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A Day at Country Ark Farm

| 18 Jun 2015 | 09:51
    Photos by George LeRoy Hunter Far right five year old Hailey Gummerson of Pike County pets a baby goat.
    Photos by George LeRoy Hunter Far right five year old Hailey Gummerson of Pike County pets a baby goat.
    With a bottle two and a half year old Christopher Gillespie of Shohola feeds milk to a baby goat.
    With a bottle two and a half year old Christopher Gillespie of Shohola feeds milk to a baby goat.
    Adults and children enjoy interacting with the farm animals.
    Adults and children enjoy interacting with the farm animals.
    At left, Boy Scout Nate Hayes and his father of Milford pose. Hayes, who is a member of Troop 174 of Dingmans Ferry, will be constructing an addition to the playground area at Country Ark Farm later this year.
    At left, Boy Scout Nate Hayes and his father of Milford pose. Hayes, who is a member of Troop 174 of Dingmans Ferry, will be constructing an addition to the playground area at Country Ark Farm later this year.
    A pot-bellied pig relaxes.
    A pot-bellied pig relaxes.

MILFORD — Visitors got the chance to intermingle with the animals at Country Ark Farm in Milford.

The farm, which is normally only open to visitors by appointment or invitation otherwise, opened it's grounds to the public on Sunday, June 14.

Country Ark Farm is a nonprofit organization that has served special needs individuals for 25 years.

Many of the animals were typical creatures found on many farms throughout America. But some of the animals were exotic and came from different parts of the world. A menagerie of species from chickens and pot-bellied pigs to a Silver pheasant which is a native bird found in China and Southeast Asia roam the grounds.

The farm founders Michael and Donna Ciancitto created the farm in 1990 and are helped by volunteers.

"Country Ark Farm is a registered nonprofit foundation 501 C-3. And is dedicated to working with physically, emotionally and mentally challenged children," Michael Ciancitto said. "Providing pet and recreational therapy. We've been doing it since 1990 and we work with about 800 special needs clients per season which runs from April to September. We have a respite summer camp which my wife Donna runs along with our daughters and son and certified care givers."

"We have been running the camp for 15 years," Donna Ciancitto said. "And it runs Monday through Friday and is sponsored by The Ingeborg A. Biondo Memorial Foundation. The Boy Scouts will be doing their eagle scout project here."

Playground projectBoy scout Troop 174 of Dingmans Ferry will be helping boy scout Nate Hayes build an addition to the playground at Country Ark Farm later this year. Hayes who is a Milford resident has a go fund me campaign to raise funds for the upcoming project. For donations visit www.gofundme.com/vjzhes or mail to 118 Kiel Road Milford, Pennsylvania 18337. Hayes email address is nate1998.nh@gmail.com.

Some local businesses are sponsors at Country Ark Farm. The Home Depot, Walmart and Wells Fargo Bank are some of the sponsors. The farm is always in need of donations, volunteers and sponsors.

For how to get involved with the efforts of Country Ark Farm, interested parties should contact Donna Ciancitto at 570-686-3480 or caf1@ptd.net.

For more information on Country Ark Farm visit countryarkfarm.org.

— For more photos visit www.PikeCountyCourier.com.