A CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Where horses and nature bring the best of leadership together for the dignity and benefit of all.
First Nature Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible and directly supports healing, leadership, and growth.
June 2026
First Nature Notes: Summer Heat Won’t Slow Us Down
Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,
Last month, we shared that some much-needed rains had arrived after a dry spring. Unfortunately, the rainfall hasn’t continued nearly as consistently as we had hoped, and our pastures have been feeling the effects quite a bit. More than once, we’ve watched the forecast call for an 80% chance of rain in the morning, only to see it drop below 20% by the afternoon.
We were grateful to receive a little rain this past weekend and are hoping for more in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, summer has certainly arrived in Florida. Daily heat index values are now climbing well above 100 degrees, and each day we find ourselves hoping for a few clouds to provide some relief from the relentless sun. Such is life in Florida in June, and, truth be told, for most of the months between now and October!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to review and provide feedback on our first-ever First Nature Foundation Impact Report! If you missed it, you can still find it on our website homepage in a beautiful magazine-style format. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and wanted to create a report that clearly demonstrates how your support is helping us serve our community throughout Central Florida.
Speaking of support, we held our annual Appreciation Day last weekend to celebrate the donors, sponsors, volunteers, and staff members who helped make our work possible in 2025. While the weather forced us to make a few adjustments to our plans, everyone still enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together. Highlights included a delicious spread of refreshments, the heartfelt dedication of Dakota’s memorial bench, some friendly archery competition, and a flower bar activity that was a big hit.
We wrapped up the day with a drawing for several fantastic prizes, including a gift bag from Osceola Magic, Gatorland tickets, a gift certificate to Apricot Lane, a Gratitude Box from Fueled by Gratitude, and a couple of our own Serenity Session gift certificates. A sincere thank you to the generous businesses and organizations that donated these items and helped make the day even more special.
This month is quickly coming to a close, which means our quarterly Nonprofit Roundtable is just around the corner. If you're local to Central Florida, we hope you'll consider joining us on June 29 at 10:30am at the ranch.
This quarter's roundtable will feature speakers discussing practical applications of social media and AI for nonprofits, along with opportunities for networking, collaboration, and resource sharing. While the event is designed with nonprofit leaders in mind, it's also a great fit for business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to become more involved in strengthening our local community.
A special thank you to The Oasis at Moss Park Preserve for generously sponsoring refreshments for the event!
In other programming news, we're happy to report that summer is shaping up to be much busier than anticipated. We recently launched a six-session Horses Healing Hearts program with STEPS (Specialized Treatment, Education, and Prevention Services), and we're also scheduled to begin monthly Horses Healing Hearts sessions for Orlando Health Cancer Institute's St. Cloud patients and caregivers, as well as a program for the leadership team at Harbor House.
This week, we're excited to welcome MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to the ranch for a Coffee Connections Horses Healing Hearts session. It's encouraging to see so many organizations recognizing the value of creating space for connection, reflection, and renewal.
Meanwhile, our PASOS grief support group continues its steady work, meeting twice each month with 10 to 12 participants at each gathering. We also celebrated the graduation of our second 2026 Horse Wisdom for Heroes cohort a few weeks ago and will welcome our third cohort beginning July 4.
Looking ahead, we'll be hosting a Caballos y Conexiones event in mid-July. Details will be posted on our Events page soon, so keep an eye out if you're interested in joining us.
Mark your calendar for one of our favorite evenings of the year: the annual First Nature Foundation Whiskey Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday, October 24.
Set against the backdrop of First Nature Ranch, this memorable evening features handcrafted cocktails and mocktails during the reception, horse selfie opportunities, a delicious catered three-course dinner with thoughtfully selected whiskey pairings, exciting raffles, unique silent auction items, and plenty of great conversation and camaraderie.
Whether you're a whiskey enthusiast, a supporter of our mission, or simply looking for a unique night out, this event offers something special. Best of all, every ticket helps support our Horse Wisdom for Heroes program, providing life-changing equine-assisted experiences for veterans in our community.
We hope you'll join us for an evening of good food, good company, and great impact.
Interest in renting our facility for events and retreats continues to grow, and our calendar is continually filling with new programs and bookings, much to our delight. If you’re considering First Nature Ranch for an upcoming event, we encourage you to reach out early to explore available dates before they’re gone!
Our tour calendar has been filling as well, but we’d love to welcome you for a one-hour visit if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience the ranch firsthand. Come explore the space, meet the horses, and imagine what your gathering could look like here.
Simply reply to this email to schedule a tour or conversation.
Our Serenity Sessions continue to be a favorite way for people to experience the ranch and connect with our horses. For $60, you can spend a supervised hour with one of our horses , grooming, petting, walking alongside, or simply enjoying quiet companionship (no riding involved). Each session is unique and offers a chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy the calming presence of these incredible animals.
Looking for a thoughtful gift? A Serenity Session is a wonderful way to offer someone you care about a little time away from the busyness of everyday life. In fact, one of our own team members first discovered the ranch through a Serenity Session, became a volunteer, and eventually joined our staff. It’s a beautiful reminder of the connections that can begin here.
Dates continue to fill, so we encourage you to book early to choose the time that works best for you.
This month, we say a heartfelt thank you to Katrina Rogers as she concludes her service on the First Nature Foundation Board of Directors. Katrina has faithfully supported our mission for many years, generously sharing her time, insight, and encouragement as our organization has grown and evolved.
Board service is often a behind-the-scenes commitment, but its impact is felt throughout every aspect of a nonprofit's work. We are deeply grateful for Katrina's contributions, her belief in our mission, and the role she has played in helping First Nature Foundation reach where it is today.
Please join us in thanking Katrina for her years of dedicated service and wishing her all the best in the next chapter of her journey. She will always be a valued part of the First Nature Foundation family.
A note from Allyn, our Executive Director:
Looking at this month and how it has been quieter than the previous four, I’ve been thinking about something that’s easy to overlook in nonprofit work: waiting is not the same as standing still. So much of what we do involves waiting, for grant decisions, for responses, for opportunities to unfold. But that time is anything but idle. It’s when relationships are nurtured, ideas are refined, programs are strengthened, and the groundwork is laid for what comes next.
Even when progress isn’t immediately visible, the work is still moving forward in meaningful ways. And I’m grateful to be in that in-between space with a team and community that continues to show up, stay engaged, and keep building alongside us.
From Our Herd to Yours,
Kerul and Crew
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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