Founder's Memoir - Green Chimneys

Representation of a group of teens each using a smartphone

Smart Use for Healthy Minds

May 22, 2025

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 [email protected] or order on Amazon.

Gyrfalcon

Crowned the best for falconry in medieval times, gyrfalcons were once reserved for kings. As the largest falcon in the world, with exquisite plumage ranging from bright white to deep charcoal, gyrs are revered for their powerful skill of flight. Their long wings make hunting waterfowl from 3,000-feet-high a feasible and fantastical feat. This falcon was flown in the sport of falconry for several years.