A CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Where horses and nature bring the best of leadership together for the dignity and benefit of all.
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Your Donations are Tax Deductible.
July 2025
First Nature Notes: Summer Growth: Empowering Change One Step at a Time
Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,
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We hope you are enjoying your summer and that you are finding ways to stay cool. At the ranch, that has continued to be a challenge as we are in the hottest stretch of the year. But we are managing and continue to offer programming, tours, and event over these sweat-inducing summer months.
We are definitely looking forward to the slightly cooler days of autumn and winter, and are working on scheduling programs and events for the second half of the year. Which is a perfect segue into our next event announcement. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 4—we’re excited to host our second annual Whiskey Dinner at the Ranch Fundraiser! Members and our email list subscribers (like YOU) will be the first to receive next week’s registration email—stay tuned!
Also, save the date for Veterans Day—November 11, 2025! We’re honored to be one of three chosen beneficiaries of the Citrus Club’s Charity Classic Golf Tournament.
We’d love to have you come out and show your support. Click the button below to register and learn more!
Becoming a member means joining a community of people who believe in the healing power of nature, animals, and connection. Your monthly support helps us provide life-changing programs for veterans, youth, and families—many of whom face emotional, mental, or financial hardship. Members are the backbone of our work, ensuring we can plan ahead, grow sustainably, and say “yes” when someone needs help.
Even a small monthly gift makes a difference, and as a member, you’ll receive special updates, early access to event registration, and other exclusive perks starting at just $12/month. It’s a simple, powerful way to be part of the impact—every month. Join us and become a part of something meaningful
​Want to make a difference but working with a tight budget? Even $5 or $10 a month can help sustain our mission and create lasting impact. Perks start at $12, $25, and $50/month—but every bit counts. Your support truly matters. Join us here.
In June, we graduated the second 2025 cohort of veterans in the Horse Wisdom for Heroes program and in July we welcomed a 3rd cohort to the ranch. This group of guys were a little subdued and shy during their first session, but really opened up and engaged in the second session this past weekend.
It wasn’t easy, but we pulled off fulfillment and reporting for our Horse Sense for Teens program grant given through the Central Florida Foundation. We welcomed teens from The Boys and Girls Club of Kissimmee, Conscious Nona, and several other groups to wrap up the programming. We are currently sifting through the feedback to share with you. In addition, we welcomed several guests, including Brianna Morgan from the Glenda G Morgan Charitable Foundation, and Liz Register from One Purse for ranch tours.
Does your organization offer volunteers days to its employees? We can help with that! Last week a team from the Lake Nona Wave Hotel helped us dust and power wash the interior of our feed and tack shed, as well as muck in one of our pastures. We’ve welcomed a number of teams from area companies to help us with ranch chores, and we could always use help with maintaining our facility. Sometimes it’s cleaning inside the barn, washing barn doors and windows, cleaning stall panels, power washing the interior and exterior of our feed and tack shed, weeding in our flower and herb gardens, as well as mucking in our pastures (great exercise!). Please contact me to set up a date.
Is there a birthday or anniversary of friends or family coming up? If they love horses, you might consider gifting them (or yourself!) with a sweet, delightful, rejuvenating Serenity Session at the ranch. The session includes meeting our sweet herd and then hanging out with the horse of your choice in a relaxed supervised hour where you can help feed, groom, love on, and enjoy the peace that comes with hanging out with one of our herd in their stall, the arena, or the pasture. Booking one early allows you to pick your ideal date and time!
We are busy booking programs, events, and retreats for this fall and winter! If you’ve been thinking about bringing your group out to the ranch, now’s the perfect time to start the conversation. Whether you’re interested in a customized program, a special event, or a restorative retreat, we’d love to help create something meaningful and transformative for your group. Our facility is first class, our prices are reasonable, and the experience—well, it’s one your group won’t forget. To explore possibilities, simply reply to this email or reach out directly to me at kerul@firstnaturefoundation.org. I’d be happy to connect and chat about ideas!
A note from Allyn, our Executive Director:
As summer settles deep around us and the sun beats down over the ranch, I’m reminded that personal growth doesn’t pause for the heat. The dust may cling to our bodies and the heat may linger long into the evenings, but the work continues—quietly, steadily, powerfully.
In the last few weeks, I’ve watched families connect during tours, veterans show up bravely to group sessions, and young people soften their defenses as they find confidence through horse-led learning. These aren’t headline moments—but they are life-changing ones. This kind of growth doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen alone. It happens because of you. Because someone said, “Yes, this matters and I want to be part of it.”
If that’s you, thank you. And if you’ve been waiting for the right time to lean in a little deeper, this is your moment. Whether through a $5 monthly membership, volunteering your time, purchasing tickets for the Whiskey Dinner, or simply forwarding this email to a friend—it all helps us carry this mission forward, one story, one session, one soul at a time. You can join us by replying to this email or sending us a message on social media. We’d be happy to meet for coffee or host you at the ranch to explore how you can get involved.
Visit us anytime at www.firstnaturefoundation.org. Thank you for walking this path with us.
From Our Hearts to Yours,
Kerul and Crew
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First Nature Ranch / First Nature Foundation
“Where the past, present, and future of leadership come together for the dignity and benefit of all.”
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