In recognition of the unique friendships that arise within our multispecies community, our humane education programs introduce children and youth to animals at the sanctuary while teaching vital values such as cooperation, communication, generosity, and respect for differences.
All VINE humane education programs are sponsored by Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
NOW ACCEPTING SIGN-UPS FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Barnyard Buddies (Pre-school – 5th Grade)
Barnyard Buddies is our free virtual humane education program for Pre-K through 5th grade classrooms and homeschooling groups. Each class or group adopts an animal at the sanctuary as their buddy for the school year. The class receives monthly updates about their buddy folded into a lesson on a topic such as friendship or communication. Teachers receive supplemental materials, such as worksheets based on common core standards, that they can use any time during the month. The program culminates in a virtual field trip to the sanctuary, during which students meet their buddy. Watch the video below to learn more about this popular program:
If you prefer a PDF to a video, you can view the program details here.
Teachers, librarians, homeschooling group leaders, and other educators can use this form to sign up or ask questions before making a decision.
N.A.T.U.R.E. (Middle School)
NATURE (Nurturing Awareness through Understanding, Respect, and Empathy) is our free virtual humane education program for middle school classrooms and homeschooling groups. Each classroom or group is matched with an animal at the sanctuary, who they get to know as they learn about ecology and ponder big questions about community, communication, conflict, cooperation and other topics of interest to tweens and young teens. Along with the monthly virtual lessons, teachers receive supplemental materials based on common core standards to use in between lessons. Watch this video below to learn more about this innovative program:
If you prefer a PDF to a video, you can view the program details here.
Teachers, librarians, homeschooling group leaders, and other educators can use this form to sign up or ask questions before making a decision.
ON-SITE PROGRAMS
Pasture Pals
Pasture Pals is our on-site summer program for children aged 6 to 12.
Each session includes a humane education lesson, an activity, a snack, and an opportunity to meet animals while volunteering to help them.
All sessions are led by a licensed local teacher assisted by sanctuary staff. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and may only interact with animals who choose to approach them.
Lesson topics include friendship, communication, consent, stereotypes, family, and more. Every session is unique and self-contained, so that children can come just once or several times over the course of a summer.
Dates for each year’s program are announced in late spring. Sessions are advertised locally, on social media, and in our newsletter. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook to be sure you don’t miss a session!
Youth Volunteers
VINE regularly welcomes youth to learn while volunteering at the sanctuary in the following ways:
- Middle and high school groups accompanied by teachers or other school staff are welcome to come to help with an age-appropriate project followed by a sanctuary tour.
- High school seniors in Vermont are welcome to fulfill their required volunteer hours here at the sanctuary.
- College and university student organizations are welcome to come for a volunteer day consisting of a group project followed by a sanctuary tour and a debriefing session with sanctuary staff.
- Youth living in group homes are welcome to come for a restful day of light volunteer work in the company of animals.
Email the head of our on-site team, who schedules and supervises all volunteer days, to begin the process of scheduling a youth volunteer opportunity at the sanctuary. She will work with you to find a mutually agreeable date!
Cultivating Vital Values
About Humane Education
Humane education programs not only teach children about animals but also cultivate vital values such as empathy, respect for differences, and environmental responsibility. Participation in humane education programs not only promotes prosocial behavior but also boosts academic achievement. Children are fascinated by animals and highly motivated to learn about them. Eager to know more, they stretch their reading and research skills. Excited to share what they have learned, they exercise their writing, drawing, and speaking abilities.
About Humane Education at VINE
- Our on-site Pature Pals program was devised in consultation with local parents, teachers, and librarians
- Our virtual Barnyard Buddies and NATURE programs were designed in consultation with experts in humane education
- All of our education programs for children and youth reflect our commitment to the National Association for the Education of Young Children core goals of anti-bias education