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You are here: What's New >> Updates

Deer Hill Ranch Updates

"Kids For Kids" Programs
We feel that some of even the youngest kids who participate in our programs could gain value from our new "Kids for Kids" programs.

How younger kids can participate:
Some of the kids who join us for Birthday Parties or Farm Study Trips are very lucky and can enjoy many material things in their lives.

Other kids in the Bay Area cannot participate in as many activities because their families cannot afford them.

Here's the main idea behind this program:

Once kids have come to Deer Hill Ranch and have actually participated in our programs, we feel they can appreciate how much other kids might enjoy coming here as well.

However, some kids aren't as well off economically as others in the Bay Area and we thought up the idea of creating a way for kids who might like to help bring less-advantaged kids to the ranch.

Individual kids or classes can help sponsor another kid or class by raising the money themselves.
This does not mean dipping into the piggy bank or asking Mom or Dad for some money. This entails actually working and earning the money which can then be given as a gift to help others. The program fee for one child for a Farm Study Trip is $12.00. The program fee for one child for a half-day Youth Team Building is $40.00. A full day program costs $75.00.

Whether a child is four years old and raises 10 cents or a teenager is 16 and raises $40.00 doesn't matter. It is the simple act of caring and compassion and actually doing something to initiate social change which matters.

Community Service Programs
For several years we have been asked if we can provide Community Service hours for local teens.

We have finally arranged for this to happen and can provide the appropriate documentation for kids to take back to their middle or high schools. Last Spring, we also had an intern who was a Senior at a local high school.

Opportunities for Community Service:

We work hard on the ranch and you would have to too!

Here are some of the ways you can help (2-hour minimum):

• Ranch maintenance; Building fences, digging trenches or holes for fence posts
• Pen cleaning; Shoveling manure, cleaning watering bowls
• Working on the weekends during children's birthday parties assisting the Program Leader.
  (This also involves pre-program pen cleaning and some training teaching kids and understanding group dynamics.)
• Working during vacations and the summer helping the Program Leaders with Farm Study Trips.
  (This also involves pre-program pen cleaning and some training teaching kids and understanding group dynamics.)
  
• Working during vacations and the summer helping as Runners in our Youth Team Buildings.
  (This involves set-up and take-down and would require pre-participation Facilitation Skills Training.)

Future Collaborations with other Non-Profit Agencies
In the future, we hope to be able to offer local teens additional opportunities for Community Service which will be beneficial and impactful through collaborations with other non-profit agencies.