THE GENTLE BARN ANIMAL SANCTUARY LAUNCHES “A GENTLE CLASSROOM,” NINE WEEK SERIES OF STUDENT ONLINE CLASSES & LIVE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES APRIL 7 - JUNE 11
NATIONAL RESCUE CREATES ONLINE CLASSES IN LINE WITH “NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS” ALLOWING STUDENTS TO VIRTUALLY INTERACT AND LEARN ABOUT FARM ANIMAL CARE, COMMUNICATION, PLAY, NUTRITION AND MORE
The Gentle Barn, a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1999 as a sanctuary and place of recovery for severely abused animals and children, has launched “A Gentle Classroom,” a 9-week series of online classes and virtual learning experiences and adventures. The classes which follow the Next Generation Science Standards take place 10am PT each Tuesday for elementary students and 10am PT every Thursday for middle and high school students. Individual classes are a $20 donation per student, $10 donation for each additional student per household. The goal for a 20 person pilot test class in the first week resulted in participation from 120 students. The 9-week series conducted via Zoom can be reserved upfront for a $180 donation for an individual or a $270 donation for a family. All proceeds go to support The Gentle Barn Foundation which funds the upkeep of the farm, the animals’ care, feed and the dedicated staff. Led by Gentle Barn Founders Ellie Laks and Jay Weiner, the 9-week course will allow kids to virtually interact and learn about various farm animals including cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, llamas, and emus. Students will learn what the animals eat, how they play, how they communicate, and how their bodies work, while also spending time in the vegetable garden and the pollinator garden to understand how animals and plants need each other to live and grow. Compassion is also a leading theme within the course and one that is a core value of The Gentle Barn, as students will be introduced to the bond animals share with one another, how they defend themselves, cope with life changes, and how to help, respect and protect the environment.
"There is so much magic at The Gentle Barn each day and we wanted to find an interactive, experiential way for students in our community to continue to experience it while remaining safe at home," said Ellie Laks, Founder of The Gentle Barn." It will not only be fun and allow us to share our bliss with others, but will focus on Life Sciences and help children continue to be educated through these trying times."
While these digital offerings are new to The Gentle Barn, the sanctuary has been working with Los Angeles private schools, homeschools and LAUSD for 20 years in order to provide students of all ages with on-site educational programming, tours and classes.
Media opportunities available upon request via Skype, Zoom, etc. with Gentle Barn Founder Ellie Laks.
ABOUT THE GENTLE BARN:
The Gentle Barn is a national nonprofit organization, founded in 1999 as a sanctuary and place of recovery for severely abused animals and children. The Gentle Barn rescues and rehabilitates animals from severe abuse and neglect who are too old, sick, lame, or scared to be adopted. The Gentle Barn has given sanctuary to horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, chickens, llamas, peacocks, emus, cats and dogs. The Gentle Barn offers their unique philosophy of connecting the animals’ stories of survival and healing to the personal experiences of underserved and special needs children who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma. By interacting with The Gentle Barn’s approximately one hundred and fifty animals and taking a hands-on role in their welfare, those who participate in the programs at The Gentle Barn learn empathy, trust and forgiveness.