Description

Surviving Fatherhood

A Survivor-Inspired Equine-Assisted Learning Curriculum for Fathers and Children

What if rebuilding a relationship with your child felt less like therapy and more like the adventure of a lifetime?

Inspired by the challenge-based format of the Survivor television series, Surviving Fatherhood transforms the arena into an unforgettable adventure where fathers and children work together through exciting puzzles, obstacle courses, team challenges, and equine-assisted experiences designed to strengthen communication, trust, and connection.

Every session is intentionally over the top. Participants create tribes, complete physical and mental challenges, solve problems together, and celebrate victories as a team. While they’re having fun, they’re also building healthier relationships, developing communication skills, and creating positive memories that extend far beyond the barn.

Originally developed through a collaboration with the National Fatherhood Initiative, and a community-wide partnership of agencies serving fathers and families, the curriculum was designed to meet the needs of fathers whose relationships with their children have been interrupted or challenged by life’s circumstances.

The program can be adapted for:

• Fathers returning home after incarceration
• Families participating in supervised visitation or reunification
• Military families experiencing deployment or reintegration
• Fathers whose work requires frequent travel or long hours
• Divorced or separated parents
• Community fatherhood initiatives
• Any father who wants to strengthen his relationship with his child

Inside You’ll Find

• A complete 10-session facilitator curriculum
• Survivor-inspired activities, games, puzzles, and arena challenges
• Step-by-step lesson plans and facilitator guides
• Reflection questions and discussion prompts
• Materials lists and arena setup instructions
• Safety considerations and implementation guidance
• Program evaluation tools and supporting resources

Whether you’re an equine-assisted services program, nonprofit organization, behavioral health provider, correctional reentry program, or community agency, Surviving Fatherhood provides everything you need to deliver an engaging, relationship-centered experience that fathers and children will remember long after the final challenge.

Available Format

Digital Download (PDF)

Instant access to the complete facilitator guide, ready to download, print, and implement in your own program.