Our Vision
Horse Play is truly a pioneering organization, integrating the science of human play, to create transformational changes in the lives of individuals, families, schools and organizations with the back-to-nature movement to reconnect adults and children with the outdoors.
Play is our first and perhaps most powerful encounter with experiential learning or learning by doing. Through play, we learn about ourselves, how to relate to others and how to interact with the world around us. Children at a pond froggin' learn problem solving and negotiation skills as they determine their frog catching strategy; how to manage frustration as the frog leaps from the net; how to exercise patience as they scan the water for the frog's eyes peering above the algae; and hopefully how to show compassion and care for nature if they actually manage to catch a frog!
Outdoor play also yields the added restorative benefits of being in nature on one's physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. From children playing video games and watching television to adults tied to their pda's and cell phones, our society has shifted out of balance into a more highly structured, technology-focused direction. Research shows that play leads to more adaptive, creative thought processes in addition to it's many emotional, physical and social benefits. Through our equine assisted experiental learning programs, Horse Play provides opportunities to integrate the adventure, fun and learning inherent in play with the restorative benefits of being in nature to children, adults, families and organizations.
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What is the Equine Experiental Learning Process? Learn more » |