Valerie and her critters came to visit our classroom today and it was such a great experience for our students who have intellectual disabilities. She took the time to introduce each bird, bunny, or turtle and explained each to our class. It was so much more beneficial for the students to be up close and personal with them in our classroom setting. Thank you, Valerie!
Valerie and Rattlebox have given my kids the opportunity to interact with animals of every sort. My children love to handle and care for all the animals, and they have learned a great deal from their time there. I'm grateful for what Valerie and Rattlebox do for our community.
In this increasingly computer driven world, Valerie does a wonderful job of connecting children with nature. This is so important for them and for the environment.
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Valerie has a great gift for helping both animals and children in need. For the animals, the need is daily care for the resident animals and homes for the rescued.. For some children, the need can be simple: exposure to animals and the natural world. For others with disabilities or disadvantages, it can be even more crucial. Valerie has been working with disadvantaged children for twenty years. The other day, she told me, she ran into one of those children, grown up, happy and healthy. He told her what it had meant to him as a child to come to Rattlebox. What better testimonial can there be?
"My granddaughter loves it at Rattlebox. She looks forward to her riding lesson each week. Ms Valerie...."
My 11 year old son absolutely loves going to Rattlebox Nature Center every weekend to take care of the ponies, rabbits and all kinds of rescued animals. Ms. Valerie is wonderful with kids of all ages. Truly a blessing to have a place like this!!
What a wonderful place of learning! Valerie truly has the magic touch with both children and animals.
Review from Guidestar
My son absolutely loves coming here. He talks about it all the time. He first went for summer camp when he was 8, then for his 9th birthday we took the family there. It is pretty much his favorite thing, other than baseball. And I love seeing my sometimes sassy son turn into the sweetest, kindest child around the animals.
This unique nature center allowed me to expose my granddaughter to a world far beyond her suburban princess environment, where she learned to love, appreciate, and respect animals. Children learn important life lessons by using the contact and care they acquire here, and by bringing it back into their own lives.
Good morning Val and Happy (belated) Mother’s Day!
I have heard nothing but rave reviews from the teachers and students that visited with you last week. Thanks so much for always giving our guys something positive and educational to remember!:)
My daughter attended Rattlebox Nature Center this summer and absolutely loved it. This was the one camp she couldn't stop talking about all summer and she is delighted to be able to attend on an off day from school. Valerie was extremely kind and compassionate about the love and care of her animals and she treated my daughter like her own. I was also impressed with the lovely crafts that were completed. This camp truly exceeded my expectations.
Many thanks Valerie. Our kids from CADES loved your presentation, your animals and you! it was a great event.
Sincerely,
The staff of Room 116
Valerie and Rattlebox Nature Center are the simply the best. The environment is incredibly kids friendly and fosters individual growth with a hands on experience while being committed to safety. There is a healthy emphasis on learning about nature and our environment and the kids love all the animals. The stories they come home with are worthy of a time capsule.
Sincerely,
Long time client
What a wonderful place for all those creatures to thrive. Sharing your endeavors with my daughter has been a blessing. Best wishes.
Valerie and her staff were wonderful. They taught my 3 year granddaughter how to ride and take care of the horses.Valerie has created a loving and caring environment where all the kids feel part of something and want to take part.
I took two of my 8 year old nieces to Rattlebox a few weeks ago because I hadn't seen them in a while and wanted to do something special with them. I decided to take them to Rattlebox Nature Center - what a great time we all had! They were able to hold and pet guinea pigs, turtles, rabbits, birds and dogs. Then we went outside to see and feed the ponies - what treat! The girls were so excited when we were leaving because they received a $5 credit to use in the gift shop . . . lots of choices, and they left with great mementos of the day. They can't wait to go back to ride the ponies, and are even asking that their next birthday be held there. Val, the owner, is such a sweet person who is excellent with kids. All of the animals are rescues, saved from a not-so-good fate (we won't get into that). What great work she is doing, and what a great message to impart to today's youth. Thanks, Val!!
We had an amazing experience with our one and a half year old daughter. It was both fun and informative. To our surprise she even loved riding one of the ponies, Nibble. Thank you for all that you do! What a gem!
