If you were to walk down to the barn and stables during any camp activity period from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s, you would likely have found Caroline Smith. In fact, for those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting Caroline, it will come as no surprise to you that Caroline and I recently caught up via a virtual trail ride on her horse, Roulette.
A Litchfield native herself, Caroline first attended camp in 1995 as a Jawak. From there, she rose through the ranks of camper units, residing in almost all of them. As a member of the first riding camp group, Caroline spent most of her time at the barn as a kiddo.
As a camper, Caroline had a number of standout memories, many involving mishaps that turned into humorous occasions a short amount of time after the fact. Once, there was the time she rode Dancer on a riding camp trail ride. In those days, Caroline fashionably wore shorts with her chaps, which did not benefit her when she fell into some poison ivy bushes mid-ride. She recalls not being able to sit on the Lighthouse toilets for at least a week. Years later, she recalls competing as one of only three campers in Mohawk’s triathlon. While she barely crossed the finish line alive, she won third place! (Caroline would like you to know that she’s since gone on to compete in half marathon races…take that!)
As the years went on, Caroline graduated from being a camper, becoming a Junior Counselor, Counselor, one-on-one camper support, Stable Manager by 2009, and eventually, Riding Director from 2012-2015.
As someone who met Caroline in her leadership years at the barn, I fondly remember her devotion to and passion for her horses. She loved her horses as much as her campers, and therefore expected the absolute best for them; something for which she credits her role model, Rachel Thomas. Campers and staff alike became better riders and better equine caretakers, thanks to the riding program Caroline ran at the barn.
Despite her leadership role, Caroline’s shenanigans continued in true Caroline fashion in her years on staff. Whether it was kidnapping Patrick while riding on Apache during a Wild, Wild West night, or sinking paddleboards at the waterfront despite not being a green swimmer, Caroline always knew how to add in a hint of humor to her daily life at camp.
Years later, currently living in Paris, Kentucky, with her wife, Mia, and their MANY rescued pets (10 ducks, horses, cats, dogs), Caroline serves as the Assistant Principal at the second-biggest high school in the state. She began this position after multiple years as a classroom teacher of physics and multiple STEM subjects.
In her days since being a Mohawker, Caroline continues to use so many of the universal lessons we all learned at Camp to help her in her daily life. Caroline puts it best: “I can figure it out, and I don’t need to wait for anyone else.” After years of thinking on her feet, coming up with one-minute filler games at the drop of a hat, and fixing all kinds of gadgets in the barn, Caroline gained an independence that still serves her well. Also still serving her well is the creativity she gained from her years as a Mohawker. Just this past summer, she repurposed pool noodles and cloaks to teach renaissance-themed riding lessons at her local barn.
With family that still lives locally, we hope to see Caroline around camp the next time she is in Connecticut!
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