Nature's Edge Therapy Center, Inc.

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center has been such a blessing to us. Our 5 year old daughter has struggled with some of her speech sounds for the last 2 years, and has been in speech therapy through the school. We have noticed some small improvements but felt like she could greatly benefit from something more intensive and one on one. Insert Natures Edge and let me just say, WOW. We’ve only been attending speech therapy sessions, twice weekly for just over a month and the progress she has made is absolutely unbelievable. Not only has she made some really huge gains, but she truly enjoys going to speech. The staff is so incredibly great at everything they do. I’m so thankful as her mom, to be able to be so involved in her therapy. They have taught me so much and given me the tools to be able to help her at home in ways that I could never have figured out on my own. I’m just so thankful that we get to be a part of this center. I’m so proud of our daughter and how hard she is working, and I know that she is so proud of herself. It truly takes a village, no matter what your journey looks like, and we have added some really great people to our village thanks to Nature’s Edge.

In the 5 years that I have been at Nature's Edge Therapy Center I have served many roles. From a full time employee, retired, part time employee, now also as a board member. Over those years I have seen a lot of positive growth and change. I am encouraged by the development of our staff, the growth in the programs offered, my own growth, and most of all the growth and change in the patients and their families.

I foresee a continued path of positive change and growth for all involved at Nature's Edge Therapy Center.

We have been pleased with the care provided to our son's speech therapy needs. The speech therapists are patient, encouraging, and genuinely invested in the progress of their clients. They take the time to individualize each session for our son's needs which makes a supportive and effective environment for learning to be possible and fun!

We've seen tremendous progress thanks to their guidance! If you're looking for a speech therapy organization that truly cares and delivers excellent results, we highly recommend Nature's Edge Therapy Center!

Workng at Natures Edge has been more than I ever anticipated. I was hired as a supervisor but soon was helping out with sidewalking of patients while on horses which got me acquainted with them more and they're a joy to work with. Its not only the patients that are fun to be around, but the entire staff is like family to me!

Natures edge has been such a wonderful asset to our daughter this past year! She loves it there, especially all the animals! Everything they do has helped us give her the tools and experiences she needs to handle everyday life. She has finally been able to talk while at school, make new friends and actually participate in activities she never would have tried before! They’ve helped make her life so much better!!

Nature’s Edge holds a special place in my heart and always will. From watching it be built and continuing to grow over the years, to following in my mom’s footsteps as a speech-language pathologist (SLP). I love my job as a SLP, but I love it even more being out on a 65-acre ranch utilizing animals, horticulture, and hippotherapy (equine movement). It is so rewarding to see my patients succeed and progress towards their goals all while having fun. Sometimes they don’t even realize it is therapy! I am blessed to be able to work at such a great place with a great team!

My 4 year old son has been going to Natures Edge since end of October. He’s nonverbal, he’s slowly starting to say small words and things. With the help of Becky, Courtney and others he has opened up in so many ways, he only used to like his parents but now he’s not afraid of anyone. He loves going there every tuesday and thursday especially on days he gets to ride his horse! With the 30 day trial of the tobii dynavox he is able to tell us his wants and needs and he can finally express himself. He’s become a much more happier little boy, he’s come so far in these few short months and we look forward to continuing working with Natures Edge Therapy Center :)

Nature’s Edge has been such an amazing experience for our Mom! She had a stroke over a year ago and lost mobility and speech! With the help of this amazing place she is now riding horse, cooking, singing, and feeling so much more confidence in her everyday activities! Thank you Becky and team for all you do to make such a difference in the lives of others! Your compassion and reassurance has been such a blessing to all of our family!!

Both my boys have autism and have been going here for years! They absolutely love it and love the animals!! The staff are amazing and have been amazing with them both! :)

Has been very beneficial to our children. The staff is very welcoming and friendly. Love seeing the animals.

We love our experience at natures edge!
It’s such a unique Therapy atmosphere. Our son not only gets therapy at a table, but he also gets hippo therapy. His speech has been improving so much! Now others can understand him better. The staff is also so accommodating and great with my 3 year old. Highly recommend!

great friendly atmosphere, always willing to help out is win WIN for ALL!!

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center is an incredible nonprofit organization that truly makes a difference in their patients lives. Working for Nature’s Edge has been a very rewarding experience and I am grateful to be apart of such a hardworking and compassionate team. Getting to see the progress and smiles from our patients truly brightens my day.

Nature’s Edge has an outstanding group of people that work and volunteer there. The show great care for the animals and their beautiful environment. Where they really shine is working with the kids- I saw them blossom before my eyes. A truly meaningful experience for the volunteers.

Volunteering at Nature's Edge Therapy Center was a very rewarding experience. We got to experience how the speech therapist through hippotherapy works with clients and horses together. It was very impressive. The speech therapist was very thorough and caring to make sure their clients were trusting and bonding with them. You could see that their clients looked forward to seeing the speech therapist and being there.
We also learned how they operated the center. We helped clean the barn, walked some horses and did some weeding in the garden. The staff at Nature's center is awesome and love what they do.
It would be a great experience for anyone who would like to volunteer.
D. Cooper

I began volunteering at Nature's Edge Therapy after retiring from Hormel Foods. I was aware of Nature's Edge but had not thoroughly researched it until my wife suggested I look into volunteering there. Volunteering seemed like a great opportunity to give back while doing things I enjoy -- being outdoors, working with animals and helping kids. I have been so impressed with the facilities, the environment, the animals and especially the compassion, skill and kindness of the entire staff. It becomes obvious very quickly these folks have their hearts in the right place. It shines through every single day in the way they care for their facility, their therapy animals and especially their clients. I am somewhat embarrassed I have been so close to this place for so many years and knew so little about it, but am humbled and proud to be able to volunteer some of my time toward the mission of this amazing place.

I absolutely love Nature’s Edge! I accompany my toddler granddaughter to therapy 3 days every week. She receives speech therapy through hippotherapy. The employees and volunteer workers are very friendly and really seem to enjoy their jobs and/or designated tasks. My granddaughter responds well to them and it has improved her speech and social skills a lot. I would definitely recommend Nature’s Edge to whomever needs their services. I am so thankful for this place!

Our 7-year-old son has been coming to Nature’s Edge Therapy Center for 3 months now and his speech and language skills have made tremendous progress! Everyone is very friendly and helpful! He loves riding the horses and taking the animals for walks. Hippotherapy is also great for his muscular dystrophy. Each session is filled with fun activities and learning. We are so thankful to have found Nature’s Edge!

Nature's Edge has been the best thing to happen to my family. My son Finn is high-functioning ASD. He really struggles with sensory issues and social cuing and how to best regulate when this is off. We love the alternative approach to treatment and so does Finn. It doesn't feel like therapy or work to him, he's always enjoying himself and looks forward to sessions. Since starting we have only had 1 rough day, and it wasn't even a day, it was 15 min of a day. I believe Finn is becoming more self-aware in every day situations and we are working on regulation through more sensory-filled and overwhelming moments. Becky and her team are true blessings and innovators in the field and we are lucky to have them in our area!

A great therapy center that allows clinical professional therapy in a natural setting. You can become grounded while working with animals to reach your therapy goals.

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center offers a client-centered, nature-based approach to therapy, offering a unique service to the Rice Lake area. Natures Edge is a great place to volunteer as well!

This is a wonderful group of people. They want to do the best possible for you and your family. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable, even if it means making hot tea for you or purchasing extra heater!
We spent a week at Diane's house. Our LO loved the interactions with horses. Becky is an extremely knowledgeable SLP and one of the best in the country for hippotherapy. During the week, she not only helped our LO but also educated us. She has tough love for you and your kid :)
She made sure we have all the tools to continue, including lots of print outs and names of people we can work with who are in our area.
We look forward to seeing them again!
Thank you Nature's Edge!!

We had been waiting for a diagnosis for our son for four years. Finally getting what my son needs and seeing how everyone at Nature's Edge works with him and the connection that he has had with the animals has been amazing. Hippotherapy so far has been huge for him and his Speech. He had been on a waiting list after receiving his diagnosis and this was the best fit for him! Thank you to everyone at Nature's Edge. For the little bit of time he has been there, he has made huge strides.

The best therapy center. We are blessed to life near and have our son receive speech therapy services. Therapists put a lot of time into therapy session activities: outdoors, inside, and involving all the farm animals. They make therapy fun! We are so blessed to receive services at Nature’s Edge!

When I chose to adopt my grandnephew, he was three months old.
I just moved my last child into his collage dorm on a Wednesday, Baby proof my home on
Thursday and welcomed my newest baby home on Friday.
I knew there were going to be challenges but these challenges were beyond my experience.
Solution? I need to widen my village to help my child grow. Although we have a pretty large IEP team for his academics, we still struggled with his behaviors. During a Brainstorming session somebody mentioned "Nature's Edge". Of course, I asked "What is a Nature's Edge?". The information shared with me to contact them directly, They were very helpful!!!
I was confused by the entire applying for assistance, they explained the "how and why". My son is not cured because there is no cure but we continue to make huge strides with plenty of gratitude towards Nature's Edge.
My son is human and has an occasional set back moments, but those moments are fewer and farther apart. We all work together, using same language and terms for my son to understand, how to work through any moments that are struggles and be okay.
Thank you Nature's Edge, staff and volunteers for everything you do and continue to do.

My husband and I have had quite a road trying to find a place/someone to get our 2 youngest children some help. We would get a little here and a little there, but with no success. They would either leave or not connect well with our kids. We are a blended family with lots of obstacles in the mix due to different parenting styles , life styles and moral values from the other parent. In the mist of all this our 2 youngest had developed some sever emotional conditions that no one could see real well, but us. Because they are kids and just want to be happy, they chose not really talk about it. They were pressured and manipulated by the other parent not to say anything to cover what was happening over there . We were told WE were making things up and they are happy kids. But that was far from the case! Long story short, we had them evaluated and we were finally connected with Natures Edge through the CCS program with the county. They have been amazing!!! They are well rounded family foke!!!!! They have worked wonders for our 2 kidos! And helped us also in the process. They are about not just helping the kids but the whole family, as for it is a team effort when it comes to recovery! One of our children has graduated but they still ask how they are doing and let us know if we need them to come back we can re-evaluate if things are getting hard again. Our other child, who is still going, has had a bit of a harder time but the progress they are making is wonderful. Things are just a bit harder for this one, but we couldn't ask for a better team to work with us. There goal is RECOVERY. That level may be different for every child, person, or family and they get that!! We couldn't say enough wonderful things about Nature's Edge and what they have meant to us!!! WHAT AN AMAZING TEAM !! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, INCLUDING THE ANIMALS! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ! THANK YOU ALL !!!! GOD HAS HIS HAND ON YOU ALL FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU ALL CAN DO !!!!!

Natures edge has been the biggest blessing for our family. All my children have benefited from the staff and animals that aid in the therapy for my children. My children have made huge gains through this therapy center.

as a volunteer, I have witnessed so many great outcomes from this dedicated team of professional angels on earth.
Their outcomes improve the lives of those they touch and make our world a better place.
I have been blessed to be a small part of their wonderful work.

Nature's Edge is a wonderful place - miracles happen there! Such a loving group of people serving families selflessly, and incredibly effectively.
Watch your child grow and succeed beyond your expectations.
A better life is waiting for you at Nature's Edge.

Becky Payne and her team are an amazing bunch of people who work with people with all sorts of needs. Both of our ASD children attended for OT and speech and there was so much support for our children and for us as parents. Our children love the animals and the staff there, and had made such amazing gains during their service time with Becky and company. The benefits of Equine therapy partnered with speech and OT services is a game changer that needs to be talked about and celebrated more!

This is such a unique and amazing organization! How they incorporate animals into their therapy and treatments is truly special. Natures Edge is filled with so many incredible workers and volunteers that make their patients feel welcomed and appreciated. I have met many of their staff and can tell you that they are very passionate about what they do at the therapy center.

Nature's Edge Therapy Center should be a model for the standard of care for speech therapy.

When we first met with Becky and Courtney, our son was quiet and unsure of "therapy". We went on a tour of the facility to meet the animals and within a few minutes of our arrival, he opened up and became very comfortable. Ever since meeting the incredible animals, he's been eager to attend his speech therapy sessions.

With their techniques leveraging hippotherapy and games, our son has made incredible strides in his speech. In addition, we've also seen him become more confident in expressing his opinion.

Nature's Edge is a gift to us and to the community. We are so fortunate to have them!

All my 15 year old has ever wanted was a friend... something most people take for granted, but for someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder this can seem like an impossible dream. My husband and I pursued an IEP evaluation and open enrolled our child to a school district that better met her needs, but she still was having difficulty making friends. My child struggles with a nonverbal communication disorder - she has a hard time reading body language and responding appropriately to social cues, however, over the years we noticed she has an innate ability to connect with animals. I started looking into horseback riding lessons for her, and a co-worker recommended Nature's Edge Therapy Center. I received a doctor's order for Speech and OT therapy and she started at Nature's Edge. After multiple failed attempts at traditional counseling, we finally struck gold with Nature's Edge. What started as me looking for horseback riding lessons grew into real life skills training for my daughter. Communication and social skills, flexible thinking, self-care and hygiene, growing her independence, and future job preparation are all things that my daughter learned. Nature's Edge Therapy Center is an incredible nonprofit that uses animals and nature to guide, teach, and equip children to live life to its fullest. After 9 months of therapy my daughter has tools in her toolbox to live a happier and more independent life. She sums up her experience best... after therapy a couple weeks ago she got in the car and said, "Nature's Edge feels like home mom". She is looking forward to graduating and volunteering at Nature's Edge.

Incredible concept of utilizing animal-assisted therapy and hippotherapy to drastically improve the lives of all clients!

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center is so great! Our son has made such great progress in speech therapy. The therapists incorporate so many different activities into the therapy session to make it fun. We are so blessed to be able to take our son here for therapy!

I volunteer at Nature's Edge. The staff at Nature's Edge is very kind and caring toward every person that comes their way. Volunteering here quickly became one of the highlights of my week. The staff treat every patient with kindness and respect as they work to accomplish individual goals for each patient. The bond between the animals and patients are special, also. Nature's Edge is just a beautiful place to be.

Natures Edge Therapy center is Heaven sent. they have been working with my son Ben for over 2 yrs. with only a short break due to funding issues. They helped guide me in how to obtain help with funding and other resources to help my son who has broad spectrum developmental delays, and ADHD. He is speech delayed due in part due to his hearing issues and development delays. He has times when he may refuse to do his work but his therapy teamwork around it and get him through it. He has so much fun he doesn't know its therapy. He has made such great progress that he went to being hard to understand by even us his family to being understood most of the time by everyone he talks to.
If you have children in need of speech and OT services especially those with sensory issues this is the place for them. The way they incorporate the family is also why it's so very successful.

Our daughter has autism and is now in first grade. She went to Nature's Edge until she started school full time. Although she no longer goes to Nature's Edge we are so grateful for the ground work they did to make it possible for our little girl to attend school. Natures Edge will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

My daughter is in therapy here currently and is absolutely loving it and the therapists and assistants are great!

My daughter volunteered for this charity for a summer in college. Not only did the patients benefit immensely from the services Nature's Edge offers, she was changed forever in how she views Animal Therapy. She is now pursuing it as a career, especially for geriatric memory patients. The staff is amazing and dedicated. A top notch institution.

Natures Edge is amazing! Their staff, location, and animals are phenomenal. My daughter has been in OT for only one month now and we’re already noticing positive changes. Her balance, strength, and mobility, has increased and her behaviors have decreased!! This is the first clinical therapy facility she’s ever been excited to go to. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing facility so close to our home!

3 years ago when Nature's Edge Therapy program was initially recommended to us, we said we'd give it a try.
Our small decision that day changed our granddaughters life in such a positive way, you can't imagine .
We are forever grateful to everyone, especially Ms Becky, who has touched our entire family.
At Nature's Edge you will find professional and compassionate staff, outstanding programs that really work, a variety of animals to give affection, comfort and support. Nature's Edge Therapy has been the best constant in our lives.
In our book, there aren't enough stars available to rate Nature's Edge, its infinite.

My son has been in therapy for a couple of years and has not progressed as much as he has since starting at NETC. The staff are great, very informative and give many different ideas to help in many different situations. This is an amazing place!!!

My daughter has just started her journey with the therapy here. So far they have been very helpful and informative about what they will be working on with her and letting her play the largest part in her therapy. We both look forward to moving forward.

My child has been attending Nature's Edge Therapy Center and I am so happy with this therapy center! We've never tried animal therapy before. We've were in therapy for almost 3 years before NETC and he hated it. After being referred to NETC my child is not only willing but excited to attend. We have seen more progress in this short time than we have over the years. I recommend NETC to the fullest. The therapists and animals are amazing. They really care- you can feel it and see it! I wish we had known about Nature's Edge years ago.

A genuinely caring and dedicated Team of professionals making a difference in uniquely individualized therapy with truly amazing outcomes!

Our 4-year old son has recently started with Nature's Edge Therapy and he has quickly come to enjoy his therapy sessions. He is quickly talking much better and behaviors/frustrations with communication have started to decrease. We are very happy so far with our experience and look forward to continue to work with Becky and staff. Would highly recommend.

When we found out about animal therapy and natures edge we were at the ropes of what we were gonna do as we have tried other therapies and were not successful either therapist leaves and we have find a new one and start all over ect.....so we figured why not we have tried in session therapy in a room and was not successful what would we have to loose. Well it turned out to be amazing, everyone there at nature edge is amazing and keep you informed and by your side no matter what. My son has been going there for about a year maybe now and he has come a long ways, he has overcome obstacles and opened up started expressing his feelings more and understanding why he felt the way he did rather than shutting everyone out and lashing out in disruptive ways. There were tough times but we have overcame them together as a TEAM! And I can say that everyone at natures edge works as a TEAM and became like FAMILY. Thank you for helping our son with behavioral, defiant, socialistic problems. He cant wait to start volunteering out there!!!!!
-Tabitha

Fantastic and professional staff that has a unique way of reaching children. The animal therapy that I've witnessed has really helped my children progress in their therapy. I would highly recommend Nature's Edge!

The therapists take extra time to work with each individual kiddo and find what engages them best. My boyfriend’s son enjoys singing and music throughout his sessions. The theapriat and volunteers sing to him while he is riding!
I know another family who has two girls who have both been served by this program. They have both made major progress. It makes my heart happy to see these kids thrive.

Natures edge is amazing! My son when there when he was younger for speech and OT. He had when to another fisility for speech but they really did work for our family. We found natures edge and it was amazing the change we saw in him right away. My son now volunteers in the summer.

After not having a good experience with a different clinical speech office we heard about Nature's Edge. We were so impressed and happy with our time here. My children receiving help felt comfortable and have so much fun as they practice their sounds. We are given resources to take home and practice with as well as great encouragement. My kids love interacting with the animals, baking and food prep, and games. It is really an innovative way of learning the correct way to speak.

Nature’s edge is absolutely wonderful. From the environment, to the staff, to the animals.

Therapists are experienced and fantastic to work with. Therapy animals are all well trained/certified and clients of all ages respond really well to the animal assisted therapy. Therapists use both traditional and functional settings for the sessions and work hard for progress and treatment with each client!

I have been working for Nature's Edge for just over a month now, and it has been the best work experience I have ever had. I love spending time with the patient's, learning and hearing their stories, and most importantly getting to witness firsthand how the therapists at Nature's Edge are able to change the lives of these individuals. Nature's Edge is such an amazing place with an even more amazing staff and therapy animals. They all are such kind and loving individuals who I am proud to call my co-workers and friends.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to thank you for your donations to the Nature’s Edge Therapy Center. Without this opportunity and the help of the workers and volunteers my son wouldn’t be able to get the help that he needs for his speech. After being in the birth to 3 program and Head Start Sylas still wasn’t progressing much with his speech. I then took him to get further testing done and he was diagnosed with Apraxia. From there I was given the name and phone number to Nature’s Edge Therapy Center and gave them a call. I thought I would get an answering machine and simply leave a message. Much to my surprise Becky answered the call and took the time, about an hour or so, to talk to me about apraxia and the wonderful things that Nature’s Edge has to offer. I was more than impressed and more so I was comforted by the knowledge and kindness Becky had given me. I was then able to make the appointment to come and have Sylas do his testing. Since, continuing treatment with Becky and those at Nature’s Edge I am already seeing such an improvement in the way Sylas approaches speech. I am given great advice in helping continue his learning each week while we are at home, in between sessions at Nature’s edge. I look forward to seeing how far Sylas will come with everyone’s help. Again, I can’t thank you enough or those at the center! I am forever grateful.

Thank you,

Bryan, Megan and Sylas Schneeberg

Nature's Edge is a top notch facility nestled into a beautiful setting. The staff are well trained and very loving. The amount of dedication put into each client is outstanding. I am pleased to be a part of this center.
The owner and founder of Nature's Edge is very passionate about helping others and educating the public. Becky is incredibly knowledgeable (SMART) gifted in her field and the results speak for themselves!
Nature's Edge is a place of healing. Watching the crew in action with a difficult client riding a horse and seeing a change happen within the client is fascinating.

Nature's Edge Therapy Center utilizes a unique approach to therapy to reach individuals who may not respond to traditional therapy techniques. I especially love to hear the stories and see the photos of the positive impact the animals have in the care of our patients. We have an awesome group of dedicated and talented staff and volunteers who help us reach our mission.

As a board member I am always amazed at the success stories and changed lives of Natures Edge clients. Their unique approaches for treatment has seen great success. I appreciate that they treat regardless of ability to pay.

I have volunteered for the past several years. I enjoy seeing the kids go through there therapy from start to finish.

I have been a volunteer for 15 years so I have been involved in many aspects of the Nature's Edge mission. Working with Becky, the staff, and other volunteers is a very rewarding experience. The therapists unique and creative approach to treatment produces amazing results. Whether I am observing or participating I always learn something new or someway to contribute. Volunteering at Natures Edge is a learning experience that teaches me how to better help people. Nature's Edge Therapy Center is a special place for all of us.

Years ago I worked for an agency that sent residents for speech therapy. The staff worked with me to teach me how to use the communication aides to not only help the resident but also to teach other staff on the proper use of communication boards. Since then I have become a respiratory therapist and work with people who have lost their ability to speak. With the training I received at Nature's Edge, I am able to show new staff at my facility how to effectively use communication boards to enable patients to effectively communicate.

My nephew has a traumatic brain injury and started Nature's Edge therapy to gain his motor functions back. I have been so pleased with how much time and energy and care the staff at Nature's Edge put into sessions. My nephew loves getting on the horse, and I have seen so much improvement in his motor skills since he began therapy with Nature's Edge.

Nature's Edge continues to amaze me with their caring & educated staff and with the highly effective work they do with so many youth in Barron County! I appreciate the level of collaboration that staff put in to make sure that their established treatment goals for youth are implemented across all settings and in line with the overall treatment planning for the child and family. Nature's Edge has made every effort to ensure that children, regardless of funding availability, have access to needed services. This organization is a wonderful asset to the community!

Absolutely love the feeling you get just driving down the driveway. The center has a way about it that makes you feel so comfortable. Beautiful scenery, wonderful animals, and an amazing group of staff/volunteers.

We are very pleased with Nature's Edge and their style of speech therapy. Using nature as a base has helped give our 4 1/2 year old grandson the enthusiasm to participate and to learn, and we are happy to see progress. At Nature's Edge you will find friendly and knowledgeable staff using animals and a rural setting to deliver therapy. We see this as very positive and are happy to recommend Nature's Edge.

love this place cant thank them enough. My son has SPD, SMD, and ELD. Since my son has been recieving treatment at Natures Edge he has accomplished so much. When he first started he only spoke a few words at a time now he us able to talk in full sentences. The hippo Therapy is great my son is more aware of his body and can look at you when you speak to him. Could go on and on about them but I really think you should see for yourself just how wonderful they are.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

We have not yet been to Natures Edge, but we are very much looking forward to it. We have worked with some of the therapists and love them. They do awesome work. Excited about our visit next month, Hope it inspires my daughter to be a therapist and help these children with so many needs. And working with the animals would be an added bonus.

They are knowledgeable, dedicated, and compassionate. All ingredients for helping their clients reach their highest potential.

My son is going to Natures Edge for speech therapy and we are so glad we found such a wonderful organization. He is progressing and reaching all his goals. I am so thankful for all the wonderful people who work and volunteer at Natures Edge. We are also thankful for all the animals and especially the horses, who with Hippotherapy, have also helped my son with his speech.

Our daughter received speech therapy at Nature's Edge Therapy Center the past 6 months. We are thrilled with her progress! We thoroughly enjoyed working with Becky Payne and the entire staff. We loved all the therapy animals and the beautiful setting. I believe our daughter responded much better to a non-clinical environment and felt more relaxed, thus could focus on the task at hand. We had a very positive experience and would recommend Nature's Edge to anyone!

It is truly heart warming to witness the amazing results that transpire from the professional, determined, dedicated and caring staff of Nature's Edge Therapy Center.

What a great experience it was at Nature's Edge! The combination of the staff working one on one with our son (diagnosed with selective mutism) and the use of nature / animals for therapy is amazing! Thank you for giving us the opportunity .

Dave and Janelle Lieder

Love this place! In all the time I've spent here volunteering not a second went to waste. :) I have also seen how much they help their patients. Truly amazing what they do here.

Such a great place. They do great work with kids both my kids loved going there.

I visited Nature's Edge at the end of July. My husband and I had been struggling on what to do about our sons meltdowns. It's hard to watch your child go in a downward spiral and not have the tools to help him. The second day we were at Natures Edge he had a full meltdown. Becky and her staff were great. They calmed him down and showed me what I could do for next time. We worked together on what we could do when I returned home. Since we returned home his meltdowns are much milder, and far and few between. The services we received at Nature's Edge has changed our lives and have made a positive change in our son. We now have a renewed excitement and hope that things are going to continue to get better. Thank you to everyone at Nature's Edge. You can't put a price in that kind of therapy. We can not wait to return and show them our progress. I highly recommend Nature's Edge.

We were blessed to be the first family to benefit from the intensive week long therapy where we stayed at NE & had therapists working with us around the clock. I don't know anywhere else you can receive therapy like this! It was lifechanging! Also, utilizing animals & nature in therapy was wonderful! Becky & her staff are highly knowledgeable & we left with a wealth of information-plus newfound hope :).

I have been a volunteer at Nature's Edge Therapy Center. I enjoyed the time that I was there, met many amazing people and made a few friends to. I left there feeling rejuvinated and happy that I was blessed with a chance to be able to help them out, even if only in a small way. Because, what they do there at Nature's Edge Therapy Center in a word is just truly AMAZING!

What a rewarding experience to be a volunteer at NETC! Everyone is incredible to work with and, of course, all the animals! With being a retired Spec. Ed. teacher, I truly realize the importance of quality learning for children and adults with special needs. I was involved in the 2014 summer programs for the Social Skills and Staying Active groups, along with sharing laughter yoga. With my passion for horses, it has been exciting to be part of the hippotherapy program as a sidewalker and an active participant in the therapy sessions. The progress of the children, their connection with the horses, and the strong parental support are absolutely amazing in this natural ranch setting. I am thrilled to be on the NETC staff as an Equine Massage Therapist and Volunteer Coordinator. I love massaging the horses, and even Buddy, the 3-legged dog. It provides many benefits to maintaining their health and well-being, enabling them to be therapy animals for years to come. I am a Pet Partner team with Bandit, Nature’s Edge therapy dog. We visit area nursing homes and senior citizen facilities, bringing joy and healing to the residents.

My daughter has Austism. I have taken my daughter Nature,s Edge for the last year or so. I love the staff and the philosopy they have. They are professional and very caring. They will find what works for the client. Not afraid to think outside of the box. Very positive and determined to help each and every client and meet them where they are at.

Our son, Christian, was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, dyspraxia, and anxiety. We had tried a clinically-based agency with only minimal results. After four years of trying many things, we had hit a point in March of 2015 where he refused to go to OT anymore. At a conference, we found Nature's Edge and we haven't looked back since! Christian LOVES therapy because of the animals and being outside. He's an animal-lover and has a blast "playing" with the animals. Little does he know he's receiving top-rate Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy during his playdates with his animal friends. The staff at Nature's Edge are the most helpful, personable, and caring individuals we've worked with. We love Nature's Edge and highly recommend checking them out!

I have volunteered my time helping out with client group activities, photography, side walking,and grooming/exercising the animals! I have seen amazing treatment/activities given by the therapists to increase the self confidence and the progress of the clients abilities! The volunteers/staff are so welcoming and friendly. The scenery, nature, and farm animals are so calming and soothing! I usually come to volunteer 1-2 times a week! Volunteering here has helped my self confidence, mood and exercise in many abundant ways! I really love coming to this amazingly awesome, Nature's Edge Therapy center!

On March 17, 2014, our daughter, Brianna, was involved in a terrible car accident and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, polytrauma, shattered pelvis, left clavicle fracture, critical illness polyneuropathy,
right-sided foot drop, and diabetes insipidus. Brianna started speech and occupational therapy at Nature’s Edge four days after an almost four and a half month hospital stay. Brianna made amazing progress from the
very first visit. As Brianna’s mother, I do not feel Brianna would be doing as well as she is or be as
engaged in her therapy if it were not for Nature’s Edge. We feel like we are with family at Nature’s Edge and
would recommend this type of therapy to anyone who wants to make huge progress in record time.

I have helped with developing a few videos and I have seen first hand the amazing things that happen at Nature's Edge. They have great results with the patients that go there.

My 5 year old son, Colten, was diagnosed with autism several years ago, he has been a client for therapy at Natures Edge since. He started without saying our names to speaking full sentences, responding to us verbally and is able to participate fully in school.

It meant much for us to hear him talk to us, he now tells me I'm his friend and he loves us. Simple words that can be taken for granted, that now mean the world to us.

Becky and Heidi have spent countless hours helping us get assistance for Colten and working to help him . We always enjoy their friendship and kindness

We have great appreciaion to Natures Edge Therapy Center and everyone there. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Amanda

My 6 yr. old son Brandon has been receiving speech therapy at NETC for about 3 years now. When we first started I was the only one who could understand what he was saying. He would become very frustrated with himself and the person he was talking to. Becky has helped him so much. She has also taught us the skills we need to help Brandon out at home. Becky is not only a gifted therapist but also a wonderful person. She truly loves her job and is a strong advocate for each person she serves. Brandon's life has truly been changed at NETC. He loves "his farm" and is going to be a GREAT volunteer there someday!!

I have been bringing my son, Ethan, to Nature's Edge since about August 2010. He has been in speech and cccupational therapy. They are absolutely AMAZING in what they do. The way they work and make them selves available to not just the kids but also provide a wonderful support system to the parents. Ethan LOVES going there and really strives on making them proud of him. We have seen MANY improvements in his behavior and more in his skills. He is 8 years old and we have been working for years to help him tie his own shoes...Heidi(OT) had him tying them within a half hour. It was a proud moment to see the look of accoplishment on his face. They have given both Ethan and myself many tools. The ideas they come up with and the skills they teach you couldn't get in a "regular" facility with the same programs. The patience and love that comes from them is honest and rare. We LOVE them and are very grateful to have found them:)

It will be two years next month since we first took our daughter
Kayleigh to Nature's Edge Therapy Center. At 34 months old she
was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to complications during
delivery. Physical, occupational and speech therapies were
ordered for her. I found NETC through our school and was
amazed that such a center operated relatively close to our home.
Kayleigh started seeing Becky and all the animals and has
never been the same!
She started therapy as a very unintelligible little girl who used
alot of her own sign language to make her needs and wants known.
She has grown into a more confident, talkative, social butterfly.
There are no words that can sufficiently express the gratitude
and love we have for Becky, Amanda and everyone that works and
volunteers for the Center. God gave us two miracles, the first
named Kayleigh and the second named Nature's Edge Therapy Center.

We have been bringing our daughter, Taite, to NETC since October 2010 for speech and occupational therapy. We are amazed with the progress that she has been making! She truly enjoys going to therapy and never says “I don’t want to go!” The therapists make the experience fun and engaging using traditional therapy techniques along with animal assisted therapy. That’s Taite’s favorite part, of course!

Taite has been receiving various therapy since she was 13 months old. We have been to several different therapy centers but NETC is by far the best yet! We feel so grateful that Heidi, the OT, was able to identify issues with Taite’s vision and make a referral to a vision therapist. We had no idea she had vision problems and no other OT (or doctor or neurologist or school professional) had even mentioned that perhaps she had vision issues. Heidi is wonderful at engaging Taite in therapy and always has practical suggestions for carry--over at home. I admire her ability to be patient and stay focused especially when my daughter isn’t!

Becky, the speech therapist and Director, has helped us to better understand Taite’s speech problems. She has a very comprehensive approach that doesn’t just focus on articulation but other parts of language as well. I believe this is why Taite's speech has been progressing so well since coming to NETC. We have seen improvement in her overall language skills and I am amazed at Becky’s creativity to engage Taite in a task that could otherwise be very dull. She also has practical suggestions for home and was very open to working with us on creating an intensive therapy schedule for Taite this summer.

Becky and Heidi are not only amazing therapists, but amazing people as well. It’s been a true pleasure getting to know them and working with them together to help my daughter. It’s what makes coming to NETC special and above the rest. I am so grateful that they were open (and excited) about doing two week intensive therapy with Taite this summer as I believe it’s already made a difference in her!

Having been with Nature's Edge Therapy Center for five years now as a Board Member, Volunteer, and Donor, i have seen a variety of patients come through the doors and receive ideal intense therapy individualized for each patient in a comfortable ranch setting. The Center strives to personalize each session so the patients enjoy coming. I've seen the staff utilize everything from the plants, dogs, cats, a talking parrot, the horses including two Icelandic Horses (which are my personal favorites as i am part of the Untied States Icelandic Horse Congress) and even a chinchilla to motivate and facilitate patients to reach their goals of better living. I've witnessed Nature's Edge help patients with autism, strokes, memory loss, cerebal palsy, and brain injuries among other disabilities. The loving staff at Nature's Edge has touched many lives sense opening in 2001, including mine.

Natures Edge Therapy Center exemplifies the meaning of "caring".
As you drive through the grounds of the center, you can't help but notice that the property is neat, well maintained and very inviting.
It is amazing to see the number and variety of animals that are used in the care and treatment of the patients.
All of the animals are well cared for and are "people freindly".
There is no doubt that the many hours of time and love given by the staff and volunteers have paid dividends.
Observing the interactions of the staff, while they work with the patients and animals, is an eye opening experience.
you can't help but feel a sense of the hope and confidence being instilled in the lives of the patients and their families.
The feelings of Becky, Heidi, the entire staff , the volunteers, their patients and families can be summed up in three words:
"Natures Edge Cares"

With a son on the Autistic Spectrum everyday life can be a challenge. Our family was struggling just to make it through each and every day - we were exhausted and my son was frustrated. We had so many questions, no real answers, and our son just kept slipping father away from us. Then over a year ago when our son had just turned five we found Nature's Edge Therapy Center, and our lives have been changed ever since.
The staff is caring and dedicated to each client and family's success. They answer any questions we have, give us resources, and teach us techniques we can transfer over to our son's daily life.
We have seen an impressive improvement in our son's communication skills, socialization abilities, behavior control, gross motor and fine motor skills, increase independence in activities of daily living, and safety awareness just to name a few. Most importantly we are seeing how proud he is of his own accomplishments! We are now able to go out to eat for dinners as a family. Such a minute task for other families is a great triumph for ours, and we give a lot of the credit to Nature's Edge Therapy Center.
Thank you Nature's Edge Therapy Center for giving our son his smile back!

A friend asked me to come to Natures Edge Therapy Center and just observe what they do and if I felt they made an IMPACT in the lives of the people they server. Maybe I would be willing to get invlolved. "WOW" is all I could say. To say that this place has captured my heart is an understatement. The Setting, the Animals, and Becky and Heidi Jo are not only qualified to do what they do but they are creative, and find ways to engauge the really tough cases. So that the child or adult look forward to coming back.

Nature's Edge offers a comprehensive and unique approach to therapuetic activities with outstanding results that could not be achieved in a clinical environment.

I am currently a board member of this nonprofit organization. I first became involved with Nature's Edge though when my son needed speech therapy over the summer while not receiving services through his school. He has autism and needed speech therapy to help improve his communication. He made tons of progress, but we also received help in working through his picky eating....finally! We carried the ideas introduced during his therapy sessions out at home. He is now able to eat what the rest of his family eats and is willing to try new foods. We will never take these changes for granted. We are so thankful for Nature's Edge!

Nature's edge is an amazing center. It is unique in it's therapy. After years of forcing my child into hospitals and doctors offices to try and get something to happen, finding natures edge was a blessing. the environment and approach towards the therapy made things go much smoother. Absolutely recommend them.

Nature's Edge Therapy Center is THE BEST pediatric therapy site between Marshfield, Children's Hospital, and Duluth!

The farm-based therapy reduces anxieties and allows my child to achieve success so quickly, we can't re-write his goals fast enough! Self esteem is built through great achievements and shines in his radiant smile while we're at therapy.

The staff thoughtfully researches best practices specific to my child and implements them while teaching me how to support his growth.

When our daughter was 4 she had unintelligible speech. At 3 she had just been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, an Autism spectrum disorder. All we knew was that we wanted to get her as much help as possible. However, living in a rural area, that wasn't easy to do. We were told about Nature's Edge and as soon as we talked to Becky for the first time we knew we had found someone who could help. When we visited Nature's Edge it was beautiful! For our daughter, it was a comfortable in-home setting where she could practice speech and language, paired with the challenge of outdoor activities and experiences with the animals that were truly therapeutic. There were real social experiences that you just can't find in a clinical setting. It was really refreshing! We've been going to Nature's Edge for 3 years and our daughter has made great strides and is going into second grade with her peers! We know it is thanks to the hard work, creativity and expertise of Becky and the staff at Nature's Edge!

Nature's Edge Therapy Center has worked in conjunction with the Cameron Schools. Several students have been served at Nature's Edge and benefited greatly from the care and expertise shown by the professionals and volunteers. A number of our students have served as volunteers and have themselves enjoyed and learned from the experiences. My wife volunteered at the Center and commented to me about how the organization and support contribute to the clients' improvement.

Randal Braun
District Administrator
Cameron School District

I started volunteering at Nature's Edge in the summer of 2009 and it's been an absolutely wonderful experience for me. Recently retired, I was looking for a way to fill some of my free time. Not a problem at Nature's Edge! There's always something to do...helping out with the animals, side walking in a hippotherapy session, lending a hand in the office or with fundraisers, writing grants, etc. Before I knew it, Becky had recruited me to serve on the board!

The therapists at Nature's Edge, Becky and Heidi Jo, are inspired and dedicated. I love watching the patients respond to them and to the animals and to being out in nature. Therapy is still hard work, but it's also fun at Nature's Edge. The entire staff is very supportive of the patients and their families. And of course the animals are the best. It's such a positive environment to help patients progress toward their therapeutic goals.

Nature's Edge is a great alternative to traditional, clinical therapy!