We propose offering an expansive menu of person-centered educational, recreational, and affirmative business opportunities at Saddle Rock Ranch, an established 14-acre, historic working ranch. This ranch is an ideal setting for persons with developmental disabilities to participate in meaningful activities such as horse and other animal care, grounds maintenance, horticulture, agriculture, and opportunities developed within a bed and breakfast framework.
Part I:
Identifying Information
Agency: Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc (FREE)
Agency Address: 191 Sweet Hollow Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804
DDSO: Long Island
Contact Person: Janet Koch
Phone: 516-870-1643
Email:
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Part II:
Saddle Rock Ranch Executive Summary
We propose offering an expansive menu of person-centered educational, recreational, and affirmative business opportunities at Saddle Rock Ranch, an established 14-acre, historic working ranch. This ranch is an ideal setting for persons with developmental disabilities to participate in meaningful activities such as horse and other animal care, grounds maintenance, horticulture, agriculture, and opportunities developed within a bed and breakfast framework. In addition to real-life educational experiences, the ranch setting offers leisure and family-fun activities that include fishing, swimming, paddle boating, picnicking, riding lessons, pet therapy, educational nature walks, and enriching indoor and outdoor classes, which can be enjoyed by the program participants, their family members and the community at large.
We have 24 participants who are ready to volunteer and be part of the opportunities currently available at the ranch. Additionally, we have identified 53 individuals who would like to take part in the educational and recreation opportunities outside of their current day service. With our proposed additions, we could accommodate as many as 66 participants during the week, and 47 on the weekend.
Potential participants were identified by knowledgeable staff members, and by individual-to- individual recommendations. These potential participants were consulted individually. Their parents / personal representatives were contacted through letters, by phone, or in person to validate their desire to have loved ones participate in this initiative, and to give their feedback as to the type of educational, recreational, and other opportunities they desired. Group and individual tours and an agency wide open house were provided to interested individuals and their family members. These tours provided an opportunity for feedback and suggestions to ensure that the activities offered reflect the choices of the individuals.
This proposal presents a different paradigm of day services than is currently in effect on Long Island in that it affords holistic goals and outcomes in an established working ranch environment. Diverse skill development is offered in both indoor and outdoor settings, allowing the participants to select, participate in, and change activities of their choice throughout the day. Saddle Rock is a long standing and respected business serving the surrounding community. Our participants have a ready made opportunity for authentic community integration, and members of the community have the opportunity to experience working and recreating with persons with developmental disabilities. Additionally, the ranch setting facilitates participation of our individuals’ family and friends.
Our Pilot Evaluation Committee is completing an appropriate outcome-centered satisfaction survey that will be administered prior to individuals receiving educational opportunities and / or enjoying recreation at the ranch. This baseline survey will be compared to subsequent surveys, which in the first year will be administered in the first quarter, semi-annually, and then annually thereafter. Family Residences’ Quality Assurance / Quality Improvement (QA / QI) department has set procedures in place to protect the confidentiality of participants, to receive feedback from parents and staff, and to evaluate the data to present to our Pilot Evaluation Committee and Administration for follow up.
Part III:
Saddle Rock Ranch Program Narrative
Program Overview:
Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) proposes to create more meaningful educational, social, and recreational opportunities that will provide greater personal choice for participants in a working ranch environment. This model will create more flexibility for participants for choosing new and meaningful activities and other opportunities outside of traditional day services. The participants will benefit from built-in community integration, since the educational and recreational opportunities will be conducted within the environment of an established business.
This large, beautiful and relaxing site is a natural draw to friends and family, helping to bring families together in shared activities and enjoyment.
Outlined below is Phase 1 of this special initiative:
Type of Services to Be Provided: Working Ranch, Bed-and-Breakfast / General Store, Agriculture / Horticulture, Pet and Animal Therapy, Recreation and Leisure:
Working Ranch: Saddle Rock is a 14 acre, historic, working horse ranch. It currently boards over 30 horses, has 40 horse stalls, several paddocks and riding rings, a barn, a fishing/recreation pond, a heated outdoor pool, and a three bedroom house.
Training and Volunteer Opportunities: The many positions required to run a working ranch offer meaningful educational and community integration opportunities for our participants, while providing a unique alternative to traditional day services. These positions, with staff support, include but are not limited to, managing daily operations, meal preparation, maintenance of the grounds, care and grooming of the animals, coordinating and providing riding lessons, giving educational tours and talks, crop and greenhouse development (see Agricultural Program), skill development in a bed-and-breakfast setting and a small general store for patrons (see below). In addition, individuals can participate in organizing and preparing for larger events occurring at the Ranch (dances, barbeques, festivals, conferences, etc.) held both for participants and their families, other similar agencies, and other community groups.
Bed-and-Breakfast / General Store: The three bedroom house on site will be converted to a bed-and-breakfast environment, with a small general store. It will provide domestic skill development, food preparation, hospitality training, business management, and other related educational opportunities. In the future, it may also provide lodging for participants and their families, as well as other community members who wish to enjoy overnight stays at the ranch.
Agriculture / Horticulture: This portion of the program would utilize land on Saddle Rock Ranch to educate participants in the production of crops as well as a greenhouse operation. In addition to seasonal projects (such as a corn maze and pumpkin growing), flowers and produce harvested from this program would be sold in a small farmer’s market on site, will be used in the bed-and-breakfast and general store, community outreach initiatives, and for culinary classes offered through our agency.
Pet and Animal Therapy: This program will give participants and their families the opportunity to enhance their emotional, and social well being through the care and understanding of horses, as well as a variety of other animals (miniature horses, donkeys, rabbits, cats etc). For those who are unable to make the trip to Saddle Rock or Lincoln House, various animals will be taken to the individuals. Animals will be brought to visit Head Start programs, elementary schools, and day care settings. Participants will teach the children about the animal and the care it needs. This will also provide a positive introduction of individuals with developmental disabilities to children in the community.
Enriched Recreation and Leisure: Meaningful opportunities for recreation and relaxation are many. We will offer therapeutic riding lessons with specially selected horses, adaptive equipment, leaders, and side walkers for those who choose this unique experience. Trail rides, historic and educational nature walks, fishing, swimming, paddle boat rides, hay and other rides, animal grooming and interactions, dances, concerts, camping, festivals, craft fairs, picnics, barbecues, art, Tai Chi, Yoga, and other indoor and outdoor classes, are some of the activities that will be offered. All of these opportunities are designed with the participation of individual’s family and friends, and the larger community in mind. This will not only provide fun and enjoyment for our individuals, but will help support and expand their circle of meaningful social interactions, while promoting positive awareness of people with disabilities within the community.
We believe that a quote from one of our most involved participant summarizes best the excitement of being able to take part in this initiative:
“If I could stay at the ranch twenty four / seven I would”
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