In recognition of the unique friendships that arise within our multispecies community, our humane education programs for children are called Pasture Pals and Barnyard Buddies.
Barnyard Buddies
Barnyard Buddies is our FREE virtual humane education program for classrooms and homeschooling groups from preschool through 5th grade.
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 and their buddy’s friends.
Participating teachers report that their students enjoy Barnyard Buddies and that they are often able to use that excitement to spark learning across subject areas. We have seen puzzles, poems, maps, stories, and drawings inspired by the program.
Teachers, librarians and other educators can use this form to sign up their classes or request more information.
As part of the Barnyard Buddies program, we also offer one-time virtual field trips to classes and after-school groups. Use this form to request a virtual field trip for a class or student group.
Barnyard Buddies is sponsored by Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap.
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.
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 the season 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!
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 program was devised in consultation with nationally-recognized experts in humane education
- All of our humane education programs for children reflect our commitment to the National Association for the Education of Young Children core goals of anti-bias education