The Alpaca-Assisted Wellness Program:
Nature & Wellness Activities for High School & Middle School Students.
Meaningful & Fun Field Trips for Middle School & High School Students,
Which Strengthen Connections & Build Resilience.
Our Alpaca-Assisted Wellness Program takes place at Stone Farm and is designed to introduce young people to alpaca-assisted activities. Research shows that these types of human-animal interactions can reduce stress, improve mood, enhance social interactions, and boost confidence.
Spending time with alpacas encourages young people to slow down, be fully present, and engage with the world around them. In this unique atmosphere, they begin to develop mindfulness, build empathy, improve self-esteem, and experience meaningful personal growth through simple yet powerful moments of connection—with animals, nature, and each other.
We offer a 2-hour field trip that includes interactive alpaca activities, nature exploration, and a mindful walk. Optional activities include creek stomping, creative art making, and meditation. We also offer a 5-day-long summer camp experience to our existing school and community partners.
““As animals of prey, alpacas are naturally leery of humans. When we gained their trust, we benefited from that same sense of tranquility we had with our first encounter with an alpaca on spring break. I asked a friend, who is another animal enthusiast, how we can share the alpacas with others who might need their calming influence. That friend happened to be responsible for program development at Kindling Minds. As we watched the teens enrolled in the program come to the farm reluctant to interact with each other or the animals yet leave comfortable with both, we realized that our alpacas were no longer a self-indulgence but a benefit to teens in the community. Kindling Minds has brought a sense of purpose to our farm that we were missing. We are so grateful for our collaboration with Kindling Minds because it gives us a means to share the outdoors and animals on our farm with teenagers in the community.”
- Diane, Owner of Stone Farm and Proud Alpaca "Mom”
ABOUT THE
Alpaca-Assisted Wellness Program
Our Alpaca-Assisted Wellness Experience Looks Like This:
We offer field trips and summer camps at an alpaca farm, facilitated by a trained school psychologist specializing in animal-assisted intervention.
Activities Include:
Mindfulness and grounding practices in nature.
Alpaca interactions, nature walks, and animal observation.
Optional creek stomping and mindful art activities.
Group sessions exploring empathy, leadership, and boundaries through interactions with alpacas.
Optional leadership-focused curriculum, especially for high school students.
Field trips cost $400 for 10 students (2 hours).
Meet Our Facilitator
Christine Liedtke, PsyD, HSPP
For Christine, therapy is about more than just conversation; it’s about connection - to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us. As a psychologist working with children, adolescents, and adults, Christine combines a clinical understanding of the developing mind with a deep appreciation for the natural world.
A central part of Christine’s practice is her facility service dog, Harper. Christine has seen firsthand the profound impact Harper has on patients - often acting as a bridge when words feel difficult to find. Whether it’s providing a grounding presence during a tough conversation or offering a wagging tail at the door, Harper helps patients' feel safe, seen, and supported throughout their therapeutic journey.
This bond with animals is mirrored in Christine’s commitment to nature-based mindfulness. By encouraging young people to engage with the environment, they help foster a sense of calm and curiosity that is often lost in the digital age. Christine is a firm believer that the rhythms of nature and the companionship of an animal can offer a unique path toward healing and resilience that traditional settings simply cannot match.
Find Out More About Our Other Mental Wellness Programs
“The overall program(s) are definitely fun and exciting. While I was there I met new friends, and the staff are kind and fun to hangout with."
- Axel, Student
Alpaca-Assisted Wellness Program FAQs
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All our alpaca-assisted activities take place at Stone Farm, 14950 Little Eagle Creek Ave, Zionsville, IN 46077.
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We welcome middle school and high school-aged students (4th-12th graders).
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INCLUSION & ACCOMMODATIONS
Kindling Minds is committed to inclusive diversity, and we would like to serve as many teens and pre-teens as possible through our programs. Please see the list below of skills required for an optimal experience in our alpaca-assisted wellness programs and contact us if you would like to discuss potential accommodations.
Participant Skills: For a safe, positive, and successful alpaca farm experience, a participant should be able to do the following:
Listen well and follow verbal instructions from program facilitators
Walk independently on uneven ground around different areas of the farm and surrounding trails
Tolerate typical and various barn animal smells
Interact with animals and be outdoors without experiencing severe allergic symptoms
Maintain reasonable control of one’s own voice and body-- sudden loud noises, impulsive movements, or unwelcome touching of the alpacas can cause the animals to feel threatened and behave defensively
Service Dogs: For the safety of all involved (students, instructors, animals), we regret that we cannot allow any dog (including service dogs) to enter the alpacas’ pasture or to be within 10 feet of the alpacas when they are outside their enclosure. -
No, this program is an introduction to alpaca-assisted learning.
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Animal-assisted activities are informal, non-clinical interactions between humans and animals that are supervised by a trained animal handler or facilitator. These animal-assisted activities can decrease stress, improve mood and self-confidence, and enhance social communication while allowing humans to interact and connect in a non-judgmental and nurturing environment.
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All participants should dress appropriately for being outdoors on a farm. We recommend wearing closed-toe shoes with sturdy soles. If you’re taking part in creek stomping, it is required that participants wear water shoes or bring an old pair of gym shoes for the creek. Bare feet are not allowed! Please be ready for mud and rain, and don’t wear anything you don’t want to get dirty.
Participants should also bring water bottles, towels, sunscreen, bug spray, or any other outdoor essentials. Lunch will not be served, so participants are welcome to bring snacks - just not to share with our alpacas! -
Yes, scholarships are available for our summer camp. We aim to keep our program fees as low as possible, but we know that sometimes even that isn’t enough. We’ve been awarded limited scholarship funds to support participants who demonstrate a need. If this applies to you, please email info@kindlingminds.org to request a scholarship application.