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School Services

In addition to traditional in-person Equine and Animal Assisted Sessions, the farm offers educational services including virtual programming and a literacy program. It’s not your standard way of approaching social emotional and academic learning, and it gets results.

Our highly engaging educational environment motivates, inspires, and gives students the life skills needed to thrive in increasingly challenging times.

“Our students have benefited from the therapeutic relationships with animals, staff and one another. I have witnessed tremendous growth in the areas of coping skills, emotional stability, confidence, team building and overall well-being.”
Robert Ridley, MCHS Special Education Teacher

Books in the Barnyard

Books in the Barnyard is a literacy enrichment program supporting all levels of readers. The farm environment and attentive animal audience create fun opportunities and motivation to enhance literacy skills.

Program Details:

  • Literacy sessions are designed by a certified educator and can be customized to your curriculum needs.
  • The program can be adapted for older and younger emerging readers. Younger students benefit from the vocabulary rich environment while older students can author a story about the animals prior to coming to the farm and then publish the story by reading it to the animals.
  • Single and multi-visit sessions are available throughout the year.

Virtual Programming

Near or far, you can experience Main Stay through virtual programming curated to meet a variety of needs. Clients benefit from seeing the horses and rescued barnyard animals on video helping to maintain a sense of connection to others.

Program Details:

  • Virtual sessions are facilitated by our trained staff and formatted to meet social, emotional and/or academic needs.
  • Participants are encouraged to remain active throughout the session by being a part of the decision-making process with the animal interactions and asking questions throughout the session.
  • Length of time per session and total number of sessions is variable. Visit for a single virtual field trip or build knowledge and rapport over multi-week sessions.
  • Sessions are typically offered in a live format, however, pre-recorded sessions are also an option.

Contact Us

We understand that everyone learns in unique ways. Students specific SEL, IEP and academic goals can be incorporated in a wide variety of sessions, collaborating with school staff is welcome and encouraged!

Contact Us for additional program information and to discuss session availability. Remote learning is available wherever you might be!

How You Can Help

Main Stay is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and receives no state or federal funding. Through the generosity of individuals, private foundations, corporations and service organizations, Main Stay is able to touch hundreds of lives each year.
Accomplishments & Accreditation
Charity Navigator 4-star Rating LogoPlatinum Transparency 2024 Candid.PATH International Accredited Center logo2024 EQUUS Foundation Guardian Logo