed by a wide variety of abilities. Her favorite project was a horse show wind chime! Emiley was able to carry over a lot of her camp experiences into her time as a student teacher. The knowledge she gained from working with Mane Stream’s participants impacted her ability to adapt classroom projects to the different needs of her students. Although Emiley left teaching, she used the skills she acquired at Mane Stream to help in her job as an EMT.
In addition to volunteering and part of the camp staff, Emiley was also a barn assistant. A favorite memory was working in the barn on the holidays. “My mom and sister would come and keep me company, when no one else was around, it was magical.” Emiley continues to follow the progress of the organization on social media. She likes seeing how Mane Stream still has a family atmosphere for participants and volunteers. She also stated “You can’t beat hippotherapy (as a treatment tool). Animals seem to bring out the best in people. My days at the farm were very rewarding.”
Thank you for your years of service and for sharing your story Emiley!
