The Green Chimneys School, Farm, Forest (Aired on November 1, 2020)

Founded in 1947 by Brewster Rotarian and 7210 Past District Governor (1962-63) Dr, Samuel “Rollo” Ross,  Green Chimneys is recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and educational activities for children with special needs. Radio Rotary learned all about this very unusual facility for children on the autistic spectrum when the current when Dr. Edward Placke visited the program by Zoom. A staff of 500 helps the children, ages 6 through 20, but much of the healing and learning (outside of regular schoolwork) is through spending time with the many animals of the farm—22 horses, alpacas and llamas, all sort of raptors, a flock of geese, and more. Even students who do not speak to other children or their parents, sometimes learn to speak to the animals. The goal at Green Chimneys is to aid children for two or three years and then return an improved child to his regular home and school. Listen to the program to learn about the two large campuses in Brewster and Kent, NY, and about the special events that help keep the program going.

Learn more:
Green Chimneys School: https://www.greenchimneys.org/
Dr. Samuel “Rollo” Ross: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50077/sitepage/in-memoriam/dr-samuel-rollo-ross-jr
The Autistic Spectrum: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
Animal Therapy for Autism: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6510492/

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November 10, 2020 · Posted in Animals, Children, Education, Events