Statesville, NC – Beginning in September, Rescue Ranch’s Beginner Buddies Preschool classes and Homeschool Club continues in January.

Beginner Buddies and Homeschool Club take place at Rescue Ranch, a nonprofit animal welfare organization located in Statesville that uses educational programs to promote respect for animals and responsible pet ownership, as well as agricultural, environmental and wildlife conservation.

Each sessions activities include interactions with many of Rescue Ranch’s animal ambassadors including Ivey, a Flemish giant rabbit; a herd of miniature horses; Mushy, a Bearded Dragon; and Velvet, a Solomon Eclectus parrot, among others.

Open to children ages 1-5 years old, Beginner Buddies classes involve a story, craft, exploration stations, and time with two animal ambassadors. Some programs also include songs. This is a great way for parents, grandparents, or guardians to spend some extra time with their child while learning, crafting, and having fun.

The sessions run through May on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. The hours are from 10-11am and the cost is $5 per child. Adults are free of charge. Reservations are required as space in classes are limited. To register call (704) 768-0909 or email [email protected].

The 2019 Beginner Buddies schedule is as follows:
January 8 – Snow.
February 12 – Valentine’s Day.
March 12 – St. Patrick’s Day.
April 9th – Easter egg hunt.
May 14th – Mother’s Day/Father’s Day gifts and life in the pond.

For homeschool students Kindergarten through sixth grade, the Rescue Ranch Homeschool Club dates are:
Second Semester: February 13 and 27; March 13 and 27; April 10 and 17.

The drop off program meets from 9:30am-noon and costs $20 per child, per month or $50 for the semester, (September-November or February-April).

Each class will have an engineering challenge based on a popular nursery rhyme. Students will listen to a nursery rhyme and discuss problems the characters face and how to solve those problems. They will then go through the engineering process of plan, create, test, and improve for each challenge and will be given background information and examples to help them with the engineering process.

This year’s Homeschool Club engineering activities include; mazes, instruments, gravity challenges, aqueducts, traps, boats, houses, devices that roll, catapults and solar ovens.

After their engineering challenge, they will interact with the Ranch’s animal ambassadors and participate in humane education activities. The animal lessons will include topics such as empathy/compassion, habitats, adaptations, rescue work, pet care, and more.

Reservations are required as space in classes are limited. To register call (704) 768-0909 or email [email protected]

About Rescue Ranch: Rescue Ranch is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded by Krissie Newman and her husband, NASCAR driver Ryan Newman.

Photo caption: Rescue Ranch Beginner Buddies participants exploring a farm animal sensory tub.