Natural Connections Learning Center

Natural Connections Learning Center (NCLC) cultivates life skills through restorative connections with animals, nature, and expressive arts. We partner with animals in our programs, workshops, and training, and through this restorative and healing partnership, we help kids who are struggling in areas of their lives, adults who have experienced trauma, and individuals who are looking to find more fulfillment and/or purpose in their lives. Our key programs and services are:

• Direct Services: Through experiential, hands-on work with animals, nature, and expressive arts, we provide individual, family and group therapy.
• Professional Development Programs: We teach professionals about the holistic benefits of connecting people to animals and nature.
• Wellness Programs and Services: We offer workshops on topics related to the integrative role of animals and nature in human wellness, development, and learning.
• Education: We provide learning opportunities in the areas of human development, leadership, and citizenship.

The basic connection between humans and nature is continually weakened as we move deeper into a fast-paced and technological age. Children and youth, especially, are bombarded by these advances and are now experiencing “nature deficit disorder.” This term, coined by Richard Louv, author of "Last Child in the Woods", basically describes the “disconnect” from the grounding and interconnectedness humans once experienced with our earth. The simple act of communing with an animal – having a chicken sit happily in a person’s lap and not flap away – having a horse walk across the pasture to hang its head over the fence so it can see a visitor more closely – these are the moments where defenses are let down and the business of healing can begin.

As a small but growing organization, we thank you for your help in expanding our programs within our community and providing scholarship opportunities to those in need.