Our Community
Sky View Farm
Mission Statement
The purpose of Robin’s Nest Foundation Inc. is to support the mental health of our community. We offer a safe space for people to explore mental health alternatives such as horse interactions, group programs, volunteer activities, and individual therapy. Our goal is to help those struggling mentally to find a balance and live their best life.
Location
Robin’s Nest team works out of Sky View Farm, LLC. Sky View Farm is located minutes from Castle Rock/Lone Tree and is a self-sustaining business where 45 horses are boarded. Ms. Wendy Ingraham, the owner and manager, envisions a community where people can connect with nature. In addition to horses, the farm has chickens, rabbits, ducks, a miniature horse, cats, dogs, and a garden. There is an outdoor and indoor riding arena, and a cross-country riding trail is being developed. Sky View Farm is located within the bussing district for elementary schools in Castle Pines, which will allow us to have after-school activities with direct transportation.
Donate
Robin's Nest is managed, programmed, and run by 100% volunteers. If you can help with our cause, please DONATE HERE.
Our Team
Wendy Ingraham
Founder and Program Director
Wendy Ingraham is a Michigan native and the owner /founder of Robin's Nest Foundation. Before her work with the foundation, Wendy practiced her love for health and fitness as a professional athlete for 20 years. During this time, she repeatedly saw support for the adage "anything you can do, I can do better" comparing herself as a female competitor versus her male competition. She recalls being the very first person out of the water at triathlons (whether male or female). Men would line up behind her, knowing she would pull them through the water. In the end, though, Wendy says, "It's not a matter of winning or losing. It's giving it your all that makes you better than anyone else."
Wendy took this mindset with her when she founded Robin's Nest. She realized that being able to communicate, groom and deal with such large animals can be a very empowering experience and wanted to share that with others. Not to mention, with today's open spaces disappearing at a rapid rate, Wendy wanted to develop an open space to explore, use imagination, get away from the noise of electronics, and be with nature and animals.
In the wake of tragedy, after losing three very close friends to depression, Wendy felt it was her mission to find a way to help others accomplish goals and build self-confidence to make them feel worth living for.
And that's just what they're doing at this amazing little farm in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Kary Kruger and Terri Mongait
Women's Group Facilitators
Jen Patterson
Executive Director
Jen holds a Master's Degree in Hydrology and a Bachelor's Degree in Geology. After a 25-year career in environmental consulting, Jen decided to move into the nonprofit sector. Wendy offered her the perfect opportunity to contribute at Robin's Nest. Jen believes that mental health is an area that does not get the attention that it deserves in our community. Growing up in central Illinois, she became a true animal lover. Robin's Nest is a unique organization where these two ideals merge.
Mallory Nicklas
Licensed Therapist
Mallory holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social work, is a Licensed Social Worker, and LCSW Candidate. With over 10 years experience working in various educational settings, inpatient behavioral health treatment, and non-profit program facilitation and management, Mallory currently fulfills her role as Program Director and Clinician for Mustard Seed Ranch, a charitable non-profit equine assisted therapy program for youth who have experienced trauma. Mallory is also the founder of H&H Connections, providing equine assisted psychotherapy, learning, and consulting. With training in Natural Lifemanship, Mallory thrives in creatively pairing her clinical knowledge of behavioral health to the experiential process of implementing horses, while engaging clients in a meaningful way. Horses have always been a safe, educational, and healing space for Mallory. She enjoys sharing that novelty with those she works with. Mallory's mission is to create a unique and healing environment for individuals to feel their most authentic and capable selves, as they discover hope and heal.