November 2024 Newsletter

11/11/2024

Storm Chaser Stables

November 2024 Newsletter

Dear Storm Chaser Stables Community,

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming move to a new farm location! This exciting shift brings new opportunities for growth and we’re so grateful for your support during this transition. We’re looking forward to the future and can’t wait to share it with all of you!

In this issue you’ll find details about the move, our temporary closure dates, volunteer opportunities, upcoming fundraiser, and a poll to help shape our 2025-2026 class offerings for Farm School.

Announcing Our New Farm Location!

We’re excited to share that Storm Chaser Stables is officially relocating to a beautiful farm in Dillwyn, VA! Our new address will be updated on our website and social pages in the coming weeks. What you need to know now: Our projected closure dates for all programs at SCS are from November 25, 2024 through January 5, 2025 to allow us time to set up the new facilities. The week after Thanksgiving we will reopen the farm to any volunteers able to help us with projects and transitioning the herd. We’ll keep you updated on our progress and look forward to welcoming you back to an improved space in the new year!

The main concern we have heard from you about our move is the distance away from our current facility. At our new location, we will be within a 20-30 minute radius of the schools in Fluvanna, Buckingham, and Scottsville, placing us in a more central location to all of you. We have a plan in motion to continue serving all of these communities with after school classes and camps! Please feel free to contact us directly if you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts to share on how this transition will affect your student’s classes.

Volunteer Opportunities: Project Leaders and Team Members Needed

As we prepare to transition to the new farm, we’re calling on our community to help make it a space for learning, growth, and connection. We need leaders for immediate projects and 2-3 team members per project to assist with essential setups, including:

Building temporary and permanent fencing
Moving the herd — those with trucks please message us!
Constructing arenas with footing and fencing
Improving farm entrances with gates and gravel
Staking out and building trails
Designing and building obstacles for our jump field and obstacle course
Planning our future barn with classroom and attached indoor arena

We anticipate opening the new farm to volunteer help the week after Thanksgiving. If you’re interested in leading or joining a team, please reach out! We’re grateful for any assistance, whether big or small. Thank you!

Congratulations to Our 2024 Team!

Last weekend we attended the travel team’s final event of the season. We couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and achievements this year! Incredibly, the team raised over $1250 for their event fees at three student-run bake sales. Students who participated in the full show season were recognized at Westwood Stables and Silver Star Farm for their efforts with various year-end awards. Join us in congratulating our team for a successful season of teamwork and horsemanship!

Interested in the team experience for your child? SCS Equestrian Team membership applications are open for 2025! This opportunity is open to horsemanship students who exemplify our farm’s core values of kindness, safety, horsemanship skillset excellence, and sportsmanship. Contact us to learn more!

Equestrian Team 2025 Application

Fundraiser to Support Student Access in 2025 and Beyond

We’re committed to making our programs accessible for all students and this year we’re launching a fundraiser to help make that possible. Donations will directly support a scholarship fund for student tuition and create setups that allow more youth to experience the benefits of our programs. Our funding goals include:

$8,000 - Relocation and setup expenses to ensure we have a stable and accessible home for the farm school.
$12,000 - Program support and scholarship fund for families who need assistance accessing our classes.
$5,000 - Funding for learning materials, tools, and supplies to support classes in horsemanship, gardening, self-sufficiency, and more.
$15,000 - Tractor and equipment (post hole auger, bushhog, arena drag) to maintain safe and functional learning spaces for students and animals.
$10,000 Fencing and shelters for our horses and other animals and creating secure, engaging areas for hands-on lessons.

You can support us by sharing and contributing to our GoFundMe fundraiser. We truly appreciate your help — we couldn’t make this impact in our community without you!

Help Shape Our 2025-26 Class Offerings

We’re excited to hear from you about the types of classes you’d love to see next year! Potential offerings for our upcoming schedule include:

Cooking & Culinary Arts
Nature Study & Exploration
Yoga & Equestrian Fitness
Fine Art (Expressive, Watercolor, Botanical, 3-D, & More)
Horsemanship Clinics & Equine Assisted Learning Courses

Email us with your top choices or suggest additional classes that interest you learner. Your input will help us design a program that best serves our community’s needs!

View SCS Merchandise

Mark Your Calendars — Important Dates Below:

Farm Closure w/ NO Programs Fall Break November 25-29, 2024
Volunteers Welcome for New Farm Projects December 1-21, 2024
Farm Closure w/ NO Programs Winter Break December 22-29, 2024
Anticipated Reopening of Horsemanship Programs January 6, 2025

Thank you for your ongoing support during this transition! We’re looking forward to an exciting new chapter at Storm Chaser Stables and we can’t wait to continue this journey with all of you. As always, please reach out with any questions or ideas, and keep an eye on your inbox for more updates!