De Pere adds therapy dog and goat yoga classes this summer

De Pere is turning two public spaces into low-cost yoga stops this summer, with therapy dogs at the De Pere Community Center and goats at Voyageur Park. The city’s new classes are built for beginners who may be more comfortable walking into a neighborhood program than a studio, and both options keep the price at $21 per session for ages 13 and up.

Therapy Dog Yoga is set for July 22 and Aug. 12 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at the De Pere Community Center. The classes will mix basic yoga instruction with therapy dogs from Baird Creek Canine Connection, giving participants a calmer, more social setting for practice. Goat Yoga will run at Voyageur Park on June 29, July 20 and Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with goats roaming the practice area so people can interact with them during class.

The setup fits the way De Pere already uses its recreation system. The city says the Community Center hosts enrichment, recreation and educational programming for all ages, while the Parks, Recreation & Forestry department offers year-round recreation and leisure opportunities. City fitness programming already ranges from peaceful yoga to higher-energy cardio classes, so the animal-themed sessions slot into an existing public wellness menu rather than standing apart from it.

Voyageur Park gives the goat classes a recognizable local backdrop. The city places the park at the west terminus of Cass Street on the Fox River and lists it as open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. The site serves a regional area and includes a wide variety of amenities and facilities, which helps explain why it keeps showing up as a venue for community recreation.

The animal angle also carries familiar local appeal. Baird Creek Canine Connection has a trainer directory listing for James Demerath that identifies therapy-dog specialization, and De Pere requires dog licenses with proof of a current rabies vaccination for licensing. On the goat side, similar programs have already drawn attention in the Green Bay area and at UW-Green Bay, where goat yoga has been framed as a family-friendly way to relieve stress.

For residents who want a simple entry into yoga without the pressure of a traditional studio, De Pere is packaging it in the most approachable way possible: public venues, short time slots, a clear age minimum and a modest fee. The city’s summer lineup makes yoga feel less like a private routine and more like a neighborhood outing.