How to schedule a group visit with your elder home or care facility:
Katherine is the sole animal caretaker and time and energy is put into the preparation for visits to the Healing Barn, and often an assistant is required–for these reasons we respectfully ask for a non refundable donation at the time we schedule your visit. We recognize emergency cancellations can arise, but we ask for 48 hours notice, as last minute cancellations are disruptive since we must prep for the visit early. If it appears the weather will not cooperate, we will reach out days before to see if a reschedule is warranted. We suggest a $50-100 donation for groups.
Please note: we have never charged for our animal visits to Cove’s Edge or other facilities in all the years we’ve been doing this. We want to keep it that way. Some facilities are Medicaire based and there are not resources to give funds for animal visits. We understand this. But with Healing Barn visits, we hope to reach a wider audience and hope care managers will acknowledge our efforts, when they can, with a donation to support the animals and our work.
For intimate one-on-one visits, or for counselors with clients:
If you are a grief counselor, teacher of special needs, a caretaker of some kind and think your person might benefit from animal visits contact Katherine. As mentioned above, Katherine is the sole animal caretaker and time and energy is put into the preparation for visits to the Healing Barn. Sometimes an assistant is required depending the nature of the visit. When working with these private sessions [or small groups] we want to hear your needs [ie which animals might be best for the task at hand, are there special needs/goals, etc]. We respectfully ask for a non refundable donation at the time we schedule your visit. We suggest a minimum of $50 for a two hour visit, for up to two people.
Email Katherine to discuss possible visits to the Healing Barn or your facility.
About The Healing Barn: Built in summer of 2024, the barn provides a wide open 24’ barn where the animals can mingle with people. With 4 separate dutch doors, guests have a panoramic view of paddocks and the farm. Sometimes guests might want to sit inside and groom ponies, decorate manes, or just watch the animals romp. If a group has certain animals they enjoy, we can try to accommodate them.
There are built in benches for group activities. Wheel chair access. The little mobile book shop is also open where guests can browse and purchase Katherine’s illustrated animal books and animal art.
We also plan activities that bring joy to the animals as well as people: reading stories out loud, singing get togethers and music [the animals, especially donkeys, love music]. If you have a choir, a ukulele group, sewing group, knitter group or story telling group, contact Katherine.
