About Us
At Silver Sage Ranch School, we believe childhood should be rooted in connection. Connection to nature, to animals, and to self.
Nestled in Menifee, California, our ranch is a place where children can slow down, explore freely, and engage in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. Through animal interactions, outdoor exploration, gardening, and ranch-based activities, we create opportunities for children to build confidence, develop responsibility, and grow in a supportive, nurturing environment.
As a nonprofit organization, our mission is to make high quality, nature based education and equine-assisted learning accessible to families in our community. We proudly serve a wide range of learners through our programs, including early childhood classes, homeschool enrichment, and equine-assisted learning experiences designed to support social and emotional development.
Our approach is intentionally small group and relationship based. We focus on creating a calm, welcoming space where every child feels seen, valued, and capable.
At Silver Sage Ranch School, learning isn’t rushed, it’s experienced.
Meet Our Team
Aileen Maffei
Owner/Founder - PATH EAL-PD, Quiet Corral CAAL-PD, Equine-Assisted Coach
Aileen is the heart behind Silver Sage Ranch School, bringing together her background in education and equine training to create a truly unique learning environment for children and families. Her work is rooted in the belief that meaningful growth happens through connection. Connection to animals, nature, and self.
Aileen is a PATH Intl. EAL-PD Certified Facilitator and Adaptive Riding Instructor, with specialized training in equine-assisted learning/coaching and adaptive approaches that support a wide range of learners. She is deeply passionate about the impact of animal-assisted learning, particularly for children with sensory sensitivities, developmental differences, and diverse learning needs.
Through her work, Aileen has developed a structured ranch based learning approach designed to support emotional regulation, confidence building, and life skill development in a natural, engaging setting. She is also the creator of an emerging program and certification pathway for educators and facilitators who want to implement sensory aware, ranch based learning experiences in their own communities.
With a strong focus on creating calm, supportive, and relationship driven environments, Aileen continues to lead Silver Sage Ranch School with intention, building programs that not only educate, but truly transform the way children experience learning.
Chloe Dunn
Instructor and Quiet Corral CAAL-SP
Chloe brings a warm and engaging presence to the ranch, supporting students as they explore and learn through hands-on experiences.
She has a natural ability to connect with children and helps create a fun, safe, and encouraging environment where students feel confident trying new things and building skills.
Hailey Pineda
Assistant Instructor
Hailey plays an important role in supporting daily ranch activities and student engagement. She assists with program flow, animal care routines, and hands-on learning experiences, helping ensure each class runs smoothly while providing attentive support to every child on the ranch.