Learning Life is a school-based, animal-assisted experiential learning program delivered by Animals as Natural Therapy in partnership with local school districts. The program is designed to support student learning, social-emotional development, and overall well-being by integrating structured, goal-oriented interactions with animals into an educational framework. Learning Life serves students who benefit from hands-on, relational, and movement-based learning and who may struggle to access traditional classroom instruction due to stress, disengagement, behavioral challenges, or unmet social-emotional needs.
Learning Life is grounded in the principles of Animal-Assisted Experiential Learning, a pedagogical approach that uses guided interaction with animals to strengthen self-regulation, executive functioning, communication skills, and learning readiness. Animals provide immediate, honest, and nonjudgmental feedback to human behavior, allowing students to observe cause-and-effect relationships in real time. This creates powerful learning moments that are embodied rather than abstract, making skills easier to understand, practice, and transfer to the classroom.
Programs are delivered either on the farm or through structured school partnerships, depending on district needs, transportation access, and student goals. Most commonly, Learning Life is offered as a ten-week cohort during the school year, with weekly sessions lasting approximately ninety to one hundred twenty minutes. This dosage allows for consistency, relationship-building, and measurable skill development over time. Cohorts typically serve eight to ten students, creating an environment that supports both individualized attention and peer learning.
Each Learning Life session follows a predictable, trauma-informed structure that supports safety and engagement. Students begin by transitioning into the learning environment through grounding and orientation activities that help regulate nervous systems and establish shared expectations. Facilitators then introduce the learning objective for the day, which may focus on skills such as emotional regulation, communication, boundary-setting, cooperation, or problem-solving. Students engage in experiential activities with animals that are carefully designed to practice these skills in real time. Activities are primarily ground-based and may include leading, grooming, collaborative tasks, observation, and care routines. Facilitators guide reflection throughout the session, helping students connect their experiences with animals to challenges they face in school, relationships, and learning environments.
Learning Life intentionally supports core educational outcomes by strengthening the foundational skills that allow students to learn effectively. Many participants experience chronic stress, difficulty focusing, or challenges with impulse control and peer relationships. By practicing regulation, attention, and communication in a supportive, non-clinical setting, students increase their capacity to remain present, follow instructions, and engage more productively in the classroom. Teachers and school partners frequently report improvements in student confidence, emotional awareness, peer interactions, and willingness to participate in learning.
The program is trauma-informed and inclusive by design. Facilitators emphasize choice, consent, predictability, and respect, recognizing that many students bring prior experiences of instability or adversity. Activities are adaptable to a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory needs, ensuring equitable access for diverse learners. The presence of animals often reduces stigma and resistance to support, particularly for students who are hesitant to engage in traditional counseling or behavioral interventions.
Learning Life aligns with school priorities related to social-emotional learning, mental health support, attendance, and engagement. Outcomes are documented through attendance tracking, facilitator observations, skill assessments, and feedback from educators and caregivers. These measures allow partners to observe changes in regulation, communication, confidence, and learning readiness over the course of the program.
By integrating animals, nature, and experiential learning into an educational context, Learning Life provides students with meaningful opportunities to practice essential skills in ways that feel relevant and empowering. The program does not replace academic instruction; rather, it strengthens the underlying capacities that make learning possible. Through consistent participation, students gain tools they can carry back into the classroom, supporting improved educational outcomes and long-term well-being
