NEWS FROM THE HEARTLAND

SUMMER OF 2008 BEGINS WITH MUCH NEEDED
       PROGRAMMING for the region!!

JEANNIE HUGHES, PHYSICAL THERAPIST, STARTED BACK THE HIPPOTHERAPY PROGRAM FOR DD IN APRIL FOR THE SEASON.
      While COWPOKE CAMPS for the developmentally disabled started June 10, 2008 primarily serving Catoosa and Walker County Schools programs for their Special Education Classes, the future for DD children to have something to do in the summer to keep their minds from losing progress to before services during the school year is a goal of Heartland.  This was a high priority gotten from surveys done with teachers and parents.  Becky Conner, Director of Special Ed Catoosa County Schools, and Penny Howerton, Director of Special Ed Walker County Schools, have been working with Heartland staff to pilot summer camps for DD.  The excitement is growing among families with special needs children for the possibilities of Heartland’s programs.

ANTICIPATION FOR HIGH RISK GIRLS CAMPS IS HIGH IN WHITFIELD AND MURRAY COUNTIES: “I DON’T WANT TO GO TO CAMP, YA THINK!”

Highlights of this camps will be a type of equine assisted psychotherapy games with the horses, team building, environmental photo safari, life skills, make overs for the all natural look with expert Darin Wright, Elea-Blake Custom Mineral Cosmetics, Walden Club lunch with successful women and a fashion show featuring Chattanooga State ambassadors who will talk about how they got to where they are from where the girls at the camp are.  Fun, fun, and more fun is awaiting this 10-14 year age group.  Heartland’s goals for this camp:  self awareness, self confidence, ability to work with a team, a better attitude, hope for a successful future, life skills and mentoring from thriving women leaders and students.  If this is successful, then teen pregnancy prevention, which is a goal of these counties, will be achieved.

Donating time to the summer fun to help these girls achieve their full potential and self esteem is Darin Wright, Elea Blake Cosmetics, above.

RANCH FUN FOR THE BETHLEHEM COMMUNITY CENTER’S INNER CITY CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

Lurone “Coach” Jennings, former Howard Principal, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Center in Alton Park and Heartland Board Member, believes in “Visioning” as programming for “his Kids”.  “If you can take them out of the environment they know which is concrete, gangs and nothing to make them see themselves doing differently, and put them on a higher level where they see themselves successful and living a different life, then you can give them a vision for a better life to work for.”  He takes them to successful people’s homes and they learn organic gardening and ranch living at Heartland Ranch.  They get to work with horses and be around nature.  Participants learn respect for the environment and how everyone is connected and has to do their part.  The kids can’t wait to get back after a successful program last year.

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DALTON PARKS AND REC CENTERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EXPERIENCE WITH HORSES FOR THEIR HIGH RISK SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

If there is nothing to do in the summer but get in trouble, then that is what these youth will do.  So the Dalton Parks and Recreation Department puts together camps and activities for the youth, especially this year when jobs are at a premium and hard to find.  A week of learning to tend to horses and horseback riding teaches hard work and having fun doing it at the same time.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN FUNDRAISERS TO RAISE MONEY FOR HEARTLAND’S PROGRAMS:

The first major fundraiser for Heartland Ranch and Arena, Inc. programming for DD, high risk/poverty, and abused children was actually was in the fall of 2007 when Fort Oglethorpe Kiwanis/Rick Honeycutt Youth Foundation help their annual Celebrity Golf Tournament at Battlefield Golf and Country Club.  The proceeds from this gave the staff the opportunity to start planning with area schools and agencies the programs needed most in the region for kids whose program dollars are being cut by the government.

SPRING BIKE OUT PARTICIPANTS Norman, webmaster, and Bobbie, Project Director, talk with Bike Out bikers while Kindra (wheelchair) and Shirley, Norman’s wife, listen.

Glenda Wilson and nephew, Levi The Bel Aires donate music, as well as Zane Turner and the Blue Grass Pickers.  The music and barbeque supplied by Rossville Barbeque were huge hits.

Thanks to all the sponsors that made this a success.  We learned Bikers have hearts of gold.  Special thanks to Charlie Peeke, Scenic City Club, and Bill and Dereck Langston for all their hard work.

                     

HEARTLAND HORSEFAIR WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC RELATIONS EVENT

Horse enthusiasts and vendors from around the region came out to support the first annual Heartland HorseFair coordinated by Lucy Austin and the staff at Heartland Ranch.  17 different breeds were paraded around the arena.  A major hit were the miniature horses and carriages.

Racing Carriages were also highlighted. Vendors donated Silent Auction items.  While the event broke even, it was a major success as far as area horse people getting to know what Heartland is all about.

THANKS TO ALL! HEARTLAND STAFF AWAITS “SUMMER DREAMS BUILD SELF ESTEEM” PROGRAMS.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE KIDS WHO ARE UNDERSERVICED AND NEED IT THE MOST!

WEBSITE IS BEING UPDATED.  FORT OGLETHORPE KIWANIS NAME WAS LEFT OFF OF FRIENDS OF HEARTLAND, BUT THIS WILL BE CORRECTED SOON.  SNOEZELEN IS A GOAL OF THE RESPITE CARE LODGE. ALL TRAINERS AT HEARTLAND CAN GIVE RIDING LESSONS BY THE HOUR.   PROCEEDS GO TO PROGRAMS AT HEARTLAND.

CALL FOR DETAILS.