Description:
Furry Foundations:
This new program is specifically designed for persons with special needs or other life challenges.
This program is focused on building foundations, developing skills and helping people discover their abilities and potential. Dreamcatcher's Intervention Specialist works in collaboration with parents, teachers and specialized teams to meet the needs and goals of the individual. The program takes place outdoors in a natural, relaxed yet challenging environment. Skilled Professionals work one to one with the participants and specially chosen animal partners. The participants are actively engaged and learn through immediate experience. Each individual session is specially tailored to suit the participant’s specific therapeutic needs. (info via submitted comment)
Youth Retreat during Spring Break 2010 for youth ages 10 to 14 with FASD. The retreat will focus on social skill building and will be lead by a Behavior Management Specialist.
Retreat Dates: March 29th to April 1st 2010
Times: Day time only retreat: from 9:00am until 3:00pm
Registration Deadline: MARCH 22nd 2010
For more information or to register, please contact Dani Dahlseide at [email protected] or 780-922-1047
Dreamcatcher’s Youth Retreat is a therapeutic retreat for youth struggling with anger and behavior management issues and who could benefit from an increase in self-esteem and confidence. It is an opportunity for youth to learn to express themselves in healthier ways and to understand their impact on others through interactions with animals and nature. Ages 13 – 16.
dates tba
Kids ‘n Kritters Day Camps are specifically designed for persons with autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and brain injury. Children will be matched in camps with similar children. Ages 5 – 10.
dates tba
Contact Info:
Dreamcatcher Association
53044 RR #213, Ardrossan, AB T8G 2C4
Eileen (780) 922-1047
Fax (780) 922-4217
Website: www.dreamcatcherassociation.com
More Info:
"Dreamcatcher Association is located in Ardrossan, Alberta (just 30 minutes East of Edmonton) on a 40-acre beautifully treed and trailed ranch. It is a nature and animal-assisted therapy program that is helping children, youth and adults to heal and reach their full potential through nature's serenity and rescued animals' unconditional love.
To date, we have successfully helped people with brain injury; emotional issues; behavioral concerns; mental health diagnoses; youth at risk; addictions; past trauma issues; dual and multiple diagnoses; developmental delays; physical impairments; family-oriented concerns; past sexual abuse and much more.
Our programs are completely individualized to fit the needs of those involved and range from individualized and group therapy sessions involving animals and nature to vocational training focused on farm and ranch work, bush craft, gardening and animal care. Our programs are designed and implemented by a clinical therapist and behavior management specialist who consistently involves the person in needs' family members, school personnel and community agencies in all aspects of programming and treatment planning. Involving the person's support system better ensures the success of his/her therapeutic experience. The most important aspect of our programming is carried out by our co-counsellors who consist of rabbits, chickens, horses, llamas, dogs and cats. Many of our helpers have been rescued and have an uncanny ability to provide exactly what each person needs exactly when they need it. It is this aspect of our therapeutic program that sets aside from any traditional model of helping.
Dreamcatcher has been especially effective in helping those who have extremely difficult or negative behavior and have not been able to find help anywhere else. It strives to provide services to aggressive and violent youth in an attempt to break the cycle of abuse by involving them with animals at a young age. It has also been a refuge for people who have had past negative therapy experiences and who vow to never try to get help again. Dreamcatcher's completely natural setting and friendly rescued animals provide excellent motivation for people to safely engage in a rewarding and therapeutically effective experience. Dreamcatcher provides hope for those who are convinced that there is no hope." (from their website)
"Healing Hearts with Hooves is Dreamcatcher’s main program out on the ranch. It is an Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) program focused on Dreamcatcher’s expertise in treatment and counselling. The program takes place outdoors in a natural, relaxed but challenging environment. Dreamcatcher offers individual as well as group sessions and each session is tailored to meet the specific needs of the individuals involved. Dreamcatcher’s non-traditional counselling methods gently but actively engage individuals so that they may find healing, hope, balance, and growth through the experiences with our specially chosen animal partners." (via submitted comment)
