Animal Assisted Learning

The farm is a safe place to learn and grow in a natural setting! Animal Assisted Learning (AAL) sessions offer interactions with large and small animals where clients of all ages can set and achieve therapeutic learning goals.

Individuals, families and groups can benefit from AAL sessions while working on social, emotional/behavioral and/or academic goals. Clients come to the farm from a variety of sources including direct referrals, public and private schools, residential facilities, social service agencies, court services and advocacy groups.

Program details:

• Weekly sessions are typically 1-2 hours in length for 4-12 weeks. Length, format and duration of sessions are based on the individual needs of the client or group.
• Our certified instructors and trained facilitators conduct sessions and work with the team to create individualized goals which often focus on improving and enhancing daily living skills and can be aligned with the state’s public education Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards.
• AAL is not billable as therapy, rather sessions complement existing therapies provided by collaborating school and agency partners or stand alone as a valuable therapeutic learning model.

As part of the Animal Assisted Learning Program, Main Stay’s adaptive garden provides clients with an opportunity to plant, grow and harvest herbs, flowers and produce during the growing season. Time in the garden provides an opportunity to interact peacefully in a natural setting while learning how food is grown. Clients may pick a carrot for a therapy bunny, harvest ingredients to prepare salsa for a healthy snack on-site, or take home a variety of produce to share with family and friends.

Contact us for additional information and to discuss session availability. Registration
paperwork must be completed prior to the first session.