Second Star Farm and Wildlife Habitat

At Second Star Farm and Wildlife Habitat, our mission is to provide a safe space for under-resourced, under-represented, and at-risk youths, their families, and the local community to connect with wildlife, horses, and the natural environment. We offer a variety of programs focused on wildlife education, hands-on experiences with horses, and environmental conservation, connecting people with activities they may not otherwise have the means or opportunities to experience. For children experiencing instability at home, the farm can provide them with a safe space to spend time, learn, and connect with others.

Second Star Farm and Wildlife Habitat provides children with regular access to activities that they would not otherwise have the means to experience, provides education to help bridge the disconnect between human activities and the long-term health of our local ecosystems, and also fosters a collaborative environment wherein all of our members can experience the joy and pride that comes with being a member of, and a contributor to, their community regardless of background. These goals were formed in line with those of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – a diverse global environmental organization whose mission is to “Influence, encourage and assist societies to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.” The IUCN’s Sustainable Development Goals include both “health and well-being” and “reduced inequalities” as two of their key pillars. Offering children a community to which they feel they belong, and in which they can connect with both peers and mentors, may provide participating children and adolescents with a platform via which to improve their emotional and physical health, and foster a sense of belonging. Further, the extent to which we feel connected to nature influences our pro-environmental behaviors, and extensive research on the subject strongly indicates that this feeling of environmental connectedness improves mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing across demographics, as well as influencing social cohesion. Separately, numerous support programs implement forms of equine therapy to facilitate the improved mental and physical wellbeing of their participants, and a review of recent studies suggests that equine-related therapies may improve behavioral outcomes in youth groups deemed ‘at risk.’ Given these benefits to both humans and nature, Second Star is proud to serve local communities as a bridge to meaningful connections, healthy ecosystems, equity, and inclusion.