*** Program 1) – Children on the Autism Spectrum with their Families
July 15 - July 23, 2010
Ages: 7 - 17

Pricing

Family Size Cost
2 $1950
3-4 $2400
5-6 $3500
7-8 $4400

(Two families who are friends and don’t mind sharing a room or two may also team up to qualify for the lower rates)

Name: "Discovering the Self through Nature"

An opportunity for children with autism and an adult caretaker to experience the wonders of Costa Rica and our 200 acre farm. We have horses, cows, goats, chickens, dogs, a cat---even a monkey! Our farm and the magnificence of Costa Rica's varied and beautiful habitat will furnish healing for the special sensory processing challenges children on the Spectrum face. Participants who are willing and able will have the option to learn how to horse-whisper to gentle young horses, approach and sooth a horse to prepare for riding, and experience the joy and responsibility of caring for a particular animal. Through a program oriented to each individual and their adult caretaker, we will provide opportunities to relax and re-create, experience and interact with the farm animals, and take part in art, music, and game activities.


We are aware of the needs of children with autism and provide one staff member for each participant. This will enable participants, staff, and caretakers to work together efficiently to ensure a positive, interesting, and restful time during our program.

Unless otherwise requested all food will be gluten-free and dairy free, without preservatives or chemicals or bleached.

**** Program 2) - THE HORSE WHISPERING WAY - A Journey of Discovery and Connection for Teens and Parents ****
July 28 – August 4th
Ages 12-17
$1,250 per person. Includes all meals,
double occupancy rooms, and horse activities.

A horse whisperer is a horse trainer who adopts a sympathetic view of the motives, needs, and desires of the horse, based on natural horsemanship and modern equine psychology. The term goes back to the early nineteenth century when an Irish horseman made a name for himself in England by rehabilitating horses that had become unmanageable due to trauma. We also know it as horse gentling, a method of training that doesn’t use horse “breaking” to render a horse ride-able.
The “technology-free” week with horses is designed to help teens and parents reconnect and discover a shared, authentic language of communication, love, and respect. The eight-day program is open to teens and adolescents age 12 to 17 and an accompanying parent or parents. Through experiential learning exercises with horses, parents and teens will be introduced to life skills known as Emotional Intelligence. Research indicates Emotional Intelligence is responsible for 80% of success in life, with cognitive abilities contributing to the remaining 20%. In addition, we will explore the power of non-verbal communication (90% of the way we actually communicate with each other), the establishment and maintenance of healthy boundaries, and methods for increasing our presence, self-awareness, and empathy. There will be classes for teens alone and parents alone for separate learning experiences, as well as combined.

***** Program 3) - Small Planet Project: We Matter *****
Ages 16-19
August 11 ~ August 25, 2010
$2,000

This program is an immersion course in the urgency for reforestation and eco-tourism. Learn why these are essential to Costa Rica and to our Planet and how you can help the cause. Become part of a symposium of rural coffee and food co-ops, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Teachers and School Groups to begin or assist the development of various sustainable projects. Enjoy some of our eco-tours. Become a spokesperson for eco-tourism and fair trade if desired.


We will:

Learn about our land, food and healing herbs from the earth to the table
Engage in helping heal our earth and increase animal habitats through reforestation
Build a campsite
Learn organic or biodynamic gardening method
Get to know the people of Costa Rica by reaching out to them with helping hands in a community service project

In addition, we will celebrate with nature, agricultural and adventure tours, camping at the beach,and kayaking or boating to Islands in the Gulf, plus a trip to Monteverde Rainforest National Park.