Inclusive Harvesters an Adaptive 4h program at The Barn Academy QC
Our tagline is “let's get growing” as we start cultivating success! “Inclusive Harvesters” provides numerous opportunities for social engagement and relationship building. Regular meetings and club activities offer a structured environment for children to interact, collaborate, and form friendships. Working on projects, from raising animals to robotics, teaches cooperation and healthy competition. Opportunities to take on leadership positions, like club officers or project leaders, help children develop interpersonal skills. Engaging in service projects promotes teamwork and a sense of community among members. State fairs and camps allow for broader social interaction and networking. These experiences help members build confidence, learn cooperation, and develop social skills that are valuable throughout life.
Programs offered through our adaptive 4h focus on using hands-on experiences that empower young people with the practical life and social skills they need to be leaders now and in the future. Practical skills and content knowledge can be gained across a wide range of topics such as robotics, animal husbandry, sewing, and photography. Life skills such as leadership, resiliency, and communication, are learned and enhanced through various delivery methods. Our new 4h program will offer opportunities for peers to connect and form new friendships.
“Inclusive Harvesters” adaptive 4h will support recreation and health promotion through promoting physical activity and nutrition. Our horse projects objectives are multifaceted. Children will get physical exercise, develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, sportsmanship, and other desirable character traits, as well as an appreciation of horse well-being and proper horsemanship with a physical horse. Children will experience the pride and the responsibilities of caring for a horse. Children will also learn good horsemanship and an understanding of proper management for nutrition, raising, daily care, and training horses. Our horticulture project objectives are multifaceted. Our members will learn how to plan an in-ground or container garden; how to prepare the soil; and when, where, and what to plant. We Introduce basic plant science, garden friends and foes, tool safety, using the vegetable harvest, and horticulture-related careers. Other activities may include germinating seeds and experimenting with plants. Our members will learn to make the most of their garden space using different planting methods, then how to harvest, store, preserve, and/or sell their bounty of vegetables and herbs. They will study plant genetics, plant diversity, plants in space, in addition to learning about horticulture-related careers.
“Inclusive Harvesters'' adaptive 4h will create environmental /physical plant upgrades that promote health and safety. Upgrading our 40 year old barn to remodel and make adaptations for our new 4h program can provide several benefits. An upgrade can address any existing safety hazards, making it a safer environment for both the animals and children participating. Physical plant improvements can provide better facilities for 4h participants to learn and practice animal care, agriculture, and responsibility. We will be able to accommodate more animals and provide more space for each animal, improving their well-being and the quality of our program. With improvement we can incorporate technology and modern practices in animal husbandry, which can improve efficiency and the educational experience for our children with disabilities. A well-maintained and modern barn can help attract more community interest and involvement, possibly leading to increased funding and support for our new 4h programs. Renovating our existing 40 year old barn can provide shade and a cooler environment during the extremely hot and sunny months. The newly remodeled barn enclosures can protect horses from frequent dust storms and blowing sand. A well-sealed barn can help keep out pests that might bother or even harm the horses. Sudden weather changes, such as monsoons, can occur in Arizona, and an enclosed barn can offer necessary protection. Enclosed stalls can offer increased security against theft or predation by local wildlife (e.g. skunks, snakes, coyotes etc).
A covered horse arena in Queen Creek offers several benefits. One benefit is it provides shade for both horses and riders from the intense Phoenix sun, helping to prevent sunburn and overheating. Ensures the arena can be used throughout the year, regardless of the extreme summer temperatures. Limits the amount of dust kicked up during riding, which is beneficial for the respiratory health of both horses and humans. Offers protection from the elements, such as the occasional rain, enabling training and 4h events to continue without weather interruptions. Helps maintain consistent footing by reducing the drying and hardening effects of the sun, which can affect the arena surface. Can provide some insulation during cooler months. Offers a more comfortable viewing experience for audiences during adaptive 4h events, encouraging attendance and participation. These are just a few of the many potential upsides of our "Inclusive Harvesters' ' project to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS existing services in Arizona.
