Announcements

In the fall, a pregnant eight-year-old miniature horse joined the Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Center. Maya was donated by local longtime friends who understood the wonderful lessons Maya would provide the children of Green Chimneys.
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From biology discussions and hands-on animal care to simply sharing time together, students quickly became quite taken with the mom-to-be. By February staff organized a week-long baby shower. Green Chimneys School students and staff visited Maya, participated in foal birth date and gender guessing games, and decorated coloring sheets depicting visions of the much-anticipated baby.
“Witnessing a foal’s first days and how tenderly the mare bonds with her baby can be a profound experience for us all,” explains Michael Kaufmann, Director of Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Director and Head of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute. “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.”
For students who may struggle with human relationships, communicating or regulating emotions, Maya and her foal join the farm family in providing ample opportunities for
staff and children to draw parallels, open conversations, and ultimately, help to
care for other living beings.
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With the completion of an elaborate new habitat built by Green Chimneys’ woodshop students, the Farm Science classroom was able to welcome Brownie into her new home. Brownie previously lived alone in her cage in the farm and wildlife office, but guinea pigs do best in larger environments. The new habitat allows her to live in a herd as she would in the wild, with many places to hide and ways to practice her skills. Brownie has always been a social creature, and she has taken over the guinea pig herd but is a very peaceful leader.