Rainy Day Farm Mentoring Center

11/03/2025

Rainy Day Farm is spending more time reaching out to organizations on the east coast to serve young adults. If your young adult needs facilitation to get a mentorship or resource an internship, please reach out. Our neurodiverse folks need meaningful jobs and connections to community.

Camp Idelwild a great place as we build skill sets to grow our connections.

Today, a beautiful treat not far from Tampa Florida.... stepping out of the RV to free-range grazers!

A fantastic opportunity to engage, a place where campers are accepted and valued for who they are and for their unique differences. The adaptive programs are designed knowing each child (6-17) and adult (18-30) has their own special set of likes and dislikes, strengths, and challenges. Camp Idlewild focuses on providing activities that will foster independence, meet individual needs, and promote personal growth in a fun and supportive environment. While campers are having the time of their lives, parents and caregivers are provided with respite services.

Camp Idlewild is a nonprofit organization located in Land O Lakes, Florida (Tampa Bay Area). The camp is built on 140 private acres and is surrounded by Florida’s natural landscape of cypress trees and a private 65-acre spring-fed lake. This location provides the perfect setting to enjoy many outdoor activities while having a whole lot of fun!

The programs offer opportunities for campers to explore new interests, strengthen their skills and expand their comfort zones through adapted programs such as – nature walks, swimming, arts & crafts, sports and games, treasure hunting adventures, hiking, dancing, music, drum circles, drama, yoga, canoeing, paddle boating, boat rides, archery, storytelling, campfires and so much more!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AK5k6NiDs/

09/30/2025

While I was installing goat fense, they were napping in the other paddock.

09/30/2025

I am excited to say we were at Kiddy Up ranch Saturday, just a stone’s throw from the equine therapy experience I will share soon.

Serving 160 youth a week, with toddler time, dairy goats, riding, animal care and farm stand See www.kiddyupranch.org.

We are so blessed to see fruit from ideas begun in 2020 at Rainy Day Farm, and reinforced by visiting Rising Light Ridge in January. It looks like tommorrow will be the first of many little deposits as we manifest themes of community, connection and contribution. Let’s call that an outine to the future for contribution this fall and winter.

09/02/2025

Autism - This post was made to a Bath, ME neighborhood group. So thoughtful, it needs to be shared. I used a different name.

To Our Neighbors,

I’m writing to you today not out of anger, but out of hope — hope that with a little more understanding, we can become a stronger, more compassionate community.

Many of you have noticed my 21-year-old neighbor, Sam, and some have expressed concern or even fear about his presence in the neighborhood.
I’d like to share a little about him, because I believe fear and ignorance often grows from not knowing — and I ask that you take a moment to hear his story.

Sam is autistic. That means his brain works differently than most — not worse, not broken, just different. Sometimes he may play loud music around you in hopes it will potentially build a friendship but if asked nicely to turn it down, he always does. He may avoid eye contact or seem distant, but I promise he’s listening to everything around him. He may park his bike closely to vehicles or to children playing, even somet imes gestures for them to come for a ride with him, but he just loves riding buddies.
These behaviors are not dangerous. They’re simply part of how he experiences and interacts with the world around him.

This year is a big transition for him — it’s his first year out of school. Like many young adults, he’s figuring out how to fill his days, how to stay active, and how to find his place in the world. That’s why you may see him around the neighborhood more often than before — he’s trying to keep himself busy, manage his routines, and stay connected to a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming to him and is many times not very nice to him.

What you may not know is that Sam is a kind, intelligent, funny, happy, helpful and gentle young man.
He has a deep love for trash day, broken tar, rocks, LOUD music on his phone, taking pictures with his phone and recently playing fetch with my dog, Violet. Brings her sticks every day.

Sam has a tendency to throw the rocks and tar that aren’t appealing to him without thinking, and if he’s asked to be aware and not throw them, he won’t.

I know Sam may appear “different,” but different is not dangerous.

He is not a threat.

He is someone’s child. He is someone’s friend. He is someone who deserves the same safety, kindness, and respect as any other member of this community.

If you ever feel unsure or curious, ask questions instead of making assumptions. Or simply smile and give him space or even ask him for your own space if he seems to be riding or standing to close — sometimes that’s all he needs to feel accepted and to be talked to like we talk to everyone else around him.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for being part of a neighborhood that I pray chooses empathy over fear and ignorance

Sincerely,
💕

07/27/2025

07/27/2025

What’s holding you back from attaining you biggest goals? Let’s dig in.

Lack of Clarity: Unclear goals make it difficult to create a plan or track progress.
Self-Doubt and Limiting Beliefs: Believing you're not capable can prevent you from even trying.
Fear of Failure: Worrying about setbacks can lead to inaction and missed opportunities.
Lack of Motivation: Losing sight of your "why" can make it hard to stay on track.
Negative Self-Talk: Constantly criticizing yourself can undermine your confidence and effort.
Procrastination: Delaying tasks can lead to missed deadlines and feeling overwhelmed.
Poor Habits: Unhealthy routines and time management issues can hinder progress.

Ok, so which ones are in your mirror? Want hacks to overcome? We will pair obstacles to the hacks. Need more? Watch therapy in a nutshell on YouTube. A few YouTube videos, a journal, let's take on those obstacles.

See Five Things Holding You Back From Reaching Your Goals (and What to Do About Them)
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Written by Erica Po***ck

06/30/2025

For those career builders.

An Interview with Vanessa Ogle

06/25/2025

04/17/2025

At Rising Light Ridge, every moment is an opportunity to show radical love, break down barriers, and help others discover their God-given worth. This summer, we're looking for volunteers who are ready to say “YES!”—to adventure, to meaningful connections, and to serving incredible campers and families.

This is more than a place or a piece of property. It is a sanctuary where:

🏕️ A child who has always been told “no” will finally hear, “YES, you can.”

💙 A caregiver, burdened by exhaustion, will find rest and renewal.

🤝 A family longing for community will find belonging, connection, and hope.

Join a movement that's more than just a summer job—it's a chance to transform lives, including your own.

Ready to serve with us? Apply to be part of their seasonal staff today:

We're so glad you're here and can't wait to welcome you to our volunteer family! Take a look at the vision and mission of Rising Light Ridge and why volunteers like you are crucial to our ministry. What you can expect during onboarding as a new RLR Volunteer: - Fill out application-read and e-sign w...

04/17/2025

Simply incredible.

We believe in creating an eternal impact.

The love and transformation experienced at Rising Light Ridge will carry beyond the campus—it will ripple out into families, communities, and future generations, spreading Faith, Hope and Love and changing lives for years to come.

06/03/2024

Gardening, art, volunteerism, TIME with OTHERS doing healthy activities. Our time together helps us walk a line leading to the life balance of our own design. If you are looking to engage with others, garden, pic nic or run community crafts projects. We are all ears!