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We Build Youth Resiliency
 
 
 

Douglas County Invests In The Aspen Effect

Douglas County has awarded The Aspen Effect a $113,000 matching donation to support our work with youth and families. This means that every dollar donated right now will be matched by county dollars to help us continue creating a place where youth can breathe, heal, and rise through connection, mentorship, and time with animals! Will you help us reach our goal to raise $113,000? Click here to donate and double your impact!

Thank you to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners for believing in early support for youth and for investing in the wellbeing of families in our community. This partnership truly makes a difference.

 

“Colorado Declares State of Emergency for Youth Mental Health.”

JENA HAUSMANN, CEO, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO ON MAY 25, 2021

 
 

Like the root system of an aspen grove, we create youth interactions that strengthen resilience and help prevent mental health crisis.

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Evidence-Based Work

We believe that every youth will be strengthened by authentically connecting with people, animals and land. The lack of connection to an adult who will listen is one of the top risk factors cited in the Colorado Attorney General’s Report on Youth Suicide. Mentoring has been shown to be one of the most important factors for improving youth self-esteem, resilience and positive mental health. Our also connects youth with animals who accept them exactly as they are. And in a peaceful, fun ranch environment, these youth connect to the outdoors. They put their phones away, breathe the country air and learn to be present!

 
 
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Rooted in Youth Resilience.

Take some time to listen to some stories that paint a picture of The Aspen Effect’s incredible potential to impact the lives of our youth.

 
stories →
 
 
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Program Highlights

 

RANCH MENTOR CLUB

The Ranch Mentor Club gives youth in our community an opportunity to be around goats and mini horses in a farm setting. Each youth will put in some hard work and bond with a trusted adult mentor who enjoys having fun, engaging in real conversation, and doing creative things.

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RANCH RESILIENCE CAMP

During the summer, we offer 2-day morning Ranch Resilience Camps. During each session, youth will be taught to be grounded, connected, protected and nurtured by a faculty of horses and other ranch animals in a very unique classroom of open space, trails and mountain scenery.

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TEEN ADVISORY BOARD

Our Teen Advisory Board counsels The Aspen Effect on our programming and youth outreach. They also serve as a youth voice for other organizations in Douglas County and Colorado that support youth mental health such as the Douglas County School Resource Officers (SROs).

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RANCH RESILIENCE FIELD TRIP

The Aspen Effect provides a special field trip for both youth and adult groups at our host ranch Happy Dog Ranch Horse Sanctuary, where we encourage participants to put away their phones, breathe in the country air and learn how to build resilience from the animals and ranch environment.

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Our Peaceful Home

This is where we invite youth, parents and mentors to join us in our mission of resilience to become more grounded, connected, protected and nurtured. We welcome The Aspen Effect Family to Happy Dog Ranch Horse Sanctuary, just 3.5 miles south of the town of Sedalia, nestled near the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains. Click on this photo to learn more about our peaceful home.