Miracle in the Making

Around a year ago Tina Hunter was designing her dream into a reality.

She has grown up around horses. She knows many aspects of the Equine life and habits. One day she looked around her from her vantage point on the mountain, thinking of her life and her grandchildren, she thought about the children who would come by every now and then to see her horses. Standing there looking soulfully out at the horizon she began to remember her dreams as a young cowgirl in the heart of Montana.

A thought as glorious as the sunrise burst into her mind. Why not help the children around her to learn to adapt to the various tasks around the animals and their curiousity of a life with the skills to succeed.

Long story short, she sold the parcial of land and moved to the city.

Tina Hunter is a woman of many skills and a heart of gold. When she decided to make her dream a reality, she faced it head on and with a fire in her heart.

The next thing people knew she was on a mission to get the new idea from her mind and into the public to fill the need in the community. Tina asked people from all different skill sets to be part of a Board of Directors. She presented her ideas and they loved it, her passion was contagious.

The last year has been a whirlwind of trials and tribulations. With her time shared between her family, her job, and the budding organization. In the beginning the organization had been blessed with a parcle of land to start the venture off with. However, fate is a fickle foe and the red tape held the land the donor owned and it was not to be part of her dream.

Where a door closes another opens and in the search for a new place for the grassroots organization to sow it's roots, a neighbor mentioned a block of land that is currently being used in nefarious ways. Among the disorder and damage done by disorderly people, the land stands among the trees and grass, just waiting for us to take residency and establish the organization that can help the needs in our community.

Children and their families of this area have a need. Understanding the Autism and Social Skill Spectrum, can help meet this need. These families have a hard enough time providing and obtaining the quality of life they so desperately deserve. 1 in 32 children in the USA are on the spectrum. Each and everyone of them need the opportunity to achieve greatness. The need here in Cascade County, is growing each year. These are our friends, family and the people who are around us every day.

Branches On the Spectrum greatly wishes to obtain the lease of the land just beyond Wadsworth Park, previously used by the Skeet Club and the local Boy Scouts. These few acres could be filled with the horses, chickens, and other animals that can help the children of the programs to tap into coping skills. With gardens both vegitables and flowers, the children learn the life cycle from seed to sell. What a joy to bring the fruits of ones labors home to the family for all to enjoy.

When the world is a bit chotic and the stress level increases, we have a place to breathe and relax to the sounds of the wind and water with the color of the intriguing and soothing Sensory Garden. This garden is designed to tantilize the very essence of all the 5 senses.

The children are not the only ones in the family to learn new skills. We offer different classes for Essentrics and crafts for not only the families but the whole community as well.

The next step for Branches On the Spectrum is to be seen by the city commissioners.

We are asking for everyone to send letters of endorsment to the City of Great Falls Commissioners on our behalf. Spread the word on all social media and when you talk to each other.

You can also email us at branchesots@gmail.com.