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MISSION |
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The program is designed to foster and promote the positive principles of nonviolence between children and their environment through the human/animal/nature relationship. |
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The boys and girls (age 10-14) spend 10-14 days at Camp Border Collie for Kids living in an outdoor environment in a simulated Native American village housed in actual tipis with their day about equally divided between the format segments. |
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
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It is a well established fact that there is a definite link between how we treat animals and how we treat each other. Glen Highland Farm has created a unique summer camp program for inner-city children that unites the rescued border collies with the children in an integrated responsibility, learning, and play program that teaches the children positive and loving methods of basic animal care and training. |
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| By successfully teaching a non-violent way of being to inner-city children who are routinely exposed to a violent culture, they gain a strong sense of responsibility, respect, patience, and kindness. | |
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These children experience a new level of self-esteem and they learn methods to attain positive relationships with others and improve their communication skills. They develop a new understanding, respect, and empathy for the animal world, their peers, and their environment. |
| It is this new view that we hope they take back into their home culture and when faced with a choice of “how to be” in a given situation……that they elect to take the path of non-violence. | |
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Glen Highland Farm is committed to uniting these dogs with children in a natural healing environment that promotes compassion, awareness, and insight in a new way. Border collies are uniquely intelligent and intuitive, specifically bred as working dogs, whose sharp instincts are tuned into being a full partner with a human being. Their instinctive capacity closely parallels our own intuitive nature, creating a far more complex relationship than most dog/people associations. Aware of every nuance, move, intonation and activity, they are intensely focused and ready to participate with heightened understanding of whatever is needed. |
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Their
ability to intimately interact with humans is instinctive, providing a
solid platform for transformation. All
children have innate abilities that when developed, can lead to valuable
contributions in society. Whether
it is scientific breakthroughs, clever inventions, innovative businesses,
or greater care for another -- inner strengths ultimately
lead to outer results.
The union of these special dogs with these special children in a nature environment offers a unique opportunity to promote healing and personal growth. This is the cohesive factor in birthing an important awareness and respect for all that is alive. |
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The children gain by discovering a deeper sense of their own heart through compassion in helping unwanted and abandoned dogs and they grow individually as they develop more trust, sensitivity, and self-confidence. |
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The dogs heal in the experience as they shift from unwanted “misfits” to much loved companions while usefully working to heal the children through their generous capacity to forgive and their uncompromising gift of unconditional love. |
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PROGRAM CONTENT
RESPONSIBILITYEach child is assigned one of the rescued border collies as their dog for the duration of their stay in camp. They have the primary responsibility for feeding, exercising, grooming, and training their dog. They also help to create an adoption profile for their dog and participate in the adoption/interview process if such occurs while they are in camp. |
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The daily time with their dog is about three hours. It begins around 7 AM with the dogs morning “out” followed by their feeding. Later in the AM, the children will take their dog for exercise (walking) and play (ball throwing, running, etc). |
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The children learn to train their dog with positive reinforcement teaching them to respond to the requests of come, stay, down, sit, and proper leash walking. |
| They successfully accomplish this training without once pulling on the dogs leash or collar and without once ever raising their voice. | |
| The children organize their group functionally and are responsible for the maintenance of their “village”. They also help in the meal preparation and the general post-meal clean up. |  |
LEARNINGA part of each morning and afternoon is committed to learning. This time is focused on the human/animal/nature relationship. It includes lessons in just how to relate to a dog more intimately in terms of touch and communication. The children learn how an animal “is” and what that animal “feels”. |
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 The children are introduced to animal professionals (veterinarians, groomers, Tellington Touch teachers) who expand their learning in “how to be” with the animals. They visit other sanctuaries in the area and local shelters/pounds. They learn all about rescue and why it is so important and understand the significance of spay and neuter programs. |
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The children also work on their “outdoor” skills while living in camp. |
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In this environment they begin to experience an intimate relationship with nature where they are introduced to the vast diversity, complexity and interdependence of all living things. |
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They successfully complete a course in orienteering and
graduate with a final - |
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PLAYAlthough there is no tv in camp and no video games, there is an abundance of play. |
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There
are organized activities |
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fishing, arts and crafts and there is “free time” where the child can chose to do as she/he wishes……… |
| ...bike riding, dog walks, game playing, reading, etc. |  |
| Evenings are special and a time to kick-back after dinner and nestle by the council fire in camp and talk about the day’s activities. | |
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It is a time for story telling, talks on local Native American history/lifestyle and local folklore. It is a time for dancing and drumming together, singing and just enjoying a peaceful “end-of-the-day”. |
LOCATION
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Camp Border Collie for Kids is located at Glen Highland Farm in Morris, New York which is about 75 miles southwest of Albany, New York. |
| The Farm sits on 175 acres of wooded and cleared rolling land with fishing ponds and streams and miles of hiking trails. |  |
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There are historical structures on the property dating back to the 1780’s and the land was once home to the Iroquois who had an active settlement on the property. |
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HOW YOU CAN HELP! SPONSOR A CHILD—For $1200, one inner-city child can experience this innovative camp, learning how to love a dog in need, and change their perspective on life. You can make that possible for them.Camp Border Collie for Kids is SOLELY supported by donations. Our fourth summer with 31 inner-city kids included the cost of: housing; clothing; food; beverage; staff; supplies; field trips; transportation; various equipment and insurance. The cost, on average, is $1000 per child for a two-week stay. We are budgeting for the same basic needs for 2006, hosting 27 children and implementing some major capital projects. We will incur costs of $60,000+, so your support is important.VOLUNTEER —Join us at the Farm with your hands and heart to play with dogs, help with projects and offer your skills where it really matters with dogs or kids. |
Contact us: sweetbcrescue@citlink.net
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