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Student Creates New Learning Experience

For some Green Chimneys students, our farm and wildlife program inspires something within them, a deep connection to animals and a desire to immerse themselves in their care.

As Tome was completing their junior year of high school at Green Chimneys, they had already spent over two years as a Wildlife Farm Apprentice, developing expertise with birds of prey and other avian species. They had also taken on a leadership role with the newly formed Farm Student Advisory, which would discuss the student perspective on what happens at the farm and serve as a sounding board for staff. 

In looking ahead to their final year of high school, Tome wanted an opportunity to expand their knowledge in animal care even further. “I wanted to work with different kinds of animals, and practice different skills,” says Tome.

Miyako Kinoshita, Assistant Director of Nature-based Education, works closely with the school administration, clinical staff and often, the individual students, themselves to identify work-based learning opportunities that speak to their academic, therapeutic and personal goals. “Tome wanted to use the summer to gain as much experience as possible,” recalls Miyako. “We reached out to connections at other farms, wildlife facilities, and veterinary clinics in our local community to seek an advanced opportunity for Tome.”  

Distance and transportation ultimately presented an obstacle but rather than give up, Tome returned with a proposal: Could they work as many hours as possible on campus during the summer, rotating through different areas on the farm?

Excellent academic standing and clear passion persuaded Education staff to allow Tome to devote a portion of their school schedule to pursue this intensive experience. The result was a unique Student Farm Intern position, distinct from existing farm apprenticeships and designed specifically for Tome.

Student Farm Intern Responsibilities

This past summer, Tome committed 17 hours a week rotating between the Wildlife Center, Horse Barn, and Teaching Barn, handling tasks from independently feeding birds to assisting with specialized care, such as administering deworming medication to llamas and alpacas.

“I give a lot of credit to Tome for taking the initiative, persistently asking for opportunities, and talking to their teachers, guidance counselor, and others to make this experience a reality,” says Miyako. “They’re one of the first students to serve as an apprentice long enough to have tapped into almost everything that we can teach them at the student level.”

As Tome enters their senior year, their self-advocacy not only created a meaningful learning experience beyond the traditional program, it’s helped them develop an important personal skill that can be used throughout their life. This diverse experience across the farm will also help them to make a more informed decision as they consider what path to take after high school. We can’t wait to see what Tome accomplishes next!