FIRST NATURE FOUNDATION INC KERUL KASSEL

HORSE WISDOM FOR HEROES-A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS IN 2022 WE BEGAN OFFERING OUR FIRST IN-PERSON PROGRAM, HORSE WISDOM FOR HEROES, A SIX-SESSION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP VETERANS RECONNECT WITH THEMSELVES, OTHERS, AND THE NATURAL WORLD AS THEY TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE. MANY VETERANS FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES, WITH APPROXIMATELY 13-20% DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD AND 9.9% EXPERIENCING UNEMPLOYMENT-HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. OUR PROGRAM DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THESE ISSUES THROUGH MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH HORSES, ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO BUILD SELF- AWARENESS, RESILIENCE, AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION WHILE LEARNING ESSENTIAL RELATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. SINCE 2022 OUR LITTLE ORGANIZATION HAS ALREADY SERVED MORE THAN 175 PARTICIPANTS, AND VETERANS EXPERIENCE AN AVERAGE STRESS REDUCTION OF 40% AND A 50% AVERAGE REDUCTION IN PTSD SYMPTOMS THROUGH WORKING WITH HORSES. AS ONE PAST PARTICIPANT SHARED: "IT REALLY BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE. I DON'T FEEL LIKE QUITTING ANYMORE. I'M MORE COMMITTED TO HOLDING MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO FINISH WHAT I START."

HORSE SENSE FOR TEENS - LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM IN 2023 WE ADDED OUR HORSE SENSE FOR TEENS PROGRAM, A TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EQUIP TEENS WITH ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE. THROUGH ENGAGING, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN A FUN AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP PRACTICAL SKILLS LIKE SELF-AWARENESS, SOCIAL AWARENESS, CONFIDENCE, COMPASSION, COMMUNICATION, AND ASSERTIVENESS ALL WHILE PARTNERING WITH HORSES AND NATURE. THIS UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS TEENS TO CONNECT WITH THEMSELVES, OTHERS, AND NATURE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS, HELPING THEM GROW INTO THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES. TEENS GAIN A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN DRAW UPON WHEN FACING EVERYDAY LIFE CHOICES. HORSES SERVE AS POWERFUL EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS IN THIS PROCESS. THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, HORSE SENSE FOR TEENS ENSURES NOT ONLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS BUT ALSO PERSONAL GROWTH THAT EXTENDS INTO THE TEENS' HOME, SCHOOL, AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS, AND LIFE AS ADULTS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE ADAPTABLE, OFFERING EITHER SINGLE OR MULTI-SESSION FORMATS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE COHORT OF TEENS. TO DATE, IN JUST 1.5 YEARS, WE HAVE BROUGHT MORE THAN 100 TEENS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUOTES FROM OUR TEEN PARTICIPANTS: "I WAS ABLE TO CREATE A SPECIAL BOND WITH THE HORSES - I FELT CONNECTED TO THEM AND TO NATURE. I'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MYSELF. I'M DISCOVERING MYSELF AT THE RANCH.- AND "IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PATIENCE. I'M A VERY INPATIENT PERSON. I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT PATIENCE THROUGH THE HORSES."