Neuro Nest at Vanderlaand Barnyard Zoo: Where Nature, Nurture, and Neurodiversity Meet

Every child deserves a place where they can feel safe, be themselves, and connect with the world around them in their own beautiful way.

At Neuro Nest at Vaanderlaand Barnyard Zoo, we’re creating just that: a welcoming, sensory-rich, and nature-immersed space where neurodivergent children, youth, and families can access Second Nature’s mental health and educational services—right in the heart of the barnyard.

This special Neuro Nest is nestled among gently braying donkeys, clucking hens, curious goats, and wide-open skies—a living, breathing ecosystem that offers joy, regulation, and connection in every corner.

A Different Kind of Support

Traditional therapy settings often feel sterile or overwhelming for neurodivergent children. But here at Vaanderlaand Barnyard Zoo, support looks different.

It looks like:

• Brushing a miniature pony while practicing mindfulness

• Building trust beside a rabbit hutch

• Learning emotional regulation with a donkey as a co-regulator

• Developing communication and social skills in a cozy hayloft

• Walking and talking among the animals with a trusted therapist by your side

Neuro Nest at Vaanderlaand isn’t just a program—it’s an experience rooted in relationship, co-regulation, and the gentle rhythm of the land.

Why the Barnyard?

Because animals don't require words. They offer presence. They respond to energy, not expectations. They co-regulate with sensitivity and honesty.

For many of our children, these interactions are powerful gateways to self-awareness, calm, and connection—often unlocking breakthroughs that were never possible in a traditional clinical setting.

The barnyard becomes a bridge. Between child and caregiver. Between therapist and family. Between nervous system and safety.

Our Services at Neuro Nest Vaanderlaand

At this Neuro Nest, you’ll find a range of Second Nature’s trauma-informed and neuro-affirming services offered in partnership with the animals and the land, including:

• Equine- and animal-assisted therapy

• Sensory-informed mental health support

• Parent coaching and family sessions

• Neurodivergent youth social groups

• Outdoor education and play-based learning

• Seasonal events, drop-ins, and respite care

Each session is child-led, relationship-first, and rooted in deep respect for every individual’s nervous system, story, and strengths.

A Place to Be Known

We created this Neuro Nest because we know the power of being in a space where no one is trying to "fix" you.

At Vaanderlaand, we don’t ask children to sit still, mask their needs, or pretend to be okay.We meet them where they are, beside a goat, under a willow tree, or holding a chicken gently to their chest.

And as their bodies soften, their eyes brighten, and their nervous systems find calm, we are reminded: this is what healing looks like.

Join the Nest

Neuro Nest at Vaanderlaand Barnyard Zoo is open to children, youth, and families looking for support that is gentle, joyful, and grounded in nature.

If you're seeking a therapeutic space that celebrates neurodiversity, invites curiosity, and reconnects families with each other and the land—we’d love to welcome you.

Let your child lead the way. Let the animals do the rest. Let this be your second nature.

With warmth and wide-open gates,

Anastasia Machan

Founder, Second Nature

In partnership with Vaanderlaand Barnyard Zoo