COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION
Community Participation Program
The Community Participation Program provides individuals with special needs the opportunity to explore possibilities, and sets them on a course to develop to their full potential. Program participants learn and develop employment-related skills, and gain on-the-job work experience within the context of an inclusive, barrier free environment. As a client-centred program, the Community Participation Program allows participants to volunteer to help with the work of the farm or to participate in skills development through interest programs. The farm's current offerings are described below.
CPP Supportive Volunteering
Supportive Volunteering provides the option for individuals with diverse support needs to volunteer at WindReach Farm. WindReach staff will provide training and modeling of volunteer tasks around the property and will work alongside supported volunteers as a team leader on weekly projects that will vary according to the seasons. Volunteers of all abilities are welcome and should plan to be accompanied by a family member or Developmental Service Worker. Our aim with CPP Supportive Volunteering is to provide all individuals the opportunity to belong to the fabric of the community through shared work and facilitated social time, as well as to gain new skills and develop current skills that can be transferred to potential employment, hobbies or accessing the community. Volunteer opportunities will include a wide range of activities, including preparing for and working at at special events, and maintaining the WindReach Property including lawns, pathways, pastures, garden beds (food and ornamental), orchards and greenhouses. Participants will explore and learn the knowledge, skills and tools necessary for this work.
This program is offered Fridays from 9:30-12:30. Registration is required and both the participants and support people will be entered into our system as volunteers. There is no charge for this program. Space is limited!
Animal Care Skills and Interest Program:
CPP Animal care focuses on the development of knowledge, skills, experience and confidence around our WindReach animals. Adult participants, who will be guided by WindReach staff members, will learn to care for the basic needs of our animals.
Activities covered in this program include:
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Socializing & Interacting with the animals
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Walking animals on the leash
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Chicken care and egg collection
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Grooming
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Some feeding
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Some light clean up of animal areas
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Learning about the Farm property and animals and plants that live on it
The CPP Animal Care program is a drop off program that runs Wednesdays 9:30-12:30 and includes a snack and facilitated social component. This program is open to adults who are independent in maneuvering around the farm as well as communicating with their peers and staff. For the safety of both participants and the animals, participants must be able to understand and follow directions in a 1:3 staff to participant ratio. The cost of this program is $40/week
Participants
Adults 18 years of age or older with a disability.
Schedule
Community Participation Programs run in 8-10 week sessions and run on a rolling admissions basis.
To Apply
Contact volunteering@windreachfarm.org
"The farm program is my favourite thing to do. I love to feed the animals. It makes me feel like I’m capable. It feels great to be outside. I love to see Blossom. I feel like I help Eleanor when I complete my jobs. I like to talk to Eleanor and the other people who work there.”
— Tim, Participant
“The farming loop has taken Matthew full circle from the planting of a seed of an interest, to a repertoire of blossomed skills, to an ability to apply and pollinate these same skills in his daily living as well as in his wider community."
— Jo-Anne, Mother of Participant