Animal Program Design
I became an animal program designer by accident--and then very much on purpose. I transitioned from a head preK teacher in the Bronx, to an animal caretaker at a residential school for at risk youth in Westchester county, NY. While there, I designed, implemented, and facilitated farm animal programming, and when I saw how magically it worked for the clients, I decided to get a PhD in order to study the root of the phenomenon.
My doctoral degree says Leadership and Change, and was obtained with a side-bar of educational justice and equity. My undergraduate and graduate degrees are both from Sarah Lawrence College. While I do have extensive knowledge and experience pertaining to children and childhood development, it is in essence utilizing the Human-Animal Bond which improves our general humanity and development at any age. Whether young, old, infirm, on hospice, just bored, directionless, helpless, and so forth, interacting with animals safely (and on the animal's terms) accesses parts of our psyche that takes us out of the "me, me, me" mindset and instead refills that space with a sense of purpose, pride, and wholeness.
Connecting with animals has the ability to transform our mood, mind, and nervous system. From combating loneliness to making us laugh (stress reduction), safely interacting with highly socialized animals in non-forced situations helps us build self-esteem, nurtures our sense of empathy, and helps us evolve into better versions of ourselves. Playdates with farm friends can teach us how to behave (if you yell for example, they may run away from you) whereas being gentle and kind is likely to draw them in for a pet or a nuzzle. Even just watching animals doing their animal things can help us to relax, recenter our energy, and fulfill psychological needs in ways that other humans can't. We under-appreciate and under-value the power that friendships with animals can have, as well as the intensity of life lessons learned while in their presence.
What I Do:
I custom design animal programs to fit within the specific parameters of facilities, organizations, camps, schools, after schools, etc. I can tailor an animal program to suit your budget, finding the appropriate species for your clients, quantify how much staff and care your animal program will need after accounting for the above parameters.
Towns and cities also have laws about what types of animals are allowed and how many of them per acre.
I would do this research for you during the designing process. Hiring an expert consultant ensures that your program gets off to the right start to succeed.
Why farm animals?
While a trained therapy dog might be the right fit for your facility, or a small animal nature center, farm animals offer a more organic and self-directed experience where they have the opportunity to choose to engage with a participant, or not.
It is in this freedom to choose where a human participant has the opportunity to feel chosen. In turn they may also feel worthy, wanted, and seen. For some people, this may be all the therapy they need.