Potawatomi Wildlife Park partnership cultivates growth and confidence for students with disabilities

As Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe reflects on a year of community impact, a recent partnership with Cardinal Services’ Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-Ets) program stands out as a shining example of growth, collaboration, and the power of opportunity. This summer, the park provided invaluable real-world work experience to high school students with disabilities, fostering confidence and filling vital volunteer needs.

The Pre-Ets program, designed to help students with disabilities gain practical job skills before graduation, faced a challenge in finding local businesses willing to host its participants. Program staff member Miss Ellie reached out to Potawatomi Wildlife Park Manager Lacey Pfeiffer, hoping their existing relationship with past field trips would open a door.

Without hesitation, Pfeiffer responded with an immediate and enthusiastic "yes."

To ensure the students' success and provide a structured learning environment, Pfeiffer developed a comprehensive workbook detailing over 20 rotating weekly tasks. Under this guidance, students learned essential skills such as trimming trails, maintaining facilities, cleaning equipment, and caring for the park's diverse natural spaces. After an initial week of hands-on training, Miss Ellie provided daily supervision, with park staff offering continuous check-ins and support.

"It was a blessing all around," shared Lacey Pfeiffer. "Watching these students grow in confidence week after week was truly inspiring. They didn’t just learn new tasks — they discovered they were capable of more than they realized. We miss them greatly on a personal level, and they filled so many volunteer gaps we had at the park."

The partnership proved to be a resounding success, demonstrating the profound impact that supportive environments and collaborative efforts can have on youth development and community engagement. Potawatomi Wildlife Park looks forward to continuing its mission of connecting people with nature and fostering such meaningful community relationships.