At ohDEER Nashoba Valley, we don’t just serve local families — we invest in our communities. Through two core programs, T.I.C.K. and T.I.C.K9, we’re working to raise awareness about tick-borne illnesses and offer practical, preventative solutions across Acton, Bolton, Harvard, Hudson, Stow, and surrounding areas.
Take Initiative Check Kids is our way of helping protect children from ticks and the growing threat of tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Kids spend a lot of time outdoors — and that includes recess, field trips, and after-school play. The T.I.C.K. program was created to ensure their safety when parents aren’t nearby to check for ticks.
There are two parts to the program:
By combining natural tick prevention with practical education, we help kids and parents Enjoy More Time Outside — safely.
Ticks can be hard to spot, but a quick check after outdoor play can go a long way in preventing illness. Here’s what to do after hikes, playdates, or time in the yard:
Apply a natural tick repellent (like ohDEER’s) on socks, shoes, and outerwear.
Use fine-point tweezers, sterilized with rubbing alcohol.
Grasp the tick close to the skin’s surface.
Pull upward slowly and steadily — no twisting.
Wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water.
Save the tick in a sealed bag (for potential testing) or flush it.
We provide preschools and families with tick-awareness tools that are both educational and fun:
These materials make it easy to start the tick safety conversation with young children in a way they’ll actually enjoy.
Just like kids, your pets are exposed to ticks every time they go outside. Through T.I.C.K9, we encourage local families to check their dogs, cats, and other pets regularly and protect them with natural tick spray.
We partner with doggy daycares, groomers, and veterinarians in Acton, Bolton, Harvard, Hudson, and Stow to share pet-safe tick prevention and offer:
For more information about checking your pet for ticks, visit the CDC website!
We’re proud to collaborate with local schools, vets, and pet care centers to keep our community safer. Whether it’s spraying a preschool for free or dropping off tick education kits at a vet’s office, we’re committed to helping families and pets stay protected — naturally.
Want to bring T.I.C.K. or T.I.C.K9 to your school or business? Call us at (508) 358-0808 to get started.
