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May 17th -- Sage & Phoenix are here!
The camel caravan arrived at Green Chimneys yesterday evening -- two days ahead of schedule! Sage and Phoenix were welcomed to their new home by staff and students. The Flickr slideshow (left) are images taken here this morning as Stuart, Bruce and Malcolm of Sacred Camel Gardens share camel care knowledge with our staff.
Check out Stuart's latest blog post which covers their last stop in Valencia, Pennsylvania as well as their arrival here in Brewster.
We look forward to sharing updates as Sage and Phoenix settle in to their new home here at Green Chimneys.
May 16th -- 2 days left!
Finding new friends in people... and cattle! The camel caravan recently stopped off at the Lilac Thyme Stables in Columbia Station, Ohio. And it's at this very spot that Sage and Phoenix met cows for the first time. For anyone who's ever started at a new school or moved, you know that acclimating to one's new surroundings can be a big adjustment and part of that process is meeting your new classmates or neighbors. Sage and Phoenix grew up with fellow camels and horses at the Sacred Camel Gardens, and their new home here at Green Chimneys will mean a slow and steady introduction to the nearly 300 animals (cows, goats, llamas, pigs, horses, peacocks, bunnies, other livestock and rehabilitated wildlife) who make up the Farm & Wildlife Center.
As Sage and Phoenix move through Pennsylvania, along with expert caretakers and navigators Stuart, Bruce and Malcolm, we're all reminded they are well over the hump of their 3,000 mile journey -- and that meeting these special camels and people face-to-face is starting to feel all the more real.
Photo:Taken earlier this month at the Sacred Camel Gardens in California, Stuart introduces Phoenix to eau de Green Chimneys. To help prepare the camels for their new home, Green Chimneys students sent a care package of cards, soil samples, hay and clothes which contain the scent of animals who reside on campus.
May 15th -- 3 days left!
Now this is what we call Star Trek! It's no surprise to us that this unique journey, and these extraordinary animals, are catching the attention of folks across the country. Sage and Phoenix recently stopped off at the Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Host Linda Nebbe, local residents and the media welcomed them -- learn more:
New pit stop, new crew! The Edgerton Exploreit Center in Aurora, Nebraska proved to be a stellar stop for Sage and Phoenix yesterday. These two showed no signs of the many miles traveled, instead Sage and Phoenix socialized with the 35 people there to greet them. And refueling was made a whole lot easier thanks to children who hand-fed Sage and Phoenix grass plucked from the Exploreit Center grounds.
So far the camels have been traveling well, though on overload with the whole experience. Away from their parent herd, and familiar grassy valley, in the constantly shifting world around them, they are feeling vulnerable and soft, and leaning more on me than ever for reassurance and support as we travel.
Today, Aurora, Nebraska will gain host bragging rights. The caravan will stop at the Edgerton Exploreit Center, where Sage and Phoenix will meet locals before enjoying a night's rest. Photo: Phoenix, Stuart and Sage at the Sacred Camel Gardens.
May 12th -- 6 days left!
Camel fact: Like cows, a baby camel is called a calf.
Born in 2010 just one month apart, Sage and Phoenix have been longtime friends at Sacred Camel Gardens. This photo was taken at three and four months of age.
May 11th -- 7 days left!
First stop: Nevada! The caravan took a reprieve yesterday, stopping over night in Washoe Valley, Nevada (not far from Reno). By our count, they've clocked 370 miles already, just another 2,270 to go!
Thanks to Stuart's latest post on the Sacred Camel Gardens blog, we're assured that Sage and Phoenix are traveling well. It's hard to believe that just one week from today Stuart will arrive at Green Chimneys with our newest residents.
Early this morning, the trek resumes eastward toward Utah. Stay connected over the weekend as the countdown continues!
Bonus! Michael Kaufmann,Director of Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Center, sends a special message to Stuart and the camels as they embark on their journey.
May 10th -- 8 days left! Today the camels begin their journey east! Stuart Camps, Director of Sacred Camel Gardens, has carefully planned every step of the trip, most especially preparing Sage and Phoenix for their travels and their new home. In this photo, Sage is approaching the trailer, willingly. This "home away from home" is well-packed and on the road!
From Sacred Camel Gardens blog: We will leave the Sacred Camel Gardens, here in California, with 48 gallons of familiar tasting “home” water for the guys to drink during the first half of their trip, feed supplies, a first aid kit and homeopathics and electrolytes to help keep the camels relaxed and balanced, and in good humor. We’ll have a camera in the trailer to keep watch over them as we drive.
As they stop to stretch those long, beautiful legs, we look forward to sharing news from the road. Stay tuned!
Tomorrow, Sage and Phoenix, will begin making their way from Sacred Camel Gardens in Middletown, CA to their new home here on the Brewster campus. Escorted by caretaker Stuart Camps, the camels will pass through six states, staying with some very generous hosts along the way, and arrive in New York on May 18. Throughout their nearly 3,000 mile trek, we will share photos from the road, information about the preparations here at Green Chimneys, and facts about Sage and Phoenix.
May 8th -- 10 days left!
Today we heard from Green Chimneys Farm Facilitator Reyanne Neal, who had the opportunity to meet Sage and Phoenix at Sacred Camel Gardens in California.
Read more about her experience in this Facebook post.
