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"Navigation Toolbar for Camp Border Collie for Kids." (for quick access to info) HOME |
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Glen
Highland Farm's, |
| "LIFTING
THEIR SPIRITS: CAMPS FOR AT RISK CHILDREN," an interfaith religion special, about
helping children overcome the negative effects of some of the poorest
inner city neighborhoods, it was broadcast October 2007 on the
CBS Television Network.
The broadcast visits Glen Highland Farm, in upstate New York which, since 2001, has turned its non-profit program, originally developed to rescue abused or neglected Border Collies, also into a free summer camp for at-risk city children. We hear from some of the boys and girls, who interact with and train the dogs so they will be adopted, and for which such interaction creates a wholesome and healing experience for both dog and youngster. |
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 New Work of Border Collies Part 1 |
 New Work of Border Collies Part 2 |
 New Work of Border Collies Part 3 |
| The Canine
Assisted Learning Program was founded on the principle that there
is a definite link between how we treat animals and how we ultimately
treat each other. At Glen
Highland Farm, the children learn in an environment that actualizes
a harmonious human/animal/nature relationship.
Therefore, the lessons learned here with the rescued border collies become a significant model for these children to begin to establish more positive relationship with humans. |
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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
The 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. |
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The program focus is on the development of
minority youth who are economically disadvantaged and routinely exposed to a
culture that often tolerates violence against humans as well as animals.
The goal of the GHF Canine Assisted Learning Program is to reach these at-risk inner city youth before they fall into patterns of violence and other anti-social behaviors and provide them with an alternative way of relating to the difficult inner-city environment in which they must live and survive. |
| 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/human associations. |
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| Aware of ever nuance, move,
intonation and activity, they are intensely focused and ready to
participate with heightened understanding of whatever is needed.
Their ability to intimately interact with humans in instinctive, providing a solid platform for transformation. All children also have innate abilities that when developed, can lead to valuable contributions in society. Whether it is scientific breakthrough, clever inventions, innovative businesses, or greater care for another – inner strengths ultimately lead to outer results. |
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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. |
| The children gain by discovering a deeper sense of their own heart through compassion in helping unwanted and abandoned dogs and they grown individually as they develop more trust, sensitivity, and self-confidence | |
| 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.
This innovative program has been in place for six years at GHF and has a proven record of impact on these at-risk children. They take a new understanding back into their home neighborhoods and become active ambassadors of humane treatment and respect for all living things. |
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| The impact for society is equally significant since it is an irrefutable fact that the children in our society today ultimately become the caretakers of tomorrow. |
| The Content of the Canine Assisted Learning Program provides a focus on teaching Responsibility, Understanding the Human/Animal/Nature relationship, and of course, time for care free Playing in an environment of nature and safety |
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RESPONSIBILITY:
Each 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 at camp. |
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The
daily time with their dog is about six 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.) and they will also sleep with their dog during the camp session. |
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The children learn to train their dog with
positive reinforcement teaching them to respond to the requests of sit, stay,
down, come, and proper leash walking.
They successfully accomplish this training using only positive reinforcement without once pulling on the dogs’ leash or collar and without once ever raising their voice. |
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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. |
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LEARNING:
A part of each day is committed to learning. This time is focused on the human/animal/nature relationship. The children will spend time with our veterinarian, Joan Puritz, who will expand their knowledge of canines and other animals common to the area. |
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They will also spend time with founder Lillie Goodrich who runs the Border Collie rescue program. She will help them understand rescue and why it is so important. She will also spend time explaining why spay and neuter are so critical and talk at length about the adoption process at the farm. |
| In this environment
they begin to experience an intimate relationship with nature. Glen
Highland Farm has developed a comprehensive nature study program
for the campers and we are fortunate to have a number of professional
naturalists who donate their time to bring the magic of nature alive for
these children.
This is a unique opportunity for the children to be introduced to the vast diversity, complexity and interdependence of all living things. |
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PLAY:
Although there is no TV in camp and no video games, there is an abundance of play. |
| There are organized activities, such as swimming… |
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Basketball, Bike riding,...... |
| dog walks, hiking, game playing, reading ,etc… |
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There is also a special time set aside at the close of each days activities where the campers can spend some one on one off leash play time with their dogs. Being able to bond without the structure of the training program allows for the trust and confidence between the campers and their dogs to grow. |
| 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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