Mission
B.O.K. Ranch was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing full inclusion horseback riding lessons to individuals with and without special needs in a mainstreamed environment.
Ruling year
1985
Executive Director
Tish Dipman
Main address
PO Box 620702
Woodside, CA 94062 USA
EIN
94-2947980
NTEE code
Animal Related Activities N.E.C. (D99)
Rehabilitative Medical Services (E50)
Youth Development Programs (O50)
IRS filing requirement
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Communication
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
BOK Ranch works tirelessly to "normalize" the idea of full inclusion. It wasn't that long ago that children who had different learning styles and abilities didn't cross paths in this world much at all. Here at the BOK Ranch, riders with and without special needs are enrolled into the same riding classes on a daily basis. Our program does not want to segregate any riders into smaller or separate programs based on need. The instructors at BOK Ranch do a great job of including anyone who is eager to ride.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Full Inclusion Riding Program
B.O.K. Ranch brings the benefits of therapeutic riding to close to 100 individuals each week. We serve riders with over 30 different disabilities, from ages four to seventy six. There is no maximum age, as long as the rider has no physical or medical contra-indications. We offer a variety of classes in order to meet the varying needs of our riders and lessons are customized to achieve each individual’s goals. Working with specially trained, certified instructors, we teach classes in riding skills and our riders learn horsemanship and sportsmanship. An important part of our work includes socialization and success for students who may not be able to participate in traditional recreational activities but are able to ride and interact in a group lesson.Therapeutic Riding is enjoyable as well as purposeful. Lessons include creative games and sports activities that encourage a sense of well-being and accomplishment. In addition, students learn horse care, grooming, and equipment use through hands-on experience. This encourages responsibility, fosters the bond between horse and rider, and leads to a sense of empowerment. While most of our lessons are in small groups, each rider has specific goals. Lessons are individually designed to help students achieve these goals. The certified therapeutic riding instructor works with a team of specially trained volunteers.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Full Inclusion Riding Program
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The BOK Ranch volunteers join our program 7 days a week. They help in all aspects of our program including grooming, feeding, tacking, side walking, and leading during lessons.
Hours of volunteer service
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Full Inclusion Riding Program
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
2019 and 2020 were heavily affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Number of participants engaged in programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Full Inclusion Riding Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The BOK Ranch offers full inclusion riding programs during weekday, after school hours, weekend mornings, and Summer Camp. NOTE: 2019-2020 have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Number of organizational partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Full Inclusion Riding Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Between volunteers, clients, and donors the BOK Ranch is a Community Based Organization. NOTE: 2019-2020 have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The BOK Ranch is aiming to bring all people together with the use of the horse. We are looking to eliminate the segregation of people with special needs in the therapeutic recreation. Frequently horseback riding programs are designed for able-bodied riders OR riders with additional needs, but not both. BOK Ranch is looking to change this with a full inclusion/mainstreamed environment.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In the beginning of moving to a full inclusion model, BOK opened the riding lessons up to the siblings of the riders we already had enrolled (the riders with special needs). The next step was to advertise Summer Camp to all children between the ages of 4 and 13. In today's current climate, we routinely receive applications for riders of all abilities (with and without special needs). The full inclusion riding program has relied on word of mouth to succeed in the full inclusion arena.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The instructors at the BOK Ranch are wonderful. They are experts at adapting and modifying curriculum. In any class, we place a maximum of 4 riders. Within these 4 riders there can be any mixture of riding abilities. If, for example, the objective of the lesson is to "stop". One rider might be stopping with two side-walkers using hand over hand assistance. The next rider might be stopping with the help of one side-walker using verbal prompts and a horse leader acting as a back up breaking system. The third rider might be stopping his/her horse independently from the walk. The fouth might be working on a downward transition from the trot.
This example shows how the instructor might be teaching the same skill to each rider at the level they are currently comfortable at.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The BOK Ranch has been established as a leader in the field of therapeutic riding, mainstream summer camp, and full inclusion in general. The next big venture for the program is to expand the Vocational program. BOK Ranch now offers a job skills training program to help teens and young adults with additional needs to gain the skills necessary to gain fulfilling and enriching employment within the community.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Case management notes, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
For over 30 years the BOK Ranch was a leader in the therapeutic riding arena. Approximately 5 years ago, there was a major environmental shift emerging to end the segregation of riders with special needs. BOK Ranch is now, exclusively considered a full inclusion program for riders of all abilities.
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With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders,
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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BOK Ranch, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 11/29/2021
Maurisa Sommerfield
BOK Ranch
Kathy Kopf
Paul Stratz
Erika Stratz
Kelly Zeytoonian
Jennifer Sills
Charissa Gant
Mitch ShoopGarnder
Maurisa Sommerfield
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
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