Miniature Horse Therapy
Wranglers participate in the daily care of fifteen equine including eleven miniature horses, three donkeys and a pony. Daily care includes exercise, grooming (brushing, cleaning hooves, and shampooing as needed) and feeding with fresh hay, oats and carrots. Wranglers keep the stalls clean by raking and removing manure and replacing sawdust as needed. The manure is taken to the garden area for use in composting. Wranglers assist with keeping the barn tidy by returning all tools and tack to its proper place.
BeeKeeping
Under the direction of a professional beekeeper, Wranglers who participate in this weekly class learn about the life cycle of honey bees and their importance to humans and the environment. In addition, Wranglers help harvest the bees’ valuable contribution to life: honey!
Hand Bell Choir
Wranglers interested in learning to play a musical instrument and performing in front of live audiences can join the ‘Ringing Wranglers’. Weekly rehearsals of a variety of compositions are selected for seasonal concerts.
Music Appreciation
Wranglers are introduced to a wide range of music and artists such as classical, country and western, ‘oldies but goodies’ and rock ‘n’ roll rhythms while trying to identify the sounds of the different musical instruments. Interesting stories about the artists or relevant historical events are included.
Poultry
Our newest additions are “lovely ladies” who strut their stuff under the ancient pecan tree in the garden area. Each egg-laying hen will produce an average of one egg per day. Wranglers who participate in this daily program learn to care for the hens by feeding them raw vegetable scraps to supplement chicken feed, clean their coops and give them a lot of love and attention.
Golf Cart Driving
Wranglers wanting to learn how to ‘drive’ practice weekly by driving golf carts throughout the 42 acre site. They learn about safety and follow a variety of road signs such as ‘stop’, ‘slow’, ‘yield’, and ‘curve’. To earn their golf cart drivers license, a wrangler must demonstrate responsibility of a vehicle and safety by controlling their speed, not driving recklessly, obeying road signs and backing-up skills.
Gardening
Wranglers participate in a variety of gardening activities year around in a climate controlled greenhouse, raised beds and natural cultivated outdoor areas. Duties include planting, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, weeding and watering flowers and vegetables. Grass clippings and other organic materials including horse manure are processed as compost which is used in the gardens.
Drama
Wranglers participate in drama classes utilizing “Readers Theatre” where some participants may read scripts, during which they change their voices to “become” the character, and other Wranglers participate by being the audience. The audience used their imagination to envision the different characters of the story. After each story, Wranglers discuss the lesson learned or humor they found in the story.
Work Readiness
Wranglers who participate in these work-related social skills classes learn what it takes not only to get a job, but to keep a job. They are taught the essential attributes that are expected in a good employee such as trustworthiness, cooperation, well-groomed appearance, demonstrating self-control, and taking responsibility, plus other work-related behaviors such as giving 100%, positive work ethic, workplace manners and boundaries.
Community-Based Instruction (CBI)
Wranglers participate in outings throughout Montgomery County including visits to museums, public parks, and historical monuments. During rainy weather, some outings include going to a movie, bowling, shopping or other indoor activities. CBI trips are designed to reinforce social skills and money management skills taught in Adult Continuing Education (ACE).
Maintenance
Grounds and Facilities
Wranglers participate in a variety of duties including common-area landscape maintenance which is mowed, trimmed and raked. They also take care of all buildings and fences and travel to other communities to pick up donated items.
Vehicle and Equipment
Maintenance of all vehicles, golf carts, farm and lawn equipment is vital at New Danville. Wranglers assist with keeping the equipment barn tidy by returning all tools and equipment to its proper place.
Wood Shop
Wranglers who choose to participate in this activity learn to exercise safety and discipline while learning to use saws, drills and other tools to make beautiful writing pens, boxes, crosses and other products using a variety of materials including exotic woods, local cedar, acrylic and deer antlers. The finished products will be marketed online and in New Danville’s Market Place as well as to local individuals and businesses.
Assembly Work
Wranglers who participate in this activity learn a variety of skills including folding letters, stuffing and placing stamps and labels on envelopes, placing labels on jars of honey and other food products, crating china mosaic crosses from wood made in our Wood Shop, filling and labeling a variety of bath and body products including soap, scrubs, lotions, bubble bath and bath salts. Other products will be introduced such as scented candles.
Sewing and Embroidery
Custom monogrammed pillowcases, throws, beverage napkins, bathrobes, slippers, and towels are just a few of the hand-crafted home decor products that are produced at New Danville. This program teaches Wranglers the art of sewing and embroidering. It also teaches them about fabrics, sorting materials, different types of threads, designs and patterns and the care and maintenance of the machines and other related matter.
Adult Continuing Education (ACE)
Wranglers attend life-readiness classes that provide techniques for anger management and other coping skills, reinforce grooming and personal hygiene, money management and other consumer skills; developing age appropriate relationships and demonstrating appropriate behavior in most social situations. Behaviors such as honesty, respect, initiative, responsibility and best effort are stressed.
YMCA
Wranglers participate in a variety of adaptive physical education activities such as team sports and using physical fitness equipment under the direction of P.E. Instructors at the Conroe Family YMCA. The program includes outdoor activities when weather permits, such as utilizing the swimming pool and soccer fields. Indoor activities include using the workout equipment or shooting baskets in the indoor basketball court.
Non-Contact Martial Arts
Wranglers who participate in this weekly activity develop balance and coordination, learn self-discipline and how to stay focused while receiving physical exercise and emotional well-being under the direction of experts in Martial Arts at the Conroe Family YMCA.
Line Dancing
Wranglers who participate in this fun weekly activity learn to count beats, keep rhythm, and have fun exercising to music.
American Sign Language
Wranglers who participate in this program learn to have a conversation using their hands. It is especially beneficial for those who have a speech impairment. This is a new and exciting way to communicate utilizing both their hands and the spoken word.
Literacy
Wranglers learn to navigate around a public library, select reading materials and discuss current topics and events under the instruction of the Literacy Volunteers of America.