Nature's Edge Therapy Center, Inc.

Do you like to garden?
Do you like to spend time with animals?
Do you have organizational skills?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we invite you to join our team, enhance your skills, and contribute to the success of our program! Volunteers perform integral roles at our center. Whether your interests lie in gardening and landscaping, small or large animals, nature and the environment, or organizational office tasks, we have a place for you!

Donald Davis and his two children flew in from New York to Volunteer, stayed locally, and volunteer over two weeks. His volunteer testimonial follows:

This is a great place to volunteer, because the results of your work are so immediately tangible. The clients and patients work very hard to achieve and respond to so much as a smile and work that much harder. And the horses and other animals seem to know that they have a higher mission in life. How can farm animals be so gentle, even the mischievous goat? This is a well managed operation, and the staff is hard working. The success here are large and small.

Donald

I enjoyed the privilege of being around all kinds of animals. With assistants, I have helped to build a greenhouse, a workout area for therapy, a fenced in area and more pasture for the horses.

The ducks, pigs, dogs, cats, horses, ponies, and one cow among other animals, I have become a friend to all of them.

I have become a friend to many handicapped people. I myself, happen to be handicapped. Working together the others can understand you can do it too.

Jerry Hazelwood, Volunteer

I love Nature's Edge because I love working with the animals and I love children. I also love working with people in general. The reason why I love the children is because we connect. Some are funny, sweet and are very curious about the way things work around here. I personally have gotten to know the animals and some of the people. I know what they like, and dislike. I have learned so much, just from watching the barn manager, and the Lundeens themselves. Nature's Edge is my life. Thank you Nature's Edge.

Sam Waggoner, Volunteer

My first visit to Nature's Edge Therapy Center was to discuss the 4-H Therapeutic riding program. I ended up staying the day and came home with a volunteer training manual, fore training videos, and an application to become a volunteer. I know I had found a very special place where exciting things were happening and I wanted to be a part of it.

I am learning so much from the incredible staff. They make me feel like part of the team. Watching the patients relate to the animals has shown me what a perfect form of therapy this is for them. This is a professionally run program but so human and basic. Each child and animal is unique and special. I look forward to my time with them.

Louise Buchmann, Volunteer

I will never forget the time I spend at Nature’s Edge. I loved the animals and enjoyed helping out with the animals and your clients. I will be working with clients in memory care. And animal therapy will be a big part of their activities. It is so cool that animals can play such a big role in our lives no mater where we are at. They enrich our lives and your Nature’s Edge has enriched mine.

Thanks to you and all of your staff.

Mary Alice Christianson

I have lived next door to Nature’s Edge for 6 years and have watched it grow, but it wasn’t until this fall that I was able to get involved on a regular basis. I started by filling in for the barn manager, caring for the animals and handling horses when she was injured and have enjoyed it so much that I am continuing as a volunteer. I have learned so much from the staff about animals and people. I am amazed at how the therapists utilize the animals and things in everyday life as tools to help their patients. You can see the animal-human bond at work and viably see the patient’s progress during a session.