activities · 13
what they do
direct service · 10
- Additional Educational and Therapeutic SpacesMaintains supplementary educational and therapeutic environments including the Enchanted Garden with wheelchair-accessible raised beds and composting systems, the "Chicken Hilton" for animal interaction, and an 85-foot wheelchair-accessible labyrinth for mindfulness and sensory engagement.
- Barrier-Free Facility OperationsOperates a fully accessible 14.25-acre facility in the Sonoran Desert featuring a wheelchair-accessible barn with 8 stalls, a mounting ramp, covered riding arenas (100' x 200' and 20 x 40 meter dressage arena), pastures with shade structures, a SureHands lift, and accessible restrooms and pathways to support independent participation by students with disabilities.
- Barrier-Free Facility OperationsOperates a wheelchair-accessible 14.25-acre facility in North Scottsdale featuring a barrier-free barn with mounting ramp, covered riding arena, dressage arena, educational center, and accessible labyrinth and gardens, designed to enable independent participation in horse-related activities for students with disabilities.
- Barrier-Free, Accessible Facility OperationsOperates a fully wheelchair-accessible 14.25-acre facility in North Scottsdale featuring a renovated eight-stall barn with mounting ramp, covered riding and dressage arenas, SureHands lift, accessible labyrinth, educational center, and multiple pastures with shade structures to support inclusive therapeutic programming.
- Comprehensive Horsemanship Education Curriculum Comprehensive Horsemanship & Horse Care InstructionOffers a structured curriculum covering riding, driving, grooming, training, showing, veterinary care, tack selection and maintenance, stable management, horse safety, breeds, colors, conformation, and historical use of horses, delivered through both hands-on and indoor instructional settings.
- Comprehensive Horsemanship Education Curriculum Comprehensive Horsemanship & Horse Care InstructionOffers a structured curriculum covering riding, driving, grooming, training, showing, veterinary care, tack selection and maintenance, stable management, horse safety, breeds, colors, conformation, and historical use of horses, delivered through both hands-on and indoor instruction.
- Comprehensive Horsemanship Education Curriculum Comprehensive Horsemanship & Horse Care InstructionOffers a structured curriculum covering riding, driving, grooming, training, showing, veterinary care, tack selection and maintenance, stable management, horse safety, breeds, colors, conformation, and historical use of horses, delivered through both hands-on and indoor educational settings.
- Therapeutic Horsemanship Instruction Adaptive Riding and Horsemanship InstructionProvides adaptive riding, driving, and horsemanship therapy using trained therapy horses to improve physical and emotional well-being, including strength, balance, coordination, and self-esteem, with one-on-one education tailored to individuals with physical disabilities.
- Therapeutic Horsemanship Instruction Adaptive Riding and Horsemanship InstructionProvides adaptive riding, driving, and horsemanship therapy to children and adults with physical disabilities, using trained therapy horses and one-on-one instruction to improve strength, balance, coordination, and self-esteem. Programs are delivered at a barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible facility in North Scottsdale on 14.25 acres.
- Therapeutic Horsemanship Instruction Adaptive Riding and Horsemanship InstructionProvides adaptive riding, carriage driving, and horsemanship therapy to children and adults with physical disabilities, using trained therapy horses and one-on-one instruction to improve strength, balance, coordination, and self-esteem. Programs are tailored to individual student needs and include use of specialized equipment such as the SureHands lift for wheelchair users.
capacity building · 3
- Student Development and Leadership Support Alumni-Led Student Mentorship ProgramsSupports students in achieving goals related to higher education and community leadership, fostering a culture of mentorship where alumni return to volunteer and guide current participants.
- Support for Student Development and Leadership Alumni-Led Student Mentorship ProgramsSupports students in achieving goals related to higher education and community leadership, with alumni frequently returning to volunteer and mentor new participants, fostering long-term personal growth and community engagement.
- Youth and Community Leadership Development Alumni-Led Student Mentorship ProgramsSupports students in achieving goals related to higher education and community leadership, with alumni frequently returning to volunteer and mentor new participants, fostering long-term personal growth and community engagement.
strategies · 18
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Community contribution model with free services free services with community contribution requirementProvides free therapeutic services while requiring participants to contribute to the community, fostering responsibility, reciprocity, and sustained engagement.
- Equine-Assisted Therapy with Specially Selected Horses equine-assisted_therapy_with_temperament-screened_horsesUses therapy horses selected for their temperament, prior training, life experience, and teaching ability to support therapeutic goals, deepen self-understanding, and enhance rider development through the horse-human connection.
- Equine-assisted therapy using temperament-screened, experienced horses equine-assisted_therapy_with_temperament-screened_horsesUtilizes horses selected for patience, prior training, trail experience, and friendly temperament to deepen therapeutic impact, leveraging their life experience as a foundation for rider learning and emotional growth.
- Individualized Therapeutic Horsemanship Programming individualized_programmingDelivers one-on-one, customized therapeutic horsemanship programs tailored to each participant's unique abilities and needs, prioritizing quality over quantity to maximize personal growth and therapeutic outcomes.
- Individualized equine-assisted therapy with temperament-screened horses individualized_programmingProvides one-on-one, tailored therapeutic horsemanship using horses specifically selected for patience, prior training, and friendly temperament to support each participant's unique physical, emotional, and cognitive goals.
- Individualized therapeutic horsemanship programming individualized_programmingDelivers one-on-one, tailored therapeutic horsemanship experiences designed to meet each participant's unique physical, emotional, and developmental needs, prioritizing quality and personal growth over scale.
- Metaphor-Based Learning and Virtue Development metaphor_based_therapyUses the horse as a metaphor for life to teach resilience, personal growth, and character virtues such as courage, loyalty, compassion, and justice, fostering a community where all members are both students and teachers.
- Metaphor-based personal development through horsemanship metaphor_based_therapyUses the horse and equine activities as metaphors for life challenges to teach resilience, personal growth, and virtues such as courage, loyalty, compassion, and justice, fostering mutual learning among participants.
- Mutual learning and community contribution model mutual_learning_and_virtue_developmentFosters a community where all participants are both students and teachers, developing virtues through mentorship, self-governance, and a requirement to contribute back to the program, reinforcing dignity and shared responsibility.
- Natural environment integration in mounted therapy experiential_horse_therapyUses property trails and natural washes for mounted lessons to help students build stability, confidence, and connection with nature as part of their therapeutic progression.
- Nature-based experiential learning experiential_horse_therapyUses natural trail environments to enhance mounted lessons, helping students build stability, confidence, and connection with nature as part of their therapeutic journey.
- Self-Governance and Mentorship Model self-governance and mentorshipOperates a program where individuals with disabilities govern themselves and learn through mentorship, promoting autonomy, leadership, and peer-supported growth.
- Sensory-Inclusive and Accessible Facility Design sensory-inclusive_therapeutic_ridingDesigns the facility and programming to be physically and sensorially accessible, using barrier-free infrastructure, braille signage, mounting ramps, and organized equipment to enable independent participation for individuals with physical and visual challenges.
- Sensory-inclusive and accessible facility design sensory-inclusive_therapeutic_ridingDesigns physical spaces and interactions to be fully accessible, using barrier-free infrastructure, braille signage, organized equipment, and mounting ramps to enable independent participation for individuals with physical and visual challenges.
- Sensory-inclusive and accessible facility design accessible_facility_designDesigns the physical environment—including barrier-free access, mounting ramps, organized equipment, and braille signage—to enable independent participation for individuals with physical and visual disabilities, enhancing engagement and equality in equine activities.
- Therapeutic Horsemanship for Empowerment and Independence therapeutic_horsemanshipEmploys therapeutic horsemanship and outdoor education to improve quality of life, build self-worth, and foster independence, community participation, and empowerment among individuals with disabilities.
- Therapeutic horsemanship for empowerment and life quality improvement therapeutic_horsemanshipEmploys therapeutic horsemanship and outdoor education to improve quality of life, self-worth, independence, and community participation for individuals with disabilities, using the horse-human connection as a catalyst for empowerment.
- Therapeutic horsemanship for empowerment and life skills therapeutic_horsemanshipUses horsemanship and outdoor equine activities as a means to build self-worth, independence, and community participation, leveraging the horse-human connection to teach resilience, personal growth, and life metaphors.
named programs · 3
what they call their work
Educational Center Activities
Offers indoor lessons and discussions in a multi-purpose room, library, and kitchen when weather is unsuitable for riding, exploring concepts experienced on horseback.
Enchanted Garden
Provides wheelchair-accessible raised bed gardens, a tumbling composter, and a potter's bench for students and volunteers to engage in gardening activities.
Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT)
Provides therapeutic horsemanship lessons and activities for individuals with disabilities, focusing on physical and psychological benefits through connection with horses.
relationships · 23
who they work with
- Ames Construction, Inc. Funder — Funded the arena footing for an improvement project.
- CACRF Partner — Sponsoring the future therapy horse in 2026.
- CHA Partner — Mary Hadsall is a Master Level IRD instructor.
- Dan Huff Designs Partner — Daniel Huff runs a small business making woodworking items.
- Davignon Charitable Fund Funder — Provided additional funding for the completion of the dressage schooling arena.
- Dragon Slayers Partner — Eileen Szychowski, Camelot's founder, studied under Josef Rivers, founder of Dragon Slayers.
- FWCRF Partner — Sponsoring the horse Nutmeg in 2026.
- Grainger Foundation Funder — Donated a SureHands lift in March 2013.
- Grainger Foundation Funder — Received a grant for the purchase and installation of a SureHands lift and funded a shade structure over an existing round pen.
- Molly Blank Fund Funder — Contributed to eight stall barn renovations.
- National Ability Center Partner — Mary Hadsall worked as an instructor at this non-profit organization in Park City, Utah, prior to her work at Camelot.
- PATH Intl. Partner — Mary Hadsall is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor; Beck Hinshaw has PATH Intl. certification; Regan Mays is a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning, and PATH Intl. mentor.
- PetSmart Charities Funder — Supported the installation of an outdoor dressage schooling arena.
- Santa Cruz Skills Center Partner — Eileen Szychowski, Camelot's founder, worked as a full-time program director for the Santa Cruz Skills Center.
- Scottsdale Leadership Class XXV Partner — Team "Growing Greatness" from this class chose Camelot to benefit from their work on the Enchanted Garden.
- Scottsdale PD Mounted Unit Partner — Source of retired police horse transitioned into therapeutic horsemanship program
- Silver Buckle Ranch Partner — Casey Farr volunteered at this program offering ranch and equine-assisted activities in Brush Prairie, Washington, before joining Camelot.
- Sybil B. Harrington Trust of Amarillo, Texas Funder — Provided a grant for the covered riding arena.
- Sybil B. Harrington Trust of Amarillo, Texas Funder — Provided a grant to help cover the riding arena.
- Thunderbirds Charities Funder — Funded the arena footing for an improvement project.
- Valley Anesthesiology Foundation Funder — Provided financial support to build three pastures with shade structures for therapy horses.
- Verdoorn Foundation Funder — Contributed to eight stall barn renovations.
- Yoga Alliance Partner — Regan Mays is a certified Yoga Teacher.