South Natick, Massachusetts
Our Programs
Recreational Visits
We welcome visitors by appointment to come meet, brush, feed and spend time with the herd. Our curious and engaging goats ignore no one and, with ease, quickly show their innate ability to elevate and lighten visitors’ moods. Our goats love attention as much as visitors enjoy showering them with it.
Our Recreational Visits are ideal for families, groups or individuals who want to spend time with our goats in a farm setting. Visits are forty-five minutes and are $35 for one person and $15 for each additional person.
*Visits are scheduled by appointment.
RISE Program
The RISE program is a Recreational, Individualized, Social and Educational program for adults with intellectual differences. Positively Goats works with clients to tailor and structure an individualized program to meet the specific needs of each person by identifying and building on strengths and interests. Through a connection with animals and nature, Positively Goats’ multi-sensory approach and supportive environment promotes positive physical, cognitive and social development. Working in small groups, participants gain knowledge and hands-on experience in goat care and gardening while developing confidence in learning new skills and increasing social skills. Through engaging activities this program teaches vocabulary related to animal care and farming as well as practicing note-taking and reading. This program is offered at the farm year-round and in the winter as a hybrid program including weekly farm visits and weekly interactive online classes.
Activities include:
- Measuring out and preparing meals for the goats
- Maintaining an organized and clean barn
- Brushing, petting and observing the goats
- Participating in daily farm chores
Topics include:
- Life cycle of a goat and daily care
- The five senses - related to goats and humans
- Communication- goat versus human patterns
- Plant life cycle and gardening
Program goals:
- Gain animal care and farm experience
- Increase social skills
- Foster an appreciation for animals and nature
- Increase self-advocacy and self-determination skills
- Strengthen reading, writing and communication skills
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Our animal-assisted therapy program integrates ongoing individual or group mental health counseling with meaningful interactions with our goats. The reciprocal connections with animals encourage deep mind-body connections and self-reflection that promote personal growth , wellness and facilitate talking about difficult topics that may not otherwise be as accessible.
Desirable, lasting and positive change can result from the relationships between an individual, a therapy animal and the certified facilitator. These therapeutic and healing relationships are encouraged and can flourish in our judgement-free, inclusive and supportive environment.
Animal-Assisted therapy has been shown to:
- Facilitate and promote transformative change, personal growth and compassion through self-awareness
- Decrease social isolation while fostering mutual respect and increased social skills
- Reduce stress and provide a respite from anxiety
- Decrease heart rate and blood pressure
- Reduce depressive symptoms and promote an increased sense of well-being
- Strengthen a connection to the self through a connection with animals and nature
- Promote a sense of accomplishment and an increase in self-confidence
- Strengthen social skills and empathy
- Move an individual towards self-actualization through communication, trust and kindness
Our therapeutic programs are ideal for anyone who wants to reduce stress and live with more ease, contentment and joy. The programs cater to the needs of individuals as well as therapists who may seek additional modalities to traditional treatment plans. We work with parents and guardians to tailor and structure an individualized program to meet the specific needs of each individual or group. Our multi-sensory approach can also support occupational therapy through strengthening physical abilities. Animal-assisted therapy is also beneficial for people with differences by increasing social skills, and strengthening physical abilities and cognitive development.