4-H
Green Chimneys students are active in the local 4H, a youth education branch of the Cooperative Extension Service. Every Green Chimneys class enters an exhibit and students also show our farm animals at the annual fair.
Ability Camp
A three-week summer camp for special needs children held on the Green Chimneys Brewster campus. Daily activities include swimming, horseback riding and crafts.
Animal Enrichment
Facilitated by resident veterinarian Sylvia Martin, animal enrichment is designed to keep the lives of animals in captivity interesting through means of incorporating natural events, such as hunting and playing, into their daily lives. For example, food is not simply placed in the cages, but hidden so the caged animal has to find and hunt the its prey.
Animal-Assisted Education and Farm Science Classes
With Animal-Assisted Education and Farm Science Classes, learning doesn't stop on the farm. Classroom lessons are reinforced with farm detail, especially with math, such as how many pints of cow's milk make up a gallon, how many eggs make a dozen, etc.
Animals in Classrooms (aquariums)
Animals are brought into classrooms with the intent to carry over lessons learned with animals outside the classrooms. Green Chimneys teachers also supplemented this with a workshop on how to build an educational aquarium.
Bee Keeping
Four outdoor beehives and one indoor observation beehive teaches children how the world bees work. As a reward, the children receive the honey upon completion of the honey harvest. Some is also sold to staff members and the public as a fund raising activity.
Blessing of the Animals
Once a year, the children of Green Chimneys bring their animals to the Cathedral of St. John the Devine in Manhattan to be blessed. This is used as a supplement for the children who are part of Bible study and helps them recognize that animals are created by God.
East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD)
ECAD dogs are trained as puppies by resident teacher Dale Piccard and by selected Green Chimneys students. These dogs will be used not only for wheelchair bound individuals and people with other motor or physical difficulties.
Environmental/Adventure Education
Skill and team building utilizing outdoor adventure skills such as high and low ropes courses, canoeing, caving and a climbing tower as well as hands on education of the environment at such locations as the Great Swamp, which is adjacent to the Green Chimneys Brewster campus.
Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy
Therapy using horses in the treatment of people with emotional, physical, behavioral, mental and social needs. EFP uses a certified therapeutic riding instructor combined with a licensed mental health professional to reach its goal of improving peer and adult bonds and promote self-awareness.
Farm Guides for Tours
Defined as “enablers”, adult farm guides teach the children of Green Chimneys how to guide a group of public visitors in all aspects of the farm and wildlife rehabilitation center. This also makes possible a smaller group atmosphere for the tour, making it more intimate and educational.
Farm on the Moo-ve
A mobile farm and environmental awareness classroom, that uses hands-on activities with animals to promote understanding, education and awareness of the environment.
Learn and Earn
Vocational education for Green Chimneys students in an on-campus work environment. Children work anywhere from the kitchen to grounds keeping. Students earn money to save while learning a trade, job responsibility and respect for money.
Little Folk Farm Days
Three-day event held in the fall and spring specifically for the community’s “little folks.” Programs include arts and crafts, environmental education and interaction with our farm animals.
Maple Syrup
Tapped and refined on grounds by students, Green Chimneys' organic maple syrup is available at our Country Store during the late fall and winter.
Therapeutic Animal-Assisted Activities
Animal-Assisted Activities provide opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance the quality of life taught by specially trained professionals and/or volunteers in association with animals that meet specific criteria.
Therapeutic Horticulture Activities (Boni-Bel, Greenhouse, Organic Gardening)
Combining plants and horticultural activities with the Green Chimneys children improves their social, educational and psychological adjustment thus improving their outlook and self-esteem. The children will also watch as the “fruits of their labor” are brought to the farm stand to be sold, thus educating the children about money and responsibility of money.
Vegetable Stand
Children learn to plant, nurture and harvest vegetables, fruit and flowers at our certified organic farm, which are then sold at a road-side vegetable stand located at Boni-Bel, a half-mile from our Brewster campus on Doansburg Road.
Wildlife Rehabilitation
A facet of the farm and animal-assisted therapy program, the wildlife rehabilitation area accepts injured animals. They are cared for not only by licensed veterinarians and a master falconer, but also by the Green Chimneys students on a daily basis.
Wool Spinning
Wool sheared from sheep in the spring is sent out for processing and kept all natural with no dyes added. The wool is then sold to the public in the fall and winter. Some wool is also donated to a senior citizens center, where gloves and scarves are knitted for Green Chimneys children.
