The Barn School

What better way to educate children about farm life than by creating a link to others around the world who are caring for animals and learning about plants?

How it all began:

        Indian Ladder Farms, a beautiful family farm in upstate New York, was looking for a way to increase revenue. Agritourism was the buzzword of the day. Committed to providing entertaining and educational opportunities for its visitors, the farm contacted Mary Judd to help create an educational camp for children. On the day Mary arrived to talk with Laurie Ten Eyck, a fourth generation farmer of the land and farm manager, a packet arrived from Heifer International. Included were a few complimentary educational resources for teachers.

        The light bulb flickered. What better way to educate children about farm life than by introducing them to other kids who were caring for animals and plants? A curriculum was created incorporating the farm chores with cultural lessons about sustainable agriculture in other parts of the world (along with a few barn dances, Spanish lessons, and songs). Special guest presenters arrived each day -- from a sheep shearer to a wool spinner to a bee-keeper and even the lead Veterinarian for the international organization. A percentage of proceeds from each session was donated to Heifer, with the campers deciding which ‘gift’ to send. The Barn School was truly a win/win/win. Educational, Revenue Generating, and Generous! 

(We had several repeat campers, never needed to advertise, and sold out each session, with extensive waiting lists.)

Purpose:

         In a society where children are less connected to agriculture than ever, they remain isolated from understanding the true sources of the foods they eat, the clothes they wear, and what it takes to produce these very basic essentials.  It’s the goal of the Barn School to rebuild this connection through educating kids about sustainable agriculture, global hunger, and environmental responsibility.  From learning to speak basic Spanish (the common language used by families Heifer International donates to) to understanding the importance of the Honey Bee and the pollination process in our ecosystem, children gain an understanding of how many seemingly unrelated things are in fact critical to the survival of those who rely on animals and agriculture as a way of life.  Kids get to use the things they learn as they partake in an exercise pretending to be villagers who must live off of livestock and a farm.  Since proceeds from tuition benefit Heifer International, at the end of the program the kids get to choose which animals should go to which needy families, making them feel truly involved.  The hands on experiences they’re immersed in through this program ultimately allow them to gain a true appreciation for a lifestyle they may have otherwise known little about.

Donate:

        Heifer International is a nonprofit organization that provides needy families around the world with livestock and the training that goes along with owning it.  Their unique approach has alleviated poverty and hunger through teaching self-reliance and promotes both sustainability and environmental protection.  With Heifer International, no donation is too small.  For merely $20.00 a family can receive an entire flock of chicks, $60.00 a trio of rabbits, $120.00 a sheep, and for $500.00 they’ll be given a heifer.  With this charity you are supporting a cause to truly pay it forward, as the expectation remains that any family who receives a donated animal will eventually give its offspring to a neighbor in need.  Anyone that does choose to donate can be sure their contribution does not go to waste; the main goal of this program is to successfully educate these poverty stricken families about the importance of maintaining and caring for the livestock so that they reap its maximum benefits.  Whether you intend to make a monetary donation or not, please give a few minutes of your time and explore Heifer International’s expansive and engaging website to learn more about their great mission at www.Heifer.org/