Animal Farm Foundation offers dynamic humane education programs designed for children of all ages. Our humane education programming teaches future generations of animal guardians and advocates about proper pet care, dog handling, issues of discrimination, and ways to advocate for shelter animals. By fostering children’s empathy, responsibility, and respect for themselves and others, AFF’s humane education programs work to ensure a brighter future for all living things.

AFF’s programs are offered free of charge. Curriculum is designed to support learning in various environments and lesson plans can be tailored to fit the individual needs and interests of your group. Lesson plans that align with state standards are also available to teachers.

AFF HUMANE EDUCATION PROJECTS INCLUDE:
After-school Programs
AFF visited the Clinton and Krieger Elementary after-school programs in the City of Poughkeepsie, NY. Students K-5 learned how to properly greet and care for dogs, including an introduction to basic dog obedience manners. Students also learned about life in animal shelters, earned dog scout badges, and wrote letters to the shelter dogs at AFF.

Millbrook School Intersession
AFF collaborated with the Millbrook School in Millbrook, NY to provide a group of 10 students, grades 9-12, with an alternative learning week. The objective of the intersession was to foster compassion and respect for Animal Farm Foundation shelter dogs. Students learned about the life of shelter dogs from intake to adoption, how to educate the local community about AFF shelter dogs, and brainstormed action steps they could implement to “turbo-charge” adoptions. As their final project, students created an adoption video for each available dog.

North East Community Center
In collaboration with Little Guild of St. Francis Animal Shelter of Cornwall, CT, AFF will provide a 6-week after-school club for the North East Community Center’s after-school program. Geared towards middle school students in grades 7 and 8, the club’s goal is to address issues of bullying by making connections between the humane treatment of people and animals. Students will also explore ways they can volunteer for animal shelters.

Rosendale Youth Summer Camp
AFF visited the Rosendale Youth Summer Camp in Rosendale, NY. Campers ages 5-12 got the chance to meet and socialize with AFF dogs, learned how to teach dogs basic manners, and watched a shelter dog trick show.

To see more photos of our humane education programs, please visit our album here.

To schedule a humane education program for your group or to explore a future collaboration with Animal Farm Foundation, please contact Inga Stots: adoptions@animalfarmfoundation.org, (845) 214-6908

For more ways to incorporate Humane Education into your current lesson plans, please visit the following sites for Humane Education Resources and Lesson Plans:

Humane Society of the United States
Institute for Humane Education
American Humane Association
Teach Kind
Heart
United Federation of Teachers – Humane Education Committee