A University for Children

A Sanctuary for Animals

Location/Transportation:

The property is in a beautiful dense forest of Doug Fir Trees on mountainous, uneven terrain. The weather is cold and very wet December through February, warmer with light rain in March through May, hot and sunny during the summer months of June through September, and mild to cool in October and November.

We are a 55-acre working ranch in the far north-eastern part of Santa Rosa, about 10 miles from town or bus transportation. However, someone generally drives to town at least once a day for errands. You can catch a ride with them to a bus stop, or sometimes you are able to use a ranch vehicle on your time off, if you pay for your own gas. The road to and from the ranch is a narrow, curvy, country road. A few people bike on the road, but we ourselves do not consider it to be a safe bike ride. It is very steep with lots of blind turns that could be dangerous. Cell phones do not get any reception on the ranch so guests must go into town to use their cell phones and/or purchase a phone card so they can make long distance calls from the land line phone at the ranch.

Most resident volunteers fly into San Francisco Airport and take the airport shuttle to Santa Rosa, where we meet them to drive them to our ranch.

About McDonald Ranch:

Language spoken: English, some Spanish

We run a year-round nonprofit organization teaching life skills to youth through their on-going service work helping homeless animals and learning environmental appreciation. You can read more about our program at www.mcdonaldranch.org. We are a working ranch with ducks, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, horses and goats. Obviously, resident volunteers should not have any allergies or sensitivities to any animals if they want to stay with us.

During the summer months, we run a day camp Monday through Friday with children ages 6-18. Summer camp activities include archery, arts and crafts, horseback riding, swimming, go-kart riding, puppy and kitten play, and much more. During the school year, youth between the ages of 10 and 18 come after school and weekends to help out (especially with the horses).

Our main focus is working and teaching animal husbandry to children and working with livestock. However, we do not slaughter or consume (eat) animals raised on this ranch.

The ranch is permanently occupied by me, Linda McDonald, and my husband Richard. We are a mature couple in our late 50’s who love children and animals. We have up to 8 temporary resident volunteers at a time, as well as a tenant who rents a cottage on the property. Generally, there are people around the ranch. However, much of the work is independent of others. Some may, at times, feel isolated such as when you are out on the ranch working alone or feeding. Other times, the ranch comes alive with guests, volunteers, staff and youth. There is a wide variety of work to be done, so it is rare that we get complaints about the lack of diversity. Most resident volunteers enjoy the opportunity to learn to work with animals and livestock.

Most who arrive at our ranch enjoy the beautiful drive through the mountains and forest. Many are grateful for the peace and natural environment while others feel our location is too far from town and too remote. Some come with an expectation of seeing a grand home on 55 acres of open pastures surrounding horses with white fences and are very disappointed when they find that we are on uneven terrain and live in an older but quaint house on the side of a mountain. Many love working in our forest of Doug Fir trees and enjoy the hike up and down the hill while others find it shocking that the work out on the ranch is required to be done rain or shine. We find that people who apply to “work with animals” may see themselves stroking cats, playing fetch with the dogs and riding the horses and do not realize that more time is taken caring for animals than handling them. The home itself is something some appreciate while others may find very disappointing. The home on this ranch was built in 1914 by a family who cut the trees from the forest, had them milled on the ranch adjacent to ours and built the home themselves. We consider the home and setting filled with rich history, honest hard work and family values.

Please understand that we run a viable, demanding business. As such, we must be professional, organized and we must perform the service people are paying for, i.e. care of homeless animals and safe fun for children. Schedules of times and lists of tasks are given to resident volunteers and must be adhered to. Work must be done well, thoroughly and efficiently. Many of the tasks are performed by one person so it is best that you are a person who can work alone. My own work is very, very long hours at the computer and phone doing administration, accounting, program planning, reports, etc. We are very dedicated to children and animals All money that comes into our organization goes to expenses in running the ranch. No one has a paid position, including us. My husband works at a hospital as an x-ray tech, earning the money needed for our personal needs. Everyone must be extremely frugal so that expenses do not go over the income we bring in to cover them. That means utilities are used carefully (lights off when one leaves the room, clothes are hung on clothes lines rather than use the dryer if possible, heating and cooling of home is maintained at 68 degrees, trips to and from town are minimized so gas is not wasted needlessly, doors and windows are closed in the winter/open in the summer, etc).

We ask that those who come to this location understand that we are a dedicated, nonprofit organization established to serve youth and animals. My husband and myself are volunteers just like those who come to stay with us. We do not receive any type of compensation from the ranch. We pay for what we use and the property from my husband’s earnings at his full time job at the hospital as an x-ray tech. The ranch lost its site development funding the day after 9-11 and has struggled to keep the doors open for kids and food coming for the animals that are so dependent on our support. We work nearly every waking hour 365 days a year Please, please do not feel we are avoiding you or do not appreciate your help and support if we do not spend much time visiting with you. We cherish what little time we do have with resident volunteers. They bring the world to us and provide us with much needed contact with other adults. We are grateful beyond what words can express.

Accommodations:

Resident volunteers stay in a (caravan) trailer, bunk house, individual room or basement flat. Most resident volunteers have a private accommodation.

Horse back riding is offered to resident volunteers who have experience and lessons may be arranged. There is a pond with small paddle boat and a swimming pool usable during summer months. The main farm house has a pool table and there are several hiking trails on the property or near by. Our ranch is located in one of the most scenic spots in our country, in the midst of wine country and 1 ½ hr drive to San Francisco or 1 hour to the ocean coast.

Most of the time meals are self catered. We give $20.00 per week to each resident volunteer to buy their own groceries. We also provide basic condiments such as spices, sugar, flour, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, oils, eggs, canned goods, juice and many other shelf items.

During the summer months of May through August, we give priority to resident volunteers who are able to do a 4 week minimum stay. Throughout the rest of the year, a 2 week minimum stay if preferred. There is no maximum stay requirement. Help is always needed year around.

Smoking, drugs or drinking is not allowed anywhere on or near the ranch. All those who are on the ranch must be mature, respectful people, able to provide excellent role models to the youth that come to the ranch. We have a zero tolerance policy for the use of drugs or smoking so if you are a smoker or use drugs, this is not a site you will find accommodating.

Pets may be allowed with prior agreement and arrangement but must be current on all vaccinations as well as spayed or neutered.

Internet and Phones Use: There is a computer with internet access located in the ranch kitchen for Resident volunteers to use for e-mail messages, travel reservations or other needed information. It is not to be used to download anything without permission from Linda McDonald. It is also not to be used to surf the internet or play games. The computer is available for no more than an hour per day for each Resident volunteer. McDonald Ranch takes the highest priority over all other needs for the Internet and the phone. Therefore, if the Internet connection is slow or we are having any problems, Resident volunteers will be asked to close down the kitchen computer.

International calls are NOT allowed on our phones without explicit permission, agreement and advanced payment.

Hopefully, when you arrive, your room, RV, trailer, or caravan will be neat and clean from the last Resident volunteer who used it. If not, unfortunately, your first task will be to clean up your area after the last person who used it and then leave it clean and tidy for the next Resident volunteer who comes.

The ranch home is nearly 100 years old and may be too rustic for some people’s liking, while others enjoy the natural beauty and heritage that is here. We have had those who have come and fallen in love with the environment and others who packed up and left after a few days. We hope you will be one who finds the ranch to be a wonderful experience and again, we thank you for your interest and service while you are here.

Work Load:

Most resident volunteers assist with caring for the animals especially the horses. However, other areas in need of help are with carpentry, landscaping, gardening, maintenance, cleaning, cooking, errands, administration, gathering, cutting and splitting wood for winter, assistance with youth who come to the ranch, fencing, electrical, plumbing. We are open to consider any other skills or experience resident volunteers may have to offer.

All resident volunteers work 32 hours per week on the ranch with an additional hour of community help (cooking, cleaning, landscaping, shopping, etc). Sometimes resident volunteers work 8 hours a day for 4 days a week with 3 days off. Other times and shifts might be 6 hours a day for 5 days a week. Shifts can start as early as 6:30am while other shifts might end at 7:30pm.

Rules and Expectations:

Use of laundry facilities is offered as long as the equipment is respected and used properly. One important safety requirement is that you empty the lint tray each and every time you use the dryer.

You must supply your own laundry detergent.

There is a limit of 3 loads per person per week. Please take your laundry out of the washer within 45 minutes after starting it and take your laundry out of the dryer within 1 ½ hours after putting it in.

Please do not use the garbage disposal (it was installed by the last owner but isn’t at all good for the septic system).

We live in a fish bowl with all that we do being observed by the children who come to the ranch. This requires those who are here to be good role models on all levels at all times when children are around. Diplomacy, respect, cooperation and maturity are necessary to function within this environment.

On a weekly basis, you will be asked to do the following:

• Bedrooms in the ranch home:
• Dust furniture and vacuum carpet
• Empty waste basket
• Food, drinks and dishes are not allowed in bedroom areas

• Private or semi private bathrooms:
• Clean toilet bowl and sink with cleanser
• Polish counter top and faucet fixture with Windex
• Sweep floor
• Scrub down the shower with Tile – X or Shower Power
• Dust window sills, etc

• Main Bathroom:
• You are expected to use Tile – X on the shower walls and the tub EACH TIME you shower for health and sanitary reasons for all those who use the shower.

Our expectations of Resident volunteers who visit is that they are here as part of a work exchange program, offering their skills and/or help to serve McDonald Ranch. Resident volunteers understand the need to respect others who are here and the ranch property including tools, supplies, grounds, household, vehicles, etc.

Replace tools and supplies after they use them throughout the day and do not leave them on the ground where someone could trip or get hurt from them. We expect all those at the ranch to clean up after themselves before leaving a common area (bathroom, living room, kitchen, outdoor areas).

Equipment and tools will be used only for the purpose for which they are intended and will be used with the utmost safety and care.

Helmets will be worn when riding or driving on the ATV or working around and riding the horses.