Work-Based Learning Works: PALS Students Exhibit Patience, Compassion at Rescue Me Ranch
Five seniors in the Plant, Animal & Life Sciences (PALS) class at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES are exploring their passion for animal handling in a real-world setting through internships at Rescue Me Ranch. The hands-on experience is made possible through the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Work-Based Learning program.
Rescue Me Ranch, located in Auburn, NY, is a 501(c)(3) equine rescue and sanctuary that offers equine-assisted therapy services. The organization’s mission is to rescue and rehabilitate horses while also harnessing their unique capacity to heal, teach, and transform human lives. The PALS seniors worked with Jordan Godfrey (Care Coordinator), Lauren Meyer (Community Coordinator), and Elsa Soderberg (Founder & Executive Director).
Through their internships, the students have stepped out of their comfort zone to learn new skills while forming close relationships with the horses they care for. Some horses are in the rehabilitation phase and require a gentle touch due to their past trauma. The students have shown patience while caring for these residents and, over time, earned their trust and graduated to hands-on care activities like grooming.
Rescue Me Ranch representatives praised the students for their willingness to learn how to interact with horses in new ways: “The day we taught our students basic equine massage techniques was an opportunity for them to interact with our residents in a way that many of them hadn’t before. They were very perceptive to learning the new skill and it was wonderful watching them apply the techniques on the horses. When you massage a horse, there are ‘releases’ that you’re looking for to know that you’re doing a good job. The satisfaction on the interns’ face when they got a good release from their patient was exciting and rewarding for us as a team to see.”
The experience has left a strong impression on the students. Seniors Norah Dyer, Jayla Garrigan, McKayla Klocek, Hannah McHenry, and Arianna Swanson have appreciated the welcoming environment Rescue Me Ranch offers.
“The ranch is an amazing environment to be in,” Garrigan said. “It's nice to see a female-dominated work space doing the things I'm passionate about. It's overall welcoming, and despite the work, I always have fun.”
“I absolutely love working with Elsa, Jordan and Lauren,” McHenry added. “They are all so inspiring because of how strong and independent they are. I also love working with the horses and learning all their personalities.”
Dyer noted the experience has helped her grow: “I’ve learned to handle the horses with care knowing they also have some trauma, which made me learn to appreciate things a little more.”
PALS teacher Katie LaFave believes internships help students gain confidence and develop a clear sense of their career goals while learning what it takes to be successful in the workplace.
“Students apply the technical and employability skills gained in class to real-world agricultural settings, reinforcing the connection between classroom instruction and career success,” she said. “Work-based learning also emphasizes the importance of professional behavior, problem-solving, and networking while preparing students for future opportunities in the agricultural industry.”
The Rescue Me Ranch team believes work-based learning opportunities are mutually beneficial, allowing the organization to attract new talent while providing experiences that can make a lasting impact on students.
To learn more about the Work-Based Learning program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, please contact Kayla Hurley at khurley@cayboces.org or at (315) 255-7642.