Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation

Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation brings hope and healing to children with special needs by providing transformational experiences at the only camp facility in Arizona designed and built expressly for them.

When the generosity of donors and the expertise of WHRF come together lives are transformed! Together we provide an environment for children with special needs where they:

• feel independent and make friends
• expand their physical boundaries and community of supportive adults
• experience fun and shared adventures with others facing similar challenges
• gain confidence, coping skills and a sense of normalcy by not being "the different one"
• experience respect and dignity in a place of security for campers of all levels of ability

 

During camp, children participate in adapted sports, ride horses, frolic in the splash pad, roast marshmallows and sing songs around the campfire, smiling all the while, thrilled to be able to take part in activities they previously had to watch from the sidelines.

Traditional camp activities, such as archery and crafts, are blended seamlessly with animal interaction and equine facilitated programs. The heart of the Whispering Hope experience is the healing bond that grows between campers and the gentle animals that reside at the Ranch. Like the campers, many of the animals live with challenges. Some have been rescued from abuse or abandonment. Others were born with physical anomalies, illness or were injured. At Whispering Hope Ranch, differences are accepted, even celebrated - whether human or animal.

Horseback riding is one of the activities most cherished by our campers. Our fully enclosed arena with its wheelchair mounting ramp and adaptive saddles allow even the most severely challenged to ride a horse. Riders beam with pride and confidence in the saddle, taking in the beauty of the Ranch from a higher perspective than offered by their wheelchairs.

Hope and healing are best accessed through community and connection - not in isolation. At Whispering Hope Ranch, hope and healing are accessed through-

• the connection that happens between and child and an animal, both of whom have special needs
• the feeling of belonging when friendships are formed with others who face similar challenges
• the sense of community forged - among our campers and the multitude of medical personnel, caregivers and volunteers - that extends well beyond our borders, enriching the vitality of our community at large

 

Campers come together and share their stories; encourage one another; understand one another. "Telling our stories and listening to the stories of others can be healing. We learn what makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that separates us from each other and from ourselves. A deep trust of life often emerges when you listed to other people's stories. You realize you are not alone; you're traveling in wonderful company." - Dean Ornish, M.D.

Time spent at the Ranch can best and most accurately be described as transformational, improving the quality of life for children who are coping with life-altering or life-limiting illnesses, physical, developmental or emotional challenges.

Our vision is for every child with special needs in Arizona to have access to this life changing experience through which so many have found hope and healing.