Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers and the youth they serve joined our team at Animal Assisted Happiness Smile Farm in Baylands Park on Saturday, September 17, 2022. The social gathering focused on social-emotional learning for the youth.
During their visit to Smile Farm, the children and CASAs explored each barnyard pen where they were encouraged to interact with the animals. From snuggling bunnies, feeding doves, holding chickens and petting alpacas, goats and more, the youth learned information about the barnyard animals through interaction while creating smiles.
After exploring the farm, the youth and CASAs participated in making “worry boxes”, an activity focused on helping the children build emotional coping skills. Additionally, arts and crafts activities included making stress balls using balloons and flour, animal treat and toy making. To commemorate their visit, the kids participated in river rock painting where they could paint anything on their rock which then was placed along Smile Farm’s pathways.
Outdoor social gatherings, like a fun-filled day at Smile Farm, create a supportive environment to let children explore and have fun through play while developing cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being. By the end of the event, our children had experiences that would nurture their development while combatting trauma. If you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring a youth-related event, please contact our development department at development@childadvocatessv.org. Below are a few images of our day at the farm.
