Founder's Memoir - Green Chimneys

Time and Expertise Help Student Build Social-Emotional Skills

December 21, 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.

Peacock

Peacocks were the royal birds of Maharajas in India for centuries. Their beauty and impressive tail feathers make them an eye-catching addition to any landscape. At Green Chimneys, peacocks have roamed the campus freely for many years and the birds are a familiar and calming sight to students, staff and visitors. In late summer, the males shed their long tail feathers, an event eagerly anticipated by students who collect the feathers to decorate their dormitory rooms.