Volunteers needed this summer!
Hello families who have a child interested in volunteering this summer at Cheyne Ranch!
Did you know our summer camps are 50% - 75% less expensive than other competitive camps? As a nonprofit, it is important we offer our services affordably to our community. We rely on volunteers, they help keep our programs running safely, smoothly and add lots of fun.
More info about our volunteer requirements and expectations here
There are 2 action items:
Please have both you and your child read the info on this website (chra.us/vol), make sure you both understand the expectations. I am happy to talk to anyone with any questions.
Let me know what your child's volunteer availability is this summer. There are 2 ways to sign up:
Visit the scheduling website (scroll down) and sign up your child (you can click on recurring dates so you don't have to repeat the sign up process)
Email me the dates and I am happy to sign up your child (the scheduling system is a little confusing).
Below are screenshots of the dates we need volunteers.
Almost everyday the morning shift is available: 8:45 AM - 1:15 PM
If you are only available for a partial shift - that is ok too! Just let me know.
Friday afternoons the afternoon shift is 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Summer Camp dates are listed here
Please let me know if you have any questions - we are excited to see you all this summer!
2024 Spring Chickens! Baby Chicks - Part 4
Baby chick update! We have 26 baby chicks at the moment. I started off thinking we needed about 8 new baby chicks. And we ended up with 26. That is classic "chicken math."
Here is a breakdown:
4 of Falcon's blue eggs hatched on April 15th! There is 1 named Chipmunk, I'll let you guess which one that is
5 of Einstein's white eggs hatched on April 15th! We are hoping her babies are just like her previous baby chick - the famous Captain Sparkles!
15 baby white leghorn chicks arrived in the mail (via USPS) on April 16th!
1 Bonus / Charity chicken arrived from Meyer Hatchery on April 16th!
Also - photo of our chickens as of April 1, 2024. There are 29 adult chickens in this photo.
Captain Sparkles has been sitting on a nest of eggs and 1 of her baby chicks hatched!! Well, it was a brown egg actually - but she was sitting on it. It hatched on Tuesday, April 23rd! We put it in our chicken brooder, because it was randomly cold Tuesday evening
2024 Spring Chickens! Baby Chicks - Part 3
Monday, April 15th update: 10 of our eggs HATCHED!! 5 eggs from Falcon, 5 eggs from Einstein. The 5 baby chicks from Falcon are all different looking, 2 black, 2 brown, and 1 looks like a chipmunk! The 5 baby chicks from Einstein all look almost identical - they are yellow chicks with 5 toes and bright orange feet. We are REALLY hoping Einstein’s baby chicks grow up and look like Captain Sparkles! Or at least I hope they have her very friendly personality!
Here is a link to some videos of the baby chicks hatching - it was pretty incredible to watch. It takes a few hours to hatch. They come out very wet. It reminded me of baby turtles the way they flopped around while they figured out their footing. Within an hour or so of hatching - they were up walking. Different chicks had different energy levels after hatching.
Here is a 4 minute video of one of Einstein’s eggs actually hatching: Click here
2024 Spring Chickens! Baby Chicks - Part 2
Incubator update: We rechecked the egg growing activity on Monday (which was Day 15) and we have 7 eggs that are definitely still viable. They will start hatching this Sunday or Monday. the fabulous nature club kids and I moved the incubator out to the tack room - into the baby chick area actually. The tack room is much more conducive for students to observe baby hatching activity - much better than my living room.
2024 Spring Chickens! Baby Chicks - Part 1
Do you ever look at your pet chicken and think, "I sure wish there was more of you?"
It all started because we are all in love with this chicken named Captain Sparkles. And she happens to be the offspring of one of our other most favorite chickens - Einstein! And Einstein happens to be one of our best egg layers. And in a long story, the rooster around here is (probably) the offspring of the dad that was half the creation of Captain Sparkles... I can explain better in person if needed
So then I did a lot of research and purchased an incubator. And now we are on day 8! And 13 - 15 eggs might hatch! (out of 22).
I'll keep you posted. We are all kind of obsessed around here.
A Camp for Kids who Stutter - Summer 2024!
Cheyne Ranch is honored to be the host location for a premier service designed to support a special group of kids. It is a camp - for kids who stutter. Led by Julia Gerhard, CCC-SLP, DMA (Speech therapist) and Karah Hammontree, RMHCI (mental health specialist).
DATES: Monday - Thursday, June 10 - 13, 2024
TIME: 9:00 AM 12:30 PM
WHERE: Cheyne Ranch, Oviedo, FL
WHO: Kids and teens who stutter. Led by Julia Gerhard, CCC-SLP, DMA (Speech therapist) and Karah Hammontree, RMHCI (mental health specialist).
WHAT: A supportive, positive environment at an equine-based day camp for kids and teens who stutter. Each day, participants will learn and assist with animal & horse care skills (ground-skills) as well as experience a daily hand-led horse ride. Group-based interactions and team responsibilities will be facilitated and encouraged throughout each activity. Camp is specially designed with acceptance-commitment therapy, desensitization, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness and breathing approaches discussed and explored. Presentation skills will be addressed through improv games and daily presentation to caregivers at the end of the session.
Please contact us for more information.
**We can provide recommendations for travel accommodations for those traveling from out of the area.
