Green Chimneys Farm and Institute Director Honored by PATH Intl

November 29, 2016

Green Chimneys congratulates Michael Kaufmann, Director of Farm & Wildlife and The Sam and Myra Ross Institute, as recipient of the 2016 PATH Intl. James Brady Professional Achievement Award.

Kaufmann was honored at the annual conference and awards event of The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), which promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs. The award is presented to an individual who is dedicated to the field of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) and has demonstrated a commitment to EAAT through the delivery of service, educational contributions, support and promotion of the industry at all levels.

Kaufmann pictured with PATH President, and past James Brady winner, Judy Lightfoot and Green Chimneys Farm Education Program Manager Miyako Kinoshita.

For more than 25 years, Kaufmann has been actively involved in human and animal interaction programs, animal welfare and in humane education. He joined Green Chimneys in 2005 as director of farm & wildlife programs and in 2012, was named director of the newly-launched Sam and Myra Ross Institute. In this dual role, he oversees all aspects of Green Chimneys’ nature-based therapy and educational programs and supervises The Institute, which is dedicated to education and research on the human connection to animals and the natural world. The Green Chimneys farm is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center.

In his work to promote human and animal interactions, Kaufmann’s career has intersected with a broad range of animal-focused disciplines and organizations including: the Humane Association; ASPCA; International Association of Human Animal Interaction Associations; Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International; and Denver University Graduate School of Social Work Institute for Human and Animal Connection. He has chaired the Humane Education Advisory Council for The Latham Foundation, and is a past board member of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation, as well as PATH Intl.

Join Kaufmann and noted experts and practitioners in humane education and animal-assisted activities at Green Chimneys’ HAI Conference in April 2017.