The Herd &Heart Project
Time with the animals, at whatever pace works for the child.
Four Roots Ranch is a family-run non-profit animal sanctuary in Bend, Oregon, and we know what it's like to have a child who's been bullied and left out for being seen as “too different.” We've seen how much it can mean to a child who's been left out to spend time with animals who are glad to have them there. That's why we're starting the Herd & Heart Project.
Who it's for
Kids ages 5 to 18 who've been bullied or excluded for being different, including kids with disabilities.
If your child has been picked on or left out for being who they are, this program was built with them in mind.
What a visit is like
A visit is time with our animals, at your child's pace. There's no schedule to keep up with and nothing to get right. Some kids will want to walk straight into the herd. Some will want to watch from the fence for a while. Both are fine.
The animals aren't asked to act a certain way, and neither are the kids. Every child who joins us is welcome, just as they are.
- By appointment
- Visits are scheduled ahead, so no one walks into a crowd.
- One family or group at a time
- Each visit is for one family, or for one group that's coming together around what the program is about.
- Spring, summer, and fall
- The program runs through the warmer months.
- Community supported
- There's no charge to families. The program is supported by our community, and we're working with local businesses and grants to keep it going.
A note from Kate and Eric
Our son is disabled, and he's been bullied and left out more times than we can count. We wanted to turn something ugly and painful into something beautiful for other kids who may be experiencing something similar.
We kept coming back to the animals. We get to see firsthand how soothing time with them can be, and how much easier it is to be yourself around an animal that doesn't care how you look or act. We wanted kids to have that too, with no pressure at all.
We're starting with a small pilot, so we can learn from the first families before we open it up more.
Support the animals behind the program
The Herd & Heart Project depends on the daily care of our animals. If you're a local business or organization and you'd like to help cover hay, feed, and veterinary care, we'd love to hear from you. Four Roots Ranch is a registered 501(c)(3), so gifts are tax-deductible. You can reach us at herdandheart@fourrootsranch.com.
Sign-up details are coming soon.
Join our newsletter to be notified. We'll share how to request an appointment there first, along with scheduling details.