When a childhood illness landed Eileen Szychowski ("sha-huski") with a life-changing disability and "you can't" became an all too familiar phrase, she began to believe that her horse dreams were no more than that: dreams. But then she met Josef, a mysterious man who lived in the redwood forest who saw obstacles as dragons.
There are uncanny parallels between Eileen, the girl who raised Camelot in the Sonoran Desert, and Arthur, the boy who founded the medieval kingdom of Camelot in England. Both heroes fought for justice. They lived their lives with chivalry. And they had a mystical mentor who always seemed to be at least two steps ahead of everyone else.
Eileen blazed trails through the Grand Canyon, bringing disability awareness to the National Park Service before starting the first therapeutic riding center in Arizona. But before she could fulfill her destiny, there were dragons to slay...
The story of Eileen and her horse Guenivere are included in the National Park Service History Collection.
"Take up your sword against the most formidable enemy of all, the voice within that says, 'I can't.'" Eileen Szychowski
Bogosian, Mark: - Mark Bogosian serves as the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's director of the Quality of Life (QOL) Grants Program. In this role he is responsible for the development and implementation of a long-term vision and strategy for grants program management; creating and implementing streamlined grant-related policies and procedures; and designing systems to interact and build partnerships with QOL grantees. Mark is also the Co-Chair of the Core Values Committee and sits on Diversity subcommittee. Mark grew up on the beaches of Cape Cod, MA and has always had a deep connection to the ocean and its ecosystems. He now resides in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, four cats, four birds, two anoles, and fish! An avid exercise and outdoor enthusiast, he loves spending time at his cabin hiking, canoeing, and kayaking.
Guerrero, Michelle: - Michelle Guerrero wanted to grow up to be a mermaid and ride unicorns. She decided the next best thing to having fins was being a writer. She's a mom of four who lives in a cabin in the woods with her husband and two youngest boys. She's often spotted walking through the trees, surrounded by horses, pups, goats, and kids. She's currently living out her "You've Got Mail" dream by managing the cutest indie bookstore and art gallery in her small town.
Szychowski, Eileen: - When Eileen Szychowski brought Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship to Arizona, she had one-hundred dollars, two mares named Guinevere and Janik, and a precious goose named Zanadu. Today, Camelot has grown to be a privately funded, state-of-the-art, non-profit organization located on 14.25 acres in North Scottsdale. Szychowski, a horsewoman with a disability, spent seven years studying under Josef Rivers, a polio survivor and founder of Dragon Slayers in California. During her time there, she also worked as a full-time program director for the Santa Cruz Skills Center. When Eileen came to Arizona, she became a park ranger at the Grand Canyon. She discovered that she could live the life she dreamed, and under Rivers' encouragement, she dared to dream big. Along the way, Szychowski has received support and encouragement from friends and supporters all over the country. As time goes on, many former students continue to participate in the dream, donating both time and money. Eileen retired in November of 2004, but continues to guide the staff at Camelot through the knowledge and teachings she has shared with them over the years. Thanks to these combined efforts, Camelot exists today as living proof that dreams can come true.
