Wonder Wood Ranch is Making a Big Impact in Our Community
From Our Partners:
I recently had the privilege of touring Wonder Wood Ranch and witnessing firsthand the profound impact its services have on our youth. I was deeply moved by the care and dedication of Marlo Schalesky, her family, and the entire faculty at the ranch. Their commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for these young individuals is truly commendable.
--John Laird, State Senator, 17th District
Just wanted to reach out and give a sincere thank you for having us on Tuesday. The young men you have working at the ranch are nothing short of amazing . They were so polite, knowledgeable, professional and patient with my group.
--Traci De Oliveira, Community Integration Coordinator, Without Wall WOW, Gateway Center of Monterey
Wonder Wood Ranch is an important resource in our community offering equine therapy and outdoor experiences to the most vulnerable youth in Salinas and across Monterey County. Their services
are affordable and delivered with skill, love and care by a family invested in the well-being of their community. As Director of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace I have trusted Wonder Wood Ranch with the gang impacted youth we work with and have made countless referrals from partner agencies.
As Chair of the Juvenile Justice Commission I hear first hand from Probation staff about how valued their visits into Juvenile Hall and our Youth Center are. There is something very special about the positive impact of horses on our youth and the trauma they carry.
--José A. Arreola, Community Safety Administrator, City of Salinas,
Director, Community Alliance for Safety and Peace
Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission
Wonder Wood Ranch has been among our most popular and successful programs with our youth population since we implemented the program and its impact in our facility and in the lives of the youth who participate in the program cannot be overstated ... We have observed notable progress in their awareness of self and others, in created confidence, and improved interpersonal skills. These new or expanded skills and abilities enable justice-involved youths to cope with challenges and stressors in a healthier manner and often leads to greater participation in other important rehabilitative programs and services.
--Isabel Anderson, Division Director, Monterey County Probation - Youth Center
Speaking from experience the positive impact WWR makes on participants is beyond words. I personally witnessed children who attended Horse Camp last year. Each participant was selected from four different agencies within Monterey County who unfortunately experienced victimization. The week of camp provided each participant with an experience that was well thought out and planned and provided each child with the skills to grow and flourish. Marlo and her team are to be commended.
--Pam Patterson, Former Founder and Head of the Monterey County District Attorney's Victim's Unit
The Wonder wood Ranch Program is an excellent program that the Silver Star Youth Program participants thoroughly enjoyed. It gave the at risk students the opportunity to let their guard down, care for animals and learn responsibility. The setting, animals and the facilitator were very calming and therapeutic for many of the trauma informed youth participating in the program.
--Joe Grammatico, Manager, Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo
Never doubt the impact that Wonder Wood Ranch has in the community of Monterey County.
The youth in our mentoring program are systems informed - truancy, gang affiliations, substance abuse,
and violence in the home or community are all life challenges they are striving to overcome.
The program at Wonder Wood Ranch gives youth smiles, laughter, and maturity. They leave
the ranch as a better person. "Hope on Hooves" is a tough thing to measure, but I have seen it work little miracles firsthand. The ranch uses a healing and caring, trauma informed approach when working with youth. Our community needs more resources like Wonder Wood Ranch.
-Vicki Law, Executive Director, Partners For Peace
Wonderwood Ranch is a beautiful place where horses and donkeys run zigzagging through Live Oak Trees, pigs snort happily through their piles of hay, and miniature donkeys welcome you through the entrance. Here children get to ride a horse for the first time - an experience they will remember forever. They get to meet new people, have new experiences, and just get to be children at horse camp.
--Lauren DaSilva, Executive Director, Monterey County Rape Crisis Center
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.
Recently Overheard at the Ranch from our Youth:
WWR is the only place I feel I can do something good.
--Antonio, formerly incarcerated, gang-impacted youth
Wonder Wood Ranch is a place for me to change along with friends and family, and to learn skills for my future. Being involved at Wonder Wood Ranch helps me to avoid trouble and do something positive instead.
-- Sergio, age 19
Wonder Wood Ranch has given me an opportunity to be engaged in positive outdoor activities, to learn and practice new skills, and develop new, positive ways to think and be. The ranch is keeping me away from bad influences and helping me to have a real hope and plan for my future. I am learning to find a positive purpose for my life. I want to take what I’m learning here at the ranch and do something to help others.
—Angel, Age 17
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
The Wonder Wood Ranch program is a game-changer for me! --Student, Central Bay High School
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
This will be the only time I smile today. --Leila, during our program at Carr Lake School
You're the first people I can actually talk to. --Andrew, Age 19
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 and the Youth Center:
If I had this program when I was 14, I wouldn't be here (locked up) today. -- Andrew
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
You're the first people that see me and not just my tattoos. --Andrew
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
Riding the horses makes me feel free! --Angel
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! And the Monterey Herald also did a recent write-up (also see below)!
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
I recently had the privilege of touring Wonder Wood Ranch and witnessing firsthand the profound impact its services have on our youth. I was deeply moved by the care and dedication of Marlo Schalesky, her family, and the entire faculty at the ranch. Their commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for these young individuals is truly commendable.
--John Laird, State Senator, 17th District
Just wanted to reach out and give a sincere thank you for having us on Tuesday. The young men you have working at the ranch are nothing short of amazing . They were so polite, knowledgeable, professional and patient with my group.
--Traci De Oliveira, Community Integration Coordinator, Without Wall WOW, Gateway Center of Monterey
Wonder Wood Ranch is an important resource in our community offering equine therapy and outdoor experiences to the most vulnerable youth in Salinas and across Monterey County. Their services
are affordable and delivered with skill, love and care by a family invested in the well-being of their community. As Director of the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace I have trusted Wonder Wood Ranch with the gang impacted youth we work with and have made countless referrals from partner agencies.
As Chair of the Juvenile Justice Commission I hear first hand from Probation staff about how valued their visits into Juvenile Hall and our Youth Center are. There is something very special about the positive impact of horses on our youth and the trauma they carry.
--José A. Arreola, Community Safety Administrator, City of Salinas,
Director, Community Alliance for Safety and Peace
Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission
Wonder Wood Ranch has been among our most popular and successful programs with our youth population since we implemented the program and its impact in our facility and in the lives of the youth who participate in the program cannot be overstated ... We have observed notable progress in their awareness of self and others, in created confidence, and improved interpersonal skills. These new or expanded skills and abilities enable justice-involved youths to cope with challenges and stressors in a healthier manner and often leads to greater participation in other important rehabilitative programs and services.
--Isabel Anderson, Division Director, Monterey County Probation - Youth Center
Speaking from experience the positive impact WWR makes on participants is beyond words. I personally witnessed children who attended Horse Camp last year. Each participant was selected from four different agencies within Monterey County who unfortunately experienced victimization. The week of camp provided each participant with an experience that was well thought out and planned and provided each child with the skills to grow and flourish. Marlo and her team are to be commended.
--Pam Patterson, Former Founder and Head of the Monterey County District Attorney's Victim's Unit
The Wonder wood Ranch Program is an excellent program that the Silver Star Youth Program participants thoroughly enjoyed. It gave the at risk students the opportunity to let their guard down, care for animals and learn responsibility. The setting, animals and the facilitator were very calming and therapeutic for many of the trauma informed youth participating in the program.
--Joe Grammatico, Manager, Silver Star Youth Program at Rancho Cielo
Never doubt the impact that Wonder Wood Ranch has in the community of Monterey County.
The youth in our mentoring program are systems informed - truancy, gang affiliations, substance abuse,
and violence in the home or community are all life challenges they are striving to overcome.
The program at Wonder Wood Ranch gives youth smiles, laughter, and maturity. They leave
the ranch as a better person. "Hope on Hooves" is a tough thing to measure, but I have seen it work little miracles firsthand. The ranch uses a healing and caring, trauma informed approach when working with youth. Our community needs more resources like Wonder Wood Ranch.
-Vicki Law, Executive Director, Partners For Peace
Wonderwood Ranch is a beautiful place where horses and donkeys run zigzagging through Live Oak Trees, pigs snort happily through their piles of hay, and miniature donkeys welcome you through the entrance. Here children get to ride a horse for the first time - an experience they will remember forever. They get to meet new people, have new experiences, and just get to be children at horse camp.
--Lauren DaSilva, Executive Director, Monterey County Rape Crisis Center
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.
Recently Overheard at the Ranch from our Youth:
WWR is the only place I feel I can do something good.
--Antonio, formerly incarcerated, gang-impacted youth
Wonder Wood Ranch is a place for me to change along with friends and family, and to learn skills for my future. Being involved at Wonder Wood Ranch helps me to avoid trouble and do something positive instead.
-- Sergio, age 19
Wonder Wood Ranch has given me an opportunity to be engaged in positive outdoor activities, to learn and practice new skills, and develop new, positive ways to think and be. The ranch is keeping me away from bad influences and helping me to have a real hope and plan for my future. I am learning to find a positive purpose for my life. I want to take what I’m learning here at the ranch and do something to help others.
—Angel, Age 17
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
The Wonder Wood Ranch program is a game-changer for me! --Student, Central Bay High School
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
This will be the only time I smile today. --Leila, during our program at Carr Lake School
You're the first people I can actually talk to. --Andrew, Age 19
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 and the Youth Center:
If I had this program when I was 14, I wouldn't be here (locked up) today. -- Andrew
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
You're the first people that see me and not just my tattoos. --Andrew
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
Riding the horses makes me feel free! --Angel
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! And the Monterey Herald also did a recent write-up (also see below)!
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
