Founder's Memoir - Green Chimneys

Talent Show with a Therapeutic Twist

February 20, 2020

Founder’s Memoir

Read the inspiring story behind Green Chimneys in Founder Samuel Ross, Jr.’s memoir, The Extraordinary Spirit of Green Chimneys: Connecting Children and Animals to Create Hope.

Written by Dr. Samuel B. “Rollo” Ross, Jr., this labor of love chronicles Ross’s personal experiences in creating one of the finest therapeutic facilities in the world. The Extraordinary Spirit of Green Chimneys is the fascinating account of Dr. Ross’s compassion, educational philosophy and therapeutic practices, as well as a compelling look at Putnam County’s growth from a rural enclave.

Through his book, Dr. Ross shares a lifetime of practical learning and insights to benefit and inspire all those who work with troubled children, and who believe in the healing power of the natural world. “My goal in telling this story was a deeply personal one,” says Ross. “I wanted to leave a legacy that would show what we went through to create and build Green Chimneys, and what it means personally, and in the larger sense. I felt it was important to document the determination and vision it took.”

The Extraordinary Spirit of Green Chimneys: Connecting Children and Animals to Create Hope is published by Purdue University Press.

To purchase a copy, contact Green Chimneys Fund Development at tmazella@greenchimneys.org or order on Amazon.

Llama

Llamas, like Alexa, are intelligent, inquisitive, and can learn simple tasks after just a few repetitions. The wool produced by a llama is very soft, versatile, and lanolin-free and, each Spring, Green Chimneys students help sheer our sheep and llamas and the wool is made into yarn which is for sale at our country store! Llamas eat grass, hay, corn silage, alfalfa, and grass roots, and adults can drink 3 gallons of water a day. Your Sponsor-an-Animal gift will help keep Alexa and all the Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Center animals happy & healthy.