Why Education Matters
Through our Friends and Food Youth Education Program at Rancho Compasión, we seek to inform and educate Bay Area students about the animal agriculture industry that produces our food today, about the conditions and procedures to which farmed animals are subjected, and about the consequences and challenges that our modern methods of animal agriculture create for our planet and all living things. At Rancho Compasión, we have the unique opportunity, through the lives and experiences of our rescued animals, to tell their story on behalf the billions of animals that are being raised for food around the world today.
But learning about the plight of farmed animals is only one half of our ethos. Raising awareness about issues is important, but so is increasing understanding about alternative paths forward. This is why we integrate our garden into our curriculum. We want to equip our students with the knowledge and skills to eat more plants, from how to grow them, identify the vast diversity of edible plants, care for and harvest from the garden, work in tandem with the cycles of nature, and cook with (and eat!) the fresh food we cultivate together.
We began a pilot program in 2023 for youth from a couple of schools in Marin, where students have learned about animal enrichment, gardening, and empathy-building skills. We are excited to take this program to the next level in 2024 with our new Director of Programming leading more comprehensive programs, and hosting a summer camp! We aim to impact youth who would otherwise not have access to places of sanctuary, and to provide these programs free-of-charge to historically disadvantaged and marginalized public school youth. We have need-based scholarships and sponsorships available for all of our youth programs! Please use the appropriate links on each program page to share a bit about your needs and situation for scholarship consideration, or reach out to sarah@ranchocompasion.org with any questions. If you would like to contribute to our scholarship fund, please follow this link ❤️
After School Program
Our after school program offers children infinite opportunities to engage with nature, connect with our food systems, befriend animals typically viewed as “food”, learn, grow, express their creativity, get dirty, and enjoy the experience of being a kid! Participants in this program spend one day per week for two months at our beautiful sanctuary and education center, helping out with animal care, working in the garden, doing arts and crafts, discussing interesting topics, and sharing ideas. Learning occurs naturally due to the opportunities inherent at the sanctuary and the natural curiosity of young minds. We offer two month sessions for your convenience in planning, as well as to allow participating youth to experience cyclical changes in the garden and the consistent devotion to our residents; however, single-day drop in options are also available.
Field Trips and School Groups
We offer a variety of opportunities for school groups and field trips, ranging from service days and enrichment opportunities, to creative art explorations, to lessons aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
Camps
2024 will mark the first year of summer camps at Rancho Compasión! Our week-long day camps at the sanctuary will be packed with fun and unique opportunities to connect with our animal residents, learn how to garden and grow food, be immersed in nature, and so much more.
More details and registration are available here!
In the weeks we aren’t hosting our own camps, we are available as a field trip location for other camps during the summer. Please reach out if interested.