Pastoral, according to Random House College Dictionary, definition 3: "having or suggesting the simplicity or serenity generally attributed to rural areas". Think pastoral, think Avalon Farm.

Avalon Farm creates an environment where rich and deep learning take place. Students are encouraged in experiential learning and work in groups or individually, depending on needs. Kimberly Clarke, founder of Avalon Farm, says “We teach students math through calculations in building skills. We teach thought process skills in figuring out how to do things related to farming, feeding animals and caring for animals. We teach communication skills, work on trust and relationship development, respect, energy work, healing with hands and care work. Mostly, we teach them that they are OKAY no matter who they are.” Animals accept people unconditionally and so does the staff at Avalon Farm.

Avalon Farm and Kimberly Clarke have worked with students from several Iredell-Statesville Schools, along with home schooled and private school students. Most of the students have special needs and benefit immensely from the connectivity they experience while learning about animals.

If you have not visited with Kimberly at her beautiful property, consider doing so. You’ll not soon forget this thoughtful and energetic person and the incredibly beautiful environment she has created. Iredell-Statesville Schools is proud to have Avalon Farm as a District-wide Partner and thanks Kimberly Clarke for all she has done for our staff and students.

-- Iredell-Statesville Schools

To Whom It May Concern:

It is with sincere enthusiasm that I write this letter in support of Avalon Farm's request for funding. For the past year, I have witnessed its success involving young people in healthy outdoor activities that provide a fun means for learning important life skills. Through collaboration with local government, community organizations like Scouting, churches, elementary schools, high schools and children with special needs programs, it has provided unique and valuable experiences to children in need.

Avalon Farm started two years ago and has 4 programs: Stress Management and Wellness, Breathwork, Creativity Art Therapy and perhaps the facility's most popular, Healing with Horses.

Healing with Horses is a 10-week program that focuses on various character-building traits, and the farm's horses are incorporated into each lesson. Children learn about respect, trust, communication, self care, stress management, goals, attitude, and more.

As a business person in the greater Charlotte community and a board member of a number of equine based therapy programs, please accept my testimonial that not many facilities offer as many unique outdoor experiences as Avalon Farm does - and certainly not in the Alexander-North Iredell county areas. With your support, more young people will enjoy a healthy, educational, constructive experience offered by Avalon.

Thank you for your consideration of these worthy programs. hope you will join me in providing financial support to expand their impact.

Sincerely,
Patrick J. O'Leary

September 5, 2010 Letter of Recommendation for the Healing with Horses Program at Avalon Farm

I recently participated in a private afternoon Healing with Horses session at Avalon Farm. Through a process of journaling, discussion, breathing exercises, and interacting with Priscilla, one of the farm’s horses, I found clarity on a question that I hadn’t been able to answer before! I was thrilled to work with Priscilla and to watch how she responded to me. Even during the exercises when I was outside the ring working with Kimberly and Priscilla was in the ring, the horse was fully engaged and interacting with us during our discussions.

This work is perfect for me – both because I love horses and because the horse is a wonderful mirror for what I’m feeling, regardless of what I might actually be saying. There’s no lying to the horse because they don’t use language (our spoken language) to communicate. Additionally, the work with Priscilla helped me focus on some aspects of myself that I hadn’t been aware of before.

While this work is particularly beneficial for kids (abled and dis-abled), I can say that as an adult woman, the work was so impactful and specific during my three hour session that I have booked a full day to do more.

I can and do heartily recommend the Healing with Horses program to anyone wishing to become more in touch with nature, animals, and themselves (their thoughts, feelings, behaviors). My goal now, in addition to participating in another session, is to gather a group of friends to participate together!

Sincerely,
Angela J. Mattson

I am writing to express our gratitude for your program which has touched me in my heart from the moment I stepped on the farm. My husband and I have a daughter, Morgan, who is 16 years old. She is cortical visually impaired, with a seizure disorder, cognitive delays and has cerebral palsy. We belive that she can see color and at times can see us. We are not sure what or how she sees compared to us. The cerebral palsy causes to her feel the physical things much differently than we feel.

The first day we visited Avalon Farm I was amazed at the interaction between Morgan and Lily. Lily is one of the miniature horses on the farm.   The way that Lily came right up to Morgan and touched her face can not be described adequately in words. It was as if Morgan understood what Lily was doing and wanting from her. Then there was the fact that Morgan liked it! A lot! Morgan is not the type of child who likes to be hugged or even touched especially by animals.Many time she avoids the touching aspect when it comes to animals. We have animals here in our home: 2 dogs, a seizure dog (Angel) and a weenie dog (Isaac), and her cat (Samson).  We try all the time to get her to pet them, but she has a very tactic defensive.  With Lily and Morgan it was different. The two of them seemed to bond immediately and develop something from the very beginning.

The second visit to Avalon, Morgan had the opportunity to work with Priscilla, one of the other horses that participates in the "Healing with Horses" program. When placed on Priscilla’s back, Morgan immediately calmed down and seemed to enjoy her ride. When the ride was complete, she did something that will forever be an imprint in my heart. She leaned forward so that she was directly laying onto Priscilla’s back. She stretched her arms out as to hold on and she lay there peacefully. It was as if she was hugging Priscilla to thank her for working with her. It was one of the most beautiful sites I have every experienced. Priscilla stood completely still during this process because she knew this was part of the healing process for Morgan.

As I watched this interaction, I knew that God was in the midst of everything happening with my little girl; and that this place offers something that no other place has ever offered to us. It is a place of peace, healing and tranquility.

As the director, Kimberly Clarke worked with Morgan on breathing exercises as well as other facets of the program. Morgan seemed relaxed and confident in what was going on. Kimberly played a big part in all of this in the way that she calmed and gave peace during the time she spent with Morgan and the horses. Kimberly and the program has been a true blessing in our daughter’s life, as well as mine and my husband.

Thank you for all you have done and the blessings you, the animals and staff are to the individuals and families in all the surrounding counties.

Sincerely,
Denise B. Little