Green Chimneys

To all mothers and mom-like figures who have enriched lives with rays of love and support, thank you. Happy Mother's Day!

Join us one week from today for the first Saturday Market of the season at Boni-Bel Farm & Country Store. Hunt treasures sold by vendors outdoors or step inside the Country Store to shop an assortment of goodies including our very own maple syrup, handmade gifts, and more. To learn more about the Country Store please visit: http://www.greenchimneys.org/countrystore

A tradition of nature-based learning continues on our Clearpool campus: Every year Teacher Michele McEneany leads an engaging unit on chickens. Her fifth and sixth graders learn about the life cycle of chickens. They monitor eggs in the incubator and watch for signs of hatching. They celebrate each chick’s arrival. This year 14 chickens were born under their watch. Students are helping to care for their fuzzy friends. Some students have even practiced reading aloud to the chicks. With great planning and therapeutic intention, students with special needs are learning from and connecting with nature. To learn more about how our Clearpool campus enhances the Green Chimneys School experience, visit: https://www.greenchimneys.org/therapeutic-special-educat//

Imagine that you have been taking horseback riding lessons for a few weeks now and have mastered the basic skills; you sit in a saddle, put your feet in the stirrups, grab onto the leather reins, tap your feet on the horse’s side, and off you walk. Simple, you’ve got this. Now picture showing up to your riding lesson and the instructor has decided it’s time for something new. There's no saddle to sit in, no stirrups to balance your feet in, no reins to hold onto. How on earth are you supposed to ride this horse? Equine Program Coordinator Samantha Arevalo has written about the benefits of incorporating lunge lessons into the riding experience for Green Chimneys students. Read her article here: https://www.greenchimneys.org//lunge-line-lessons-enhance/

During a time when transitions may be multiplying and feelings of stress may be bubbling to the surface, it can be difficult for many of us to see the positive. This is a story of hope. It is a tale of the power of community. And it’s an opportunity to remember that in time and with a little help, growth is possible. Watch and discover how a network of helpers, expert care, and time are allowing one injured Bald Eagle a second chance at life. See how a permanently injured eag...le that resides at Green Chimneys is keeping our guest company and helping the recovery process. Each day Green Chimneys strives to help children struggling with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges break from feelings of isolation or disconnection. In helping another living thing, students build relationships along with coping skills. And by experiencing success in the classroom and all throughout campus, students begin to see glimmers of possibility for themselves. Thank you not only for supporting our wildlife rehabilitation work; thank you for understanding the role nature has in helping our children learn and grow, too. For this eagle’s full story, please visit: https://www.greenchimneys.org//injured-bald-eagle-benefit/

Good morning, and thank you nurses! On National Nurse Appreciation Day, we’re reflecting on the care and compassion provided by Green Chimneys School Nurses and our entire Health Center team. Their expertise and kindness are particularly critical in our students’ most fragile moments. Today, we celebrate each of them.

To all those celebrating today, Happy Easter! In this video rabbits Hazelnut and Mocha move about their stall in the Teaching Barn. A small cameo provided by Thor, a curious alpaca.

Happy Saturday friends! This farm photo is provided by Animal Caretaker Danielle Powers and shows goats Reeses and Snow soaking up some spring sun.

Last week dedicated staff from our food service and farm teams partnered to help students raise awareness of where food comes from and discuss current challenges in agriculture. Students even enjoyed meals featuring produce grown by Green Chimneys and other local farms. It goes without saying that we are fortunate to have seasoned staff tending to our farms and caring for the animals on the Brewster and Clearpool campuses as well as at Boni-Bel Organic Farm & Country Store. W...ith their help, students are benefiting from positive interactions with animals, learning from the land, exploring environmental and farming issues, building skills, and forming connections to the natural world. This past year, our farm team, in collaboration with all staff, has persevered to ensure the needs of students, animals, and natural spaces were met. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank them once again! See more

Navigating a school day can be extremely difficult for some children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. At Green Chimneys, students are encouraged to believe in their strengths, embrace new subjects, and practice new skills. Thanks to the support of teachers, teacher’s assistants, and staff on both the Brewster and Clearpool campuses, our children are forming friendships alongside coping strategies. We are eternally grateful to our team for their dedication. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

The importance of self-care is one of several topics explored during a recent discussion with Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Director Michael Kaufmann. Explore how the HAI community has kept connected throughout the pandemic: https://www.greenchimneys.org//professional-support-durin/

The ripple effects of the global pandemic and social distancing have brought more people outdoors for recreation, thus multiplying the number of individuals identifying wildlife in need of help. In addition, over the past year, some rehabbers needed to pause their services. As a result, Green Chimneys has experienced an influx of calls to help injured birds. Recently Wildlife Caretaker Dave Spillo wrote about his experience. Read Dave's perspective: https://www.greenchimneys.org//the-wildlife-center-year-i/

Good Morning Friends: This is officially your last call for Sponsor and Animal IF you’re hoping to have your photo card in time for Christmas or Kwanzaa! Looking to save a step? We can mail directly to your gift recipient. Order here today: www.greenchimneys.org/sponsorship Reba and Gracie are a well-known duo at Green Chimneys. They’re each over 30 years old yet these donkeys are still leading lessons in patience, communication, and body language. When taking Reba and Gracie... on walks, students are challenged to be clear with their intentions and confident in how they ask the donkeys to participate. And for students developing an awareness of their own body language and energy levels, Reba and Gracie help students understand what is welcome in their pasture. As a pair so in sync with each other, building trust and friendships with Reba and Gracie may take a little time, but as students can attest: the rewards are great. In sponsoring Reba and Gracie, or any of the other Green Chimneys animals, you’re supporting the care of all of our partners in education and therapy. Thank you for your sponsorship! See more

Thank you to all those who purchased a tree at Boni-Bel this year, including this couple, who secured our last tree! There's still plenty of shopping to be done in the Country Store. Stop by to cross a couple of gifts off of your list. Details: https://www.greenchimneys.org//shop-/christmas-tree-sales/

Five years ago, after a long and difficult journey to find the right fit for her grandson, Eileen brought JJ to Green Chimneys. In the years that followed, our community of clinical and educational expertise facilitated JJ's growth and strides toward independence. As an organization committed to helping children with complex emotional and learning needs, please consider a year-end gift to Green Chimneys. Your donation will ensure our nature-based approach to therapeutic education continues. And thanks to an anonymous corporate donor, gifts are now being match dollar-for-dollar. That's double the support for Green Chimneys children and animals. Thank you! Give today: www.greenchimneys.org/yearend

As many of us prepare to celebrate the start of Hanukkah this evening, we're sending peace, love and light for the next eight days and all the days that follow. Happy Hanukkah!

Special thanks to our friends at Splash Car Wash for including Green Chimneys in their holidays once again. For every gift certificate purchased, 10% of the proceeds is being donated to local nonprofits, including us! To purchase, stop by their Brewster location or buy online: https://bit.ly/2IFO0Up

Holidays on the Farm is in full swing! Students and staff are enjoying seeing their hard work come to fruition as the community shops at Boni-Bel for their trees, wreaths, and handmade gifts. Stop by: Boni-Bel Farm & Country Store 301 Doansburg Rd, Brewster, NY Open daily from 10am-6pm Details: https://www.greenchimneys.org//shop-/christmas-tree-sales/