Recent Studies/Findings - Green Chimneys

As part of vocational education, Green Chimneys School students are working at local businesses. This image shows 3 individuals under a car at Brewster Shell, two of whom are Green Chimneys students.

Transition Planning Helps Students Prepare for Adulthood

April 16, 2021

Documentation of Nature-Based Programs
at Green Chimneys

This documentation report was developed through a multi-phase process and represents a qualitative examination of the impacts of Green Chimneys’ farm and nature-based programs from the perspective of the teaching staff

The research team from The Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) – comprised of research staff, graduate-level social work students, and external partners and colleagues – first conducted a comprehensive review of the relevant research literature to evaluate the impact of nature-based interventions on the social-emotional learning and positive youth development of children and adolescents with psycho-social and special education needs.

A cornerstone of this process was to underscore the importance of actively ensuring animal welfare and environmental sustainability in nature-based interventions designed primarily to improve human health and development.

Research team members then directly observed Green Chimneys’ programming to gain further understanding of the diverse nature-based interventions offered to students and their apparent effects. Semi-structured interviews with over 100 Green Chimneys staff members were conducted across the farm, school, clinical, and residential life departments.

Download the full report

In partnership with The Institute for Human-Animal Connection, and as part of The Sam and Myra Ross Institute’s work to advance the field of human-animal interaction through advocacy, education and research, Documentation of Nature-Based Programs at Green Chimneys is available for review.

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Bantam Chickens

Meet the Bantam chicken family: a hen that arrived at Green Chimneys with seven new baby chicks in tow. A local resident who keeps chickens discovered the eggs in the hen’s nest and realized that many chicks would need a bigger home. Once they hatched, she wanted to keep the family together and brought Mama and her chicks to the Green Chimneys Farm where they took up residence in the bunny hutch, living together happily with their rabbit roommates. The two roosters and five hens have grown up looking just like their black and white-speckled mom so there’s no mistaking this family resemblance!