Wonder Wood Ranch is Making a Big Impact in Our Community
Recently Overheard at the Ranch:
Wonder Wood is very peaceful. I come to relax and be with the kind, wonderful staff.
This place is a refuge for me. —Nathaniel, age 15
I love that every horse has a story, just like every kid that comes has a story. —Anthony, Age 17
The staff is so welcoming and makes me feel like I matter. --Youth, Age 17
I thought about riding Smokey all night! I like everything about riding Smokey. He’s my best friend.
—Lewis, age 18
I love spending time with the animals and the people —Roxy, age 15
All day long I was feeling frustrated at school then I came out here and I’m doing a lot better.
--Youth, Age 16
I love playing with the cats at Wonder Wood Ranch. —Oswaldo, age 15
I love being out in the wilderness without my phone. It so simple here. It helps me to relax and think.
—Victor, age 17
Being at WWR distracts me from the hard things going on outside.
It helps me with my anxiety when I’m here, away from everyone else. —Paul, age 16
WWR helps me to be more social, proactive, and happy. —Esteban, age 18
I love archery. I’m getting better at my aim.
And I love being around the horses. Each one is unique. —Tim, age 17
I like coming to the horse program because it opens up my mind.
It teaches me patience and how to have fun. -Jose, age 17
I love the trees and the peaceful atmosphere at the Ranch. -Julio, age 17
The horse makes me happy. —Ramon, age 13
From Our Friends at Juvenile Hall:
When Wonder Wood comes to the juvenile hall to visit us, it makes me feel like a kid again, and it gives me hope that when I get out I’ll have something positive to look forward to on the outside. —Cris
I like the program because it gets my mind off my situation and gives me hope. —Ricardo
I really appreciate them coming because it relieves my stress. —Jaime
I’ve been here since the beginning of the program and every Tuesday I’m always looking forward for the program to come to the hall. Whenever I may be having a rough time in here or my mood may be down, the people and the animals always seem to cheer me up and put me in a better mood. --Leo
I like that you bring animals for us. It makes us forget we’re locked up. --Max
This program is a getaway for me. I love that we get to interact with the animals and the staff. —John
This is the best program because we’re interacting with animals and good people.
This program really makes a difference for me. —Stephen
We appreciate WWR coming, rain or shine, to give us new experiences and take us out of our comfort zone to help us be more open minded and positive. —Robert
Horses in juvenile hall surprised me so much! It was a good surprise. —Brayan
I feel good when I’m around the animals. I forget the hard things in my past and have hope for the future.
(I love going fast on the horse! ) —Jose
I appreciate how WWR comes to give us comfort and peace and lets us know that whatever we go through in life, we can get through it. There’s light in the darkness. —Isaiah
From Our Partners:
I see the students bonding over [the WWR TAILS program] and it is awesome
to see them being allies with each other. Thank you for all that you do!
—Bianca, Salinas UHSD Alt Ed
[Wonder Wood Ranch] is passionate about using horse and animal therapy and the peaceful surroundings of their property to breathe life, confidence, hope, joy and peace into the lives of everyone who comes onto the ranch. ... At Wonder Wood, I’ve seen hardened teen gang members who gave up handguns to get in a city van come to the ranch and become transformed into little kids again. I’ve seen kids who thought they couldn’t, realize they could. I’ve seen kids with heads hung down under hoodies sitting up smiling atop a horse or petting one of the many other animals on the ranch. Whether it is foster kids, special needs kids,
medically-challenged kids, under-resourced kids, or kids living in violent environments,
lives are being changed through Wonder Wood Ranch.
—Mark, Senior Pastor, Salinas Valley Community Church
Wonder wood ranch is a place where kids learn to pitch in. While they’re helping clean stalls and care for animals, they’re also learning that they are important, they can make a difference, and they do matter!
--Christa Balch
It's amazing to see how the horses promote teamwork with the kids. We really need that here as fighting between kids can be a real problem for us. Thank you!
--Teacher, Carr Lake Community Day School
This is a start to supporting some of the highest-at-risk students within the district. During the one-hour session you can visibly see the students start to light up, open up to new tasks, share,
communicate and build alliances amongst each other.
--B. Archuleta, School Social Worker, Carr Lake Community Day School.
From the News:
See three articles published in The Salinas Californian:
Wonder Wood Ranch Providing Love, Hope, Healing (front page of Californian), (full article)
Horse Programs Show Kids How to Sit Tall in Saddle and in Life
Nonprofit Invites North Salinas Children Out to Play
And a cover story on the Ranch in Giving Tomorrow magazine:
The Power of Wonder
Also see the KION news report on our Hope on Hooves Program:
At-Risk Youth Learning Confidence at Ranch Program
And see a summary of KSBW News Channel 8's report on our Type 1 Diabetes Day:
Local ranch hosts type 1 diabetes day
Recently (see below!) our TAILS program at Carr Lake School was featured
in the Salinas Union High School District's newsletter!
From Our Board:
I love Wonder Wood Ranch because of the intentional outreach it does to youth that are underserved and forgotten about, and provides animals that are healing in a safe environment. —Carol Cervantes
My commitment to God and my friendship with Marlo drove me to volunteer with Wonder Wood Ranch.
I am not an "animal person", but that does not stop me from caring for the youth in our community through helping at the many events we do throughout the year. I am filled with joy knowing
we give hope to the people we serve. --Jean Waddy
Wonder Wood is very peaceful. I come to relax and be with the kind, wonderful staff.
This place is a refuge for me. —Nathaniel, age 15
I love that every horse has a story, just like every kid that comes has a story. —Anthony, Age 17
The staff is so welcoming and makes me feel like I matter. --Youth, Age 17
I thought about riding Smokey all night! I like everything about riding Smokey. He’s my best friend.
—Lewis, age 18
I love spending time with the animals and the people —Roxy, age 15
All day long I was feeling frustrated at school then I came out here and I’m doing a lot better.
--Youth, Age 16
I love playing with the cats at Wonder Wood Ranch. —Oswaldo, age 15
I love being out in the wilderness without my phone. It so simple here. It helps me to relax and think.
—Victor, age 17
Being at WWR distracts me from the hard things going on outside.
It helps me with my anxiety when I’m here, away from everyone else. —Paul, age 16
WWR helps me to be more social, proactive, and happy. —Esteban, age 18
I love archery. I’m getting better at my aim.
And I love being around the horses. Each one is unique. —Tim, age 17
I like coming to the horse program because it opens up my mind.
It teaches me patience and how to have fun. -Jose, age 17
I love the trees and the peaceful atmosphere at the Ranch. -Julio, age 17
The horse makes me happy. —Ramon, age 13
From Our Friends at Juvenile Hall:
When Wonder Wood comes to the juvenile hall to visit us, it makes me feel like a kid again, and it gives me hope that when I get out I’ll have something positive to look forward to on the outside. —Cris
I like the program because it gets my mind off my situation and gives me hope. —Ricardo
I really appreciate them coming because it relieves my stress. —Jaime
I’ve been here since the beginning of the program and every Tuesday I’m always looking forward for the program to come to the hall. Whenever I may be having a rough time in here or my mood may be down, the people and the animals always seem to cheer me up and put me in a better mood. --Leo
I like that you bring animals for us. It makes us forget we’re locked up. --Max
This program is a getaway for me. I love that we get to interact with the animals and the staff. —John
This is the best program because we’re interacting with animals and good people.
This program really makes a difference for me. —Stephen
We appreciate WWR coming, rain or shine, to give us new experiences and take us out of our comfort zone to help us be more open minded and positive. —Robert
Horses in juvenile hall surprised me so much! It was a good surprise. —Brayan
I feel good when I’m around the animals. I forget the hard things in my past and have hope for the future.
(I love going fast on the horse! ) —Jose
I appreciate how WWR comes to give us comfort and peace and lets us know that whatever we go through in life, we can get through it. There’s light in the darkness. —Isaiah
From Our Partners:
I see the students bonding over [the WWR TAILS program] and it is awesome
to see them being allies with each other. Thank you for all that you do!
—Bianca, Salinas UHSD Alt Ed
[Wonder Wood Ranch] is passionate about using horse and animal therapy and the peaceful surroundings of their property to breathe life, confidence, hope, joy and peace into the lives of everyone who comes onto the ranch. ... At Wonder Wood, I’ve seen hardened teen gang members who gave up handguns to get in a city van come to the ranch and become transformed into little kids again. I’ve seen kids who thought they couldn’t, realize they could. I’ve seen kids with heads hung down under hoodies sitting up smiling atop a horse or petting one of the many other animals on the ranch. Whether it is foster kids, special needs kids,
medically-challenged kids, under-resourced kids, or kids living in violent environments,
lives are being changed through Wonder Wood Ranch.
—Mark, Senior Pastor, Salinas Valley Community Church
Wonder wood ranch is a place where kids learn to pitch in. While they’re helping clean stalls and care for animals, they’re also learning that they are important, they can make a difference, and they do matter!
--Christa Balch
It's amazing to see how the horses promote teamwork with the kids. We really need that here as fighting between kids can be a real problem for us. Thank you!
--Teacher, Carr Lake Community Day School
This is a start to supporting some of the highest-at-risk students within the district. During the one-hour session you can visibly see the students start to light up, open up to new tasks, share,
communicate and build alliances amongst each other.
--B. Archuleta, School Social Worker, Carr Lake Community Day School.
From the News:
See three articles published in The Salinas Californian:
Wonder Wood Ranch Providing Love, Hope, Healing (front page of Californian), (full article)
Horse Programs Show Kids How to Sit Tall in Saddle and in Life
Nonprofit Invites North Salinas Children Out to Play
And a cover story on the Ranch in Giving Tomorrow magazine:
The Power of Wonder
Also see the KION news report on our Hope on Hooves Program:
At-Risk Youth Learning Confidence at Ranch Program
And see a summary of KSBW News Channel 8's report on our Type 1 Diabetes Day:
Local ranch hosts type 1 diabetes day
Recently (see below!) our TAILS program at Carr Lake School was featured
in the Salinas Union High School District's newsletter!
From Our Board:
I love Wonder Wood Ranch because of the intentional outreach it does to youth that are underserved and forgotten about, and provides animals that are healing in a safe environment. —Carol Cervantes
My commitment to God and my friendship with Marlo drove me to volunteer with Wonder Wood Ranch.
I am not an "animal person", but that does not stop me from caring for the youth in our community through helping at the many events we do throughout the year. I am filled with joy knowing
we give hope to the people we serve. --Jean Waddy
