2. “...the problem with pounding a square peg into a
round hole isn’t that the hammering is hard work - it’s
that you’re destroying the peg.” - Paul Collins
I’m Joell Dunlap, co-founder and executive director of a program we call Square Peg - It’s an adaptive horsemanship program that uses rescued horses to reach kids that know what it’s like to feel like a Square Peg.
You probably know what it’s like to be a Square Peg. Think of a time when you didn’t fit in. When you were isolated, left out, maybe you felt like the weirdo. The nerd, the freak. How about fat? Slut? Maybe you were the retard or the fag. Kids can be so cruel.
our belief about the problem with a society that tries to make everyone fit the same mold.
Therapy means “there’s something wrong with you.”That’s the opposite of what we do. You aren’t going to the ranch because It’s a powerful difference.
The Square Peg horses are castaways.
They have sanctuary and these kids have a safe emotional space.
But the biggest population we serve is autism.
Who here knows or loves someone affected by autism?
A few years ago, I was in the middle of a mid life crisis
are kind of famous
Rupert does camps for autism families - horses and nature and getting away from everything for three days. they’re intense and magical.
so Rupert has this dream.
benny story
We have solid neuroscience
But more importantly, we work with the whole family and often that’s a game changer Get this: - finally, a sibling GETS to go horseback riding
often, we start with mom - she’s stressed, she’s broke and if she isn’t divorced yet, her marriage is probably on the rocks
doesn’t put expectations on their already stressed child -
and while we do charge a small fee
So we took the families camping
Creating a “YES” environment.
measuring what’s important
fart jokes
The time is NOW for this movement to go forward. To bring out the best in the geeks, the losers, the fags and the troublemakers. Help us celebrate differences and bring out the best in each other through care and service. It’s the Square Pegs that have made all big forward movements in the world. the Einstein’s, the Michalangelo’s
I want to come back and tell you stories - stories about how your contributions changed lives and created a space for joy and celebration of what makes us human.
