WHERE ANIMALS AND KIDS HELP EACH OTHER

The internationally renowned education and human services organization Green Chimneys will be celebrating, for one year, its birth 75 years ago when founder Samuel B. “Rollo” Ross Jr. discovered a farm house in Brewster with a green chimney and fulfilled his dream of providing a home and education for underprivileged children and displaced or donated animals who would care for each other.

The Green Chimneys”™ story is a long and wonderful adventure starting on Oct. 27, 1947 with the Ross family”™s purchase of a 75-acre dairy farm. At just 19 years old, inspired by childhood boarding school experiences and a genuine devotion to animals, Ross established an environment where children and animals could live together in a farm setting.

The marriage of Ross and Myra Mattes in 1954 cemented a lifelong partnership that played an important role in the growth of Green Chimneys as they became pioneers in the practice of animal-assisted activities as part of a child”™s education and emotional well-being. The integration of animals and nature grew into a core component of Green Chimneys”™ clinical approach, becoming a signature element in its special education and therapeutic treatment programs for children facing social, emotional and behavioral challenges. 

Today, Green Chimneys is a premier nonprofit and renowned therapeutic education and treatment facility for children with special needs. As a leader in animal-assisted and nature-based practices, Green Chimneys has achieved global recognition in education and advocacy for children with a unique focus on the human-animal connection. It is recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and educational activities for children with special needs.