SALT LAKE CITY — A volunteer group that works closely with the Salt Lake County district attorney and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is stepping up to make sure a beloved program for kids who have experienced trauma continues for years to come.
The group, known as The Mounted Posse, spends several days each summer high in the Uinta Mountains — serving, riding and connecting with children at Camp HOPE, a program designed to help young survivors of trauma heal.
"We are volunteers with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Mounted Posse," longtime member Bonnie Stout, said.
Stout said one of her favorite assignments is Camp HOPE.
The camp has existed for years, but Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill had the idea to bring horses into the experience.
"It just struck me at that moment that we had Camp HOPE, and that our kids who are going to Camp HOPE would absolutely love these horses," Gill said.
He was right.
"The work we're doing involves children who have incredible trauma," Gill added. "Anything that helps them feel safe, supported and seen is invaluable."
For Stout, the magic is in the horses themselves.
"I think it's because the horses don't judge," she said. "They accept you for where you're at."
She's watched the impact firsthand — both in her own life and in the lives of the kids who attend the camp.
"Horses can read emotions better than any other animal or person I've ever met," Stout said. "It's great to see the kids fall in love with them."
This week, the Mounted Posse donated $1,000 to Camp HOPE to help ensure the program continues to grow and reach more children who need it.
