The Animal Caretakers program provides vocational and transferrable skills for children and adults in a tranquil, inclusive setting. Participants join peers in weekly, collaborative tasks such as feeding the animals, providing wellness checks, clearing paddocks, and maintaining the farm.
Participants will learn their roles within the ESMA Equestrian Community and how to identify and improve animal welfare.
Fall Term Goals: Through immersive and interactive weekly farm visits, participants will...
- Meet and interact with others over a shared love of animals
- Identify and participate in basic elements of animal care (feeding, cleaning, handling, and basic first aid)
- Ask and answer questions to discuss how animal health is maintained
- Learn and share safety provisions taken when working closely around large and small animals
- Observe herd behavior and compare it to human group behavior
- Collaborate and cooperate with peers to problem-solve
- Demonstrate understanding of congruence in thoughts/actions and how it affects equine behavior
- Use basic mathematical skills to calculate daily nutritional requirements for each animal
- Describe each animal’s unique needs and personality
Fall I: Saturday, September 7 through Friday, November 1, 2024.
Fall II: Saturday, November 2 through Sunday, December 1, 2024 (No sessions held 11/28-12/1).
$280 for 8-week term ($45 per session for drop-ins).
Adult Animal Caretakers
A. Mondays 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
B. Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
C. Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
B. Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
C. Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Children's Animal Caretakers for Ages 5+
D. Mondays 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
E. Wednesdays 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
F. Fridays 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
E. Wednesdays 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
F. Fridays 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
To sign up for Adult or Children's Animal Caretakers, register on CampDoc, then email equestriancenter@eastersealsma.org to confirm the program day and time indicated by A-F.
