THERAPEUTIC RANCH FOR ANIMALS AND KIDS

THERAPEUTIC RANCH FOR ANIMALS AND KIDS (TRAK) PROGRAMS FOCUS ON CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT SPECIFIC CHALLENGES. THE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM IS TO OFFER PARTICIPANTS OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS GIVES AN OFTEN-RARE EXPERIENCE TO BE A SERVICE PROVIDER TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL SKILLS, BUSINESS, AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING THAT WILL AID IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HELP THEMSELVES, EACH OTHER AND THEIR COMMUNITY.YOUTH OFTEN HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN. THE TRAK PROGRAM OFFERS AREAS OF "SKILLS FOR SERVICE" WHERE YOUTH CAN REDISCOVER THE FUN AND VALUE OF LEARNING. THE HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY ALL THEY HAVE LEARNED. OUR PORGRAM ALLOWS YOUTH TO CHOOSE AN AREA OF PARTICULAR INTEREST. THESE OPTIONS TEACH THEM THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS INDIVIDUALS.ANIMAL FRIENDS SCHOOL PROGRAMS:HOW FAR CAN A RABBIT HOP? WHY DOES A PIG ROLL IN THE MUD? HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A HORSE IS HAPPY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PREDATOR OR PREY ANIMAL? THESE QUESTIONS AND MANY OTHERS ARE ANSWERED IN OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS HANDS-ON PROGRAMS. CHILDREN LEARN A VARIETY OF INFORMATION RANGING FROM THE DIET AND REQUIRED CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS TO BEHAVIORS AND INTERESTING FACTS. MANY SCHOOLS ENJOY VISITING OUR ANIMAL FAMILY AT THE RANCH. WE HAVE ADAPTED THIS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE VIRTUAL LESSONS FOR SCHOOLS AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LEARNING VIRTUALLY.PARTICIPANTS ACQUIRE HANDS-ON SKILLS THAT CAN BE USED OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM THROUGH EXPERIENCING THE DAILY ROUTINE AT A BARN. THIS INCLUDES BARN MAINTENANICE, LEARNING TO CLEAN STALLS, FEED AND WATER ANIMALS, GROUNDS UPKEEP AND REPAIR, ETC. THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO LEARN RESPONSIBILITY, TIMELINESS, AND PUNCTUALITY. THEY LEARN COPING SKILLS WHICH ENABLES THEM TO FUNCTION BETTER AND BECOME EMPLOYABLE.ANIMAL EDUCATION:PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EDUCATED IN ANIMAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE, NUTRITION, HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT AND BEHAVIOR. THEY WILL UTILIZE THESE SKILLS IN THE REGULAR CARE OF THE TRAK ANIMAL COMMUNITY.SPECIAL EVENT VOLUNTEER WORK:PARTICIPANTS IN THE ANIMAL EDUCATION PROGRAM WILL TRAVEL TO VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT TUCSON TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF ANIMAL CARE AND BAHAVIOR. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE SELF-ESTEEM BY ALLOWING OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO BE THE EXPERT IN A VERY HIGH INTEREST FIELD AMOUNG THEIR PEERS.COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WORK:MEMBERS OF OUR TRAK FAMILY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME OF OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS INTO THE COMMUNITY TO VISIT WITH THOSE WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM ANIMAL CONTACT. THIS WILL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, HOSPITALS, HOSPICE, NURSING HOMES, SCHOOLS, PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, ETC.ANIMAL ASSISTED LIFE SKILL AND THERAPEUTICS:OUR ANIMAL ASSISTED LIFE SKILLS & THERAPEUTICS (AALS) PROGRAM COMBINES MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, EQUINE PROFESSIONALS, AND OUR FARM ANIMALS TO PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS SEEKING ASSISTANCE IN DEALING WITH LIFE TRANSITIONS, TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES, FAMILY STRESSORS, SKILL BUILDING, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AUTISM, AND ADHD. WE WANT OUR PARTICIPANTS (CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF THE TUCSON COMMUNITY) TO GAIN THE ABILITY TO EARN AND GIVE TRUST. SESSIONS ARE GROUND BASED GIVING BOTH THE CLIENTS AND ANIMALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FREELY INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. THESE SESSIONS CAN HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP VARIOUS SKILLS AND POSITIVE BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS/SELF-ESTEEM, COPING SKILLS, BUILDING COMMUNITY, TASK MANAGEMENT, ACTIVE LISTENING, RESPOSIBILITY, RELATIONSHIP DEVELPOMENT, AND SOCIAL SKILLS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO FREQUENTLY REDUCE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. HORSEMANSHIP RIDING LESSONS:THESE LESSONS ARE MORE INVOLVED THAN JUST RIDING. WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO BE SAFE AROUND HORSES IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE "NATURE OF A HORSE." LESSONS START WITH WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE HORSES LEARNING ABOUT THEIR NATURE, HOW TO APPROACH, HALTER AND LEAD THEM. ONCE MOUNTED, STUDENTS WILL LEARN THE SECURE SEAT METHOD OF RIDING. THIS WORKS ON HAVING A BALANCED SEAT WHICH LEAVES THE RIDERS HANDS AND LEGS FREE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE HORSE. LESSON TROPICS WILL ALSO INCLUDE LEARNING ABOUT DAILY HORSE CARE, DIET, TEETH FLOATING, HOOF TRIMMING AND MUCH MORE.FIELD TRIPS:WE ALSO INVITE SCHOOL GROUPS TO OUR RANCH TO SEE WHERE OUR TRAK FAMILY LIVES. PROGRAMS CAN BE DONE AS A SINGLE CLASSROOM PRESENTATION OR ASSEMBLY FOR AN ENTIRE GRADE. WE REGULARLY HAVE GROUPS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN FROM AREA SCHOOLS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AGENCIES VISITING US. THEY INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, NEUROLOGICALLY, COGNITIVELY OR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.BIRTHDAY PARTIES:BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT THE TRAK FACILITY ALSO OFFER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AS THE KIDS INTERACT WITH THE ANIMALS AND ASK QUESTIONS. ANIMALS AT THE TRAK PROPERTY INCLUDE HORSES, GOATS, CHICKENS, A ROOSTER, SHEEP, POT BELLIED PIGS, RABBITS, MINIATURE DONKEYS, MINIATURE HORSES, GEESE, DUCKS, AND LAMBS.SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS:TRAK RUNS AN INCLUSIVE SCHOOL BREAK DAY CAMP PROGRAM. WE HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES INTEGRATED INTO GROUPS WITH CHILDREN WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR CHALLENGES. CHILDREN LEARN TO BE WELCOMING AND ENCOURAGING OF OTHERS WITH DIFFERENCES AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS LEARN WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE TRULY INCLUDED IN PROGRAMMING. OUR SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS ARE COMPETELY ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION.HEROES FIRST WELLNESS PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO INCORPORATE STRESS REDUCTION AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE WITH HANDS ON, EXPERIENTIAL WORK WITH ANIMALS. THIS PROGRAM HAS AN OVERALL GOAL TO HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE PERSONAL GROWTH TO HELP STRENGTHEN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, DECREASE STRESS AND ANXIETY, INCREASE RESILIENCE AND FEELINGS OF OVERALL WELL-BEING, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, CREATIVE THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING AND PROMOTE CAMARADERIE AND THE USE OF COPING SKILLS TO HELP PREVENT BURNOUT. THE PROGRAM IS GOAL-BASED AND CAN BE TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. OUR PARTICIPANTS GAIN THE ABILITY TO TRUST AND EARN TRUST, EXPERIENCE PEER/COMMUNITY SUPPORT, IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS, AND MUCH MORE.TINY TRAILBLAZERS EARLY EDUCATION:TINY TRAILBLAZERS OFFERS OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH AND LEARN ABOUT OUR ANIMALS. CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 18 MONTHS GO TROUGH A SIX-WEEK COURSE LEARNING ABOUT EACH ANIMAL WE HAVE ON THE RANCH, HOW TO CARE FOR THEM, WHAT THEY EAT AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CARIING FOR ANIMALS AND LEARN RESPONSIBILITY AND GENTLENESS WITH ANIMALS FROM A YOUNG AGE. TINY TRAILBLAZERS ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO DEVELOP POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AND SKILLS SUCH AS TEAMWORK, ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS, COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY AND SOCIAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT.BUCKAROO LESSONS:LITTLE BUCKAROOS GIVES THE LITTLE ONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT "FIRST TIME" RIDING EXPERIENCE! OUR LITTLE BUCKAROO LESSONS ARE A 30 MINUTE LESSON FOR CHLDREN AGES 4-7, DESIGNED TO TEACH HORSE SAFETY ON AND OFF THE HORSE, BODY POSITIONING, AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE HORSE. CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES WILL LEARN NEW HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS INCLUDING WALKING, TURNING, AND EVEN TROTTING AND SIMPLE BARREL PATTERNS-ALL OF THIS GEARING THEM UP FOR HORSEMANSHIP RIDING LESSONS AT AGE 8!FURRY TALES:FURRY TALES IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM AT TRAK. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE HELP YOUNG AND EARLY READERS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND READING SKILLS THESE YOUTH ARE ABLE TO READ TO OUR FURRY AND FEATHERED FRIENDS WHO CREATE A WELCOMING AND NON-JUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT, ENHANCING MOTIVATION, DESIRE, AND CONFIDENCE TO READ.