Sponsor an Animal,
Change a Life

Pumpkin & Patch are Nigerian Dwarf goats, a breed originating in West Africa. They came to reside at Green Chimneys from a local farm in the winter of 2019. Their names were chosen from over 100 submissions from both staff and students. Nigerian Dwarf goats are considered very docile and are often bred as companion animals, which means Pumpkin & Patch have a great temperament for the students at Green Chimneys! The Farm & Wildlife Center at Green Chimneys is home to many goats like Pumpkin & Patch, and your sponsorship gift helps provide them all with safety, stability, and care.
Sponsor Goats

Pancake is the beloved pet rabbit of our Nature’s Nursery program! He was adopted from a rescue and brought here for our littlest students to care for. Pancake is a Flemish Giant, a breed originating in Belgium as far back as the 16^th century. They are known to be patient and docile, which makes Pancake an excellent teacher and companion for our preschoolers. With your sponsorship gift, you help provide Pancake and the other animals of our Farm & Wildlife Center with food, shelter, and care.
Sponsor a Rabbit

Chinchillas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America, and live in herds at high elevations. Historically, chinchillas occupied a large area that included Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina, but now only exist in the wild in Chile. Chinchillas are excellent jumpers, have the densest fur of any land mammal, and can live up to 20 years! Green Chimneys is home to many exotic animals, and your generosity equates to safety and security for them all.
Sponsor a Chinchilla

The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as the common barn owl, to distinguish it from other species in its family, Tytonidae, which forms one of the two main lineages of living owls. Tyto alba literally means "white owl". The barn owl is found almost everywhere in the world except polar and desert regions. In most regions, the barn owl is nocturnal, but in Britain and some Pacific islands, it also hunts by day. Barn owls specialize in hunting animals on the ground and nearly all of their food consists of small mammals which they locate by sound. They mate for life, which is rare in the animal kingdom.
Sponsor an Owl

Blossom is a 1-year-old Holstein cow, and she was born a freemartin. A freemartin calf is a common result of twin calves; the female twin absorbs genetic material from a male twin in utero, and after birth develops male traits and subsequently becomes sterile. Since Blossom can’t produce milk, the dairy farm where she was born asked Green Chimneys if we’d like to have her, and of course, we agreed! Blossom came to us around the same time as another calf named Alfie, and the two have grown up together while being cared for by staff and students alike. She also likes spending time with Fiona, pictured. Our Farm & Wildlife Center is home to several cows like Blossom, Alfie, and Fiona, and your sponsorship provides food, shelter, and care for all of them.
Sponsor a Cow

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.
Sponsor a Bird

Say hello to Cricket! Born May 15, 2019 to mama Maya, this mini horse foal was the apple of our eye before she even arrived. For students who may struggle with human relationships, communicating or regulating emotions, preparing for Cricket’s birth provided learning opportunities and life lessons. “Watching a new life begin and seeing the foal’s connection to its mother – these experiences are not only priceless, but they can also be therapeutic”, says Michael Kaufmann, Director of Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Director and Head of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute. With every new addition to our family comes additional responsibilities, and your gift ensures the continued safety and care of our animals.
Sponsor a Miniature Horse

Donkeys are amazing animals that provide important lessons for our students. Gracie and Reba, who have lived here since 1996, are loyal friends — to each other, and to our students. This pair dislikes being separated, and if they lose sight of each other, they’ll call out until someone brings them back together again. Gracie and Reba are shy, and only respond to humans who show them kindness and patience. Green Chimneys is home to several equines like Reba & Gracie, and your support means a happy and purposeful life for all of them.
Sponsor a Donkey

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.
Sponsor a Llama

Gandalf is a 15-year-old Appaloosa gelding from Bethlehem, CT. The Appaloosa is an American horse breed best known for its colorful spotted coat pattern. Gandalf received his magical name from the children of Green Chimneys. A naming contest was held, and students submitted their ideas. Gandalf was the most popular and was the perfect choice for this magical spotted horse! Gandalf enjoys rolling in the mud, eating his grain, and taking long naps in his stall. Gandalf joins the horse herd in being an important part of equine education, activities, and therapies for our students. Your gift of sponsorship helps to keep all of the equines happy and healthy.
Sponsor a Horse

In March of 2019, Green Chimneys received a call from the Department of Environmental Conservation regarding an injured Bald Eagle.  Examination revealed that the eagle’s elbow joint was shattered, and Green Chimneys vowed to rehabilitate the bird. While once hopeful that the eagle could be released, further assessment has indicated that the damage to its wing means that it can no longer live safely in the wild. Green Chimneys is proud to be one of the few places in New York State that has the proper licenses and permits required to rehabilitate and care for Bald Eagles. Your gift to Green Chimneys goes to maintaining safe & secure care for this eagle and other birds of prey who reside here.
Sponsor the Bald Eagle

Phoenix and Sage joined the Farm & Wildlife Center in May of 2012 as a gift from the Sacred Camel Gardens in California. They have become Goodwill Ambassadors of Green Chimneys and help us to model our philosophy of involving children with animals and showing others that we care about all living beings. Born in 2010, Phoenix and Sage began their lives in the spiritual setting of Sacred Camel Gardens. Phoenix got his name because he was born the same day a large building burnt to the ground. Sage got his name because his mom gave birth to him on a bed of naturally growing sage. Phoenix (cream-colored) is a very self-assured but quiet and thoughtful camel, while Sage (brown) is more enthusiastic, gregarious and outgoing. The camels spent their first year at Green Chimneys adjusting to their caretakers and a more public life as their individual personalities emerged. Sage likes to be the center of attention and enjoys goofing around with the staff and children. He depends on Phoenix to maintain his confidence and looks to him for approval when learning new things. Phoenix behaves like an older, wiser brother and is the thinker of the two. Green Chimneys students now have opportunities to expand their skills in animal care by helping to care for the camels, and an afterschool “Camel Club” allows students to take part in grooming, and learn about camel anatomy and behaviors.
Sponsor a Camel