The Fern Ridge Library had another Read to a Donkey, Goat, and Duck event in February.
While this event is primarily targeted towards a younger audience to practice their reading skills, middle schoolers, teens, and even adults have participated in reading to the animals. Some just come in to say hi and pet the animals!
“The fact that they are going out and taking this reading with them, shows me that it is having a huge impact,” Youth Services Coordinator Nicole McLaws said about the impact this event has on the kids in the community.
Kids have come to McLaws sharing that they go home and read to their animals, strengthening their reading skills!
Some of the animals that have come into this event are Andy the duck, Opie the donkey, Aspen the donkey, Snowball the bunny, Fuego the goat, and Gwendolyen the goat. A fan favorite is Andy because he is adamant about seeing the pictures.
The animals also wear different outfits for each Read to a Donkey!
Nancy Willard is the owner of the animals the one who brings them in.
Willard is a recognized expert in positive relations and bullying, as well as trauma and resilience. Willard also runs Way of the Donkey.
Way of the Donkey is about donkeys and positive empowerment of young people. Their research is grounded in insight to help youth that have experienced trauma, are neurodiverse, or have other challenges.
“What I realized along the way is we have to focus really strongly on empowering young people to handle these kinds of situations and then I found donkeys, and it turns out that donkeys have the same traits that we want to help young people gain and that if they do that it will increase their empowerment, their happiness, and their ability to stay calm when things get tough,” said Nancy Willard in an interview with 16 KMTR.
For the full news segment visit: Acts of Kindness
Donkeys have traits that, if followed, promote happiness, self regulation, and resilience.
The Way of the Donkey rules are: make positive connections, reach out to be kind, build your strengths, be thankful, if things get tough, stop and stay calm, stand tall, and think things through.
Way of the Donkey wants to bring the joy of donkeys to everybody, but their primary focus is to work with youth that have disabilities, neurodiversity, loss, trauma, are being bullied, and more.
Way of the Donkey was an after-school summer camp taking place from July 18 to Aug. 11. Now, there is an afterschool program for anyone K-12. Older kids will be paired with younger kids.
Participants take the donkeys through an obstacle course next to The Emporium located at 87980 Territorial Highway. It happens from 3-5:30 Monday through Thursday. Snacks will also be provided and this is a free event.
Read to a Donkey was scheduled for April 1, but was canceled. Currently, it has not been rescheduled and May’s event has not been announced.
Contact wayofthedonkey@gmail.com if you are interested.
For more information, visit Way of the Donkey.
