WELCOME TO ELSIE'S BARNYARD
Mission
Vision
Our vision is to be a beacon of peace, hope, and love. We give participants the opportunity to grieve the difficult circumstances they face, acknowledge the adversity around them, and celebrate the progress they have made.
Who We Serve
Children and youth with adverse medical conditions, whether it be physical, mental, social, or emotional, permanent, or temporary.
History
Elsie’s Barnyard was established in 2022 to serve families in Ellsworth and surrounding communities.
As parents of a child with special needs, we know the only thing different about raising a child with special needs is there is just….
Get Involved
Programs
Family Barnyard Visits
Field Trips
T21 Forging Friendship Group
Volunteer
We serve families in and around Ellsworth Wisc. who have a child facing an adverse medical condition.
Elsie’s Barnyard relies on volunteers to help facilitate sessions with families. If you enjoy working with animals and want to connect with families in our community, this might be a great opportunity for you.
Elsie’s Barnyard is made possible by caring volunteers who are experienced with animals and have the desire to serve.
We need Volunteers for:
- Animal Caretakers
- Animal Handlers
- Program Volunteers
- Event Volunteers
- General Volunteers
Animal Assisted Activities
Animal-assisted activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivation, education, or recreation to enhance the quality of life. Animal-assisted activities are delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals, paraprofessionals, or volunteers in association with animals that meet specific criteria
- Emotion recognition/regulation
- Reduction of anxiety/stress
- Decrease depression
- Ability to address grief/loss
- Reduction of blood pressure
- Self-esteem enhancement
- Improve emotional and behavioral problems
- Improved socialization
- Improve ability to trust
- Animals have individual rights, just as each participant does. Animals will always be treated gently. They should never be hit, have their ears pulled, carried, or treated in any other way that is uncomfortable to them.
- The animals have their own space away from participants where they can rest, sleep, or just take a quiet break.
- All animals require a handler present in any situation, and the animals will never be left alone with the participants during a session. If an animal becomes irritated, scared, or acts in a negative manner, the handler will put the animal in a safe place.
- Volunteers retain the right to terminate a session if behavior toward an animal remains inappropriate even after an animal is removed to a safe space.
- Animals have their own natural defenses, it is possible that someone could get scratched, bitten, stepped on, or pushed.
- Animals communicate their wants and needs through body language, they may brush or lean against a participant to show love or get attention, and as such there is a possibility of someone losing their balance and falling.
- A veterinarian screens the animals annually. Because contact is minimal, there is little risk of transfer of zoonotic disease which is carried by fecal matter or urine. Please note, many precautions are taken to keep these animals’ disease free.
