The Wings of Hope program, sponsored by Mercy Foundation, is adding an exciting new resource to our lineup of programs. We are now partnering with Cougar Ridge Ranch to bring Equine Assisted Learning back to Douglas County. This service is for youth and offered at no cost to families.

The Wings of Hope program was established to help children coping with grief. This includes students who have experienced loss, whether it is through death, abandonment, divorce, or parental conflict. This program is child-centered and is designed so that participants can address their own issues and concerns while working as a group.

Equine Assisted Learning has been proven to be highly effective for school groups. Students participate in an 8-week session, and groups of peers spend an hour and 15 minutes in an arena with an equine specialist and horses, engaging in activities that provide opportunities for personal insight and processing.

Horses bring forth a wide range of emotions in people making horses exceptional helpers in emotional processing, and learning greater awareness. Groups of students will be organized by age, or in family groups, ensuring similar stages of development for processing. Cougar Ridge Ranch has a facility in the community to minimize transportation cost and time. Cougar Ridge Ranch offers 8 week sessions that include cooperative experiential learning exercises, and hands on time with the horses in a safe environment.

To apply for the program free of charge, please complete a Children's Healthcare application and submit it to the Mercy Foundation.

For more information on the Building Blocks Equine Therapy Program, please contact:

Leslie and Lorene at Cougar Ridge

 (541) 679-9533
lorene@dahlcougarridge.com