Girl Scouts and AHS (Mar 2010)
Posted by South Mountain Villager on February 23, 2010
Girl Scouts and Arizona Humane Society dedicate Equestrian Labyrinth
Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council and the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) dedicated their newly built 
equestrian labyrinth at the Arizona Humane Society’s Nina Mason Pulliam Campus; locate at 1521 West Dobbins Road on Saturday February 20th. 2010. During the event both children and adults enjoyed tours of the AHS facility, walked the equestrian labyrinth and participated in special activities to learn about choosing and caring for pets. A local Girl Scout troop, which meets at the AHS, sold cookies.
At the labyrinth dedication ceremony, Girl Scouts lead and rode horses for the Dusty Boots Therapy program in the labyrinth. The ceremony was conducted by special guest Taffy Lanser, a founder of the International Labyrinth Society.
Although commonly confused with mazes, labyrinths are not puzzles, there is only one path into the center where individuals enter and exit. Labyrinths have been use as a reflection tool in the inner leadership development program at Girl Scout-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. In fact, girls in the council have helped build labyrinths at four of the 
council’s five camps, including a horse’s labyrinth like the one at the AHS.
Local Girl Scouts built the labyrinth at the AHS in cooperation with Dusty Boots Therapy, a unique program to assist individuals and families in overcoming physical, emotional and/or psychological barriers through various forms of interaction with horses.
Dusty Boots provides therapeutic riding instruction, equine assisted learning sessions, team building and life skills activities at the AHS. Children and adult programs and events include individual and group riding classes, horsemanship, Veteran support sessions, education, animal care, leadership training, Special Olympics team training, after-school programs and day camps.
For more information about joining the Girl Scout programs in this area, contact Susan Chew Murphy at 602-228-6218 or email suanmurphy@girlscoutsaz.org. For information about Dusty Boots Therapy programs at the AHS, contact Cathy Willmeng at dustyboots24@cox.net or 602-595-2040
