Match’

Lady Mustang face off against police officers, firefighters during ‘The Match’

Having just clinched the conference title for the second year in a row, members of the girls’ varsity volleyball team at River Valley High School were more than geared up to face off against their last opponents before calling it a day on this year’s volleyball season: members of the Chikaming Township fire and police departments.

Supporters of both the public safety department and the volleyball teams gathered in the River Valley Middle/ High School gymnasium to view what was dubbed “The Match” between the two teams Wednesday, Nov. 9.

The Lady Mustangs won the first two quarters; however, the first responders and police officers gained points and won the final quarter.

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Chikaming Township Police Chief Todd Taylor said the evening was reminiscent of one that took place in 2017, during which Buckeye Donkey Ball brought along their donkeys for a donkey basketball tournament with four teams of local players for the high school’s post prom fundraiser

“We’d want to ramp that up again after Covid,” he said.

Taylor credited Chikaming Township Fire Chief Allen Weich for conceiving the idea to engage with the volleyball team, adding that he and police officer Paige Holtz arranged that night’s event.

“This is about community - it’s about making sure that public safety is involved with our kids and community,” he said.

To gain entrance to the game, members of the public were required to bring in food items or toys. Holtz said the food will be going to the Harbor Country Emergency Food Pantry and the toys will be brought back to the station, where they’ll be donated to Toys for Tots.

The station will be doing a “Fill a Police Car and Fire Truck for Toys for Tots” event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Chikaming Township Fire Bays, located at 13535 Red Arrow Highway in Harbert. Santa will also be making an appearance, and children and their families will be welcome to take a picture with him.

“We figured we might as well combine our Toys for Tots initiative with today’s event,” Holtz said.

For those who are unable to make it to Saturday’s event, a donation box is in the front lobby of Chikaming Township Center.

Heidi Michaels, the head coach at River Valley High School, said that she hopes the event will get “bigger and bigger.”

‘Everyone seemed to have a good time - so that was the point of it,” she said.

Michaels said that, in addition to reaching district finals and winning the conference title, the team tied for first place.

“But we won the conference tournament, which hasn’t been done in River Valley history ever - so that was great for the girls, it was a good confidence booster,” she said.

Volunteers lead students on their horses

Bryce McDowell learns to ride with the assistance of Elizabeth Carden

Students learning to ride outside the barn

Spring Creek Horses Help Foundation saddles students with lessons on responsibility, confidence

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Having never had the chance to get to know a horse before, Bryce McDowell had his doubts about getting up on one.

“Yes - I was scared,” he said.

But after spending some time learning the students each get a volunteer, who gives them their undivided attention. Heather Sommers, who just began taking lessons at Spring Creek Farm, said that she’s found being a volunteer has given her a unique glimpse into the students’ how to put a saddle on a horse, how to speak to a horse (observing if a horse’s ears are flat down on their head, McDowell said, tells you that they may be upset) and picking up on some other equine tidbits, McDowell was ready to ride.

“I felt like I was in the sky – like I was flying,” he said.

A fifth grader at The River of Life Christian School in Benton Harbor, McDowell can credit his newfound confidence to the school partnering with Spring Creek Horse Help Foundation in Three Oaks to add horses to its curriculum.

Since mid-September, every Friday the school has transported seven or eight fourth-, fifth-, and sixth graders to Three Oaks to attend a three-hour, equine-assisted learning program on horse behavior, horse care and horseback riding.

Two groups of students arrived at the farm once a week, with each group spending four weeks with the horses. Students wrapped up their equine lessons Friday, Nov. 11, by sauntering down a trail with their horses in the broad countryside surrounding the farm.

Amanda Kasper, a Title 1 teacher at River of Life, said that the experience allowed students to fully immerse themselves in the care and keeping of a horse – such as learning how to talk to the horse, how to brush it and then, finally, how to ride and lead the horse.

In tending to their horse, students also learned responsibility.

“They have a different horse each time - but they have to take care of that horse,” Kasper said.

The River of Life Christian School exists to provide a Christ-centered education to all children regardless of their socio-economic situation.

Kasper said that Donald Pearson, principal at River of Life, is always on the lookout for different opportunities for students to become engaged in what they’re learning. One week, all the school’s students trooped over to the farm to visit with the animals and see what experiences are in store for them when they reach the upper grades.

“It’s fun because you see kids where they’re doing different learning experiences at school, but this is different when they’re here and you can see them get more comfortable and just learn as they’re doing things,” Kasper said.

Kasper said one of the benefits of the program is that transformation. “I’m pretty amazed at how quickly the kids (will) bond with their horses - and for us, how we build that relationship with them and see that confidence,” she said. Sommers has also witnessed the students’ transformation around others as well. “When I’m with the student or child, it kind of helps them open up…I don’t know if it’s the horse’s presence or energy that allows the student to be calm and open up in that way but that’s been pretty neat to see that relationship develop with them,” she said. Alison Grosse, president of Spring Creek Horses Help Foundation, said that helping children learn to trust is one of the goals behind letting them spend time with the horses. In addition to River of Life, children from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan have come to the farm. The farm also offers individual lessons packages.

Grosse said that students have worked through trust issues as well as social and academic ones – any struggle a child may find themselves up against, the foundation will provide them with the tools to overcome it.

“Animals are amazing - they calm people, they can also show you what you’re feeling…It will be reflected by the horse: If you’re excited, the horse is going to get excited, if you’re calm, the horse will stay calm,” Grosse said.

Having rode horses all the time at her former home in South Carolina, Elizabeth Carden said she’s happy to volunteer with the students to bring them an opportunity they might not otherwise experience.

“It’s a good chance to let the kids who don’t usually get to be around a horse experience it because I felt so fortunate growing up to be able to have that because it’s so powerful for me,” she said.

At least one student said she was interested in prolonging her experience of being a horsewoman in the future.

After grooming the horses, cleaning their stalls and learning more about them (like how they used to be the size of small dogs), sixth grader Jamoin Nelson said she’s ready for more.

“I want to come back here someday – it would be fun to come back and see the horses again,” she said.