High school students with a passion for animals can now complete a work placement at Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary in South Whidbey as part of a new nationwide humanitarian education programme.
This is the first year that the program known as LEAP – Leaders for Ethics, Animals and the Planet – has been offered at nonprofit agricultural sanctuaries outside of the state of California, where it has started two years ago.
Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary, located in Clinton, is looking for teens from all over Whidbey and beyond to apply to be considered for the program, which runs from October to June and involves a monthly commitment of a few hours spent at Ballydidean the weekend. Children will learn about hands-on animal care, wildlife and habitat conservation, food and agricultural systems, leadership development, human health supported by plant-based diets, and animal welfare, among other subjects.
Sarah and Ansel Santosa, owners of Ballydidean, explained that LEAP aligns with the mission of their agricultural sanctuary, which is a safe space where animals of all species can grow old together.
“It’s something we’ve wanted to see on the island forever,” Ansel said of LEAP.
LEAP describes itself as a compassionate alternative to traditional agricultural programs such as 4-H. Children raising animals for auction often struggle to come to terms with this reality once it approaches; Sarah said Ballydidean was approached by 4-H kids, begging them to bring their animals.
“It’s a way to continue to learn all of these wonderful things, to have these wonderful experiences without those sticking points being an issue,” she said. “What I also really, really like is that not every child has the ability, the opportunity or the resources to have a farm animal at home.”
Sarah said LEAP also covers a number of closely related ‘animal-adjacent’ topics, from food to conservation to environmental management.
“We reflect on that in our work,” she said. “How can we take care of these animals but also take care of the land? How can we ensure that the right plants are there to rejuvenate the earth and nourish our animals healthily? How can we be resourceful about recycling, how can we reduce food waste on the island?
The Santosas, who met while attending a suburban high school in Minnesota, are excited to work with the youngsters.
“All of our best volunteers are teenagers,” Sarah said. “They are smart, intuitive, they have good ideas, they have energy. They have suggestions and see things with fresh eyes, and I love that.
As interns at Ballydidean, children will be able to focus on what interests them most, whether it’s physically helping with farm chores, updating social media or engaging in community outreach efforts. outreach to donors.
The Santosas plan to talk to the kids about the practice of animal hoof trimming. They already have ideas for enrichment activities that could be fun, like burying food for the chickens and pigs.
“We’re really excited,” Sarah said. “I look forward to teaching children or helping them further develop the skills they already have for caring for animals, building things, being strong, coming up with ideas and projects, and developing them from sketch to drawing. running, and cooking. .”
Currently, 120 animals reside at Ballydidean, founded in 2018. The Santosas have rescued several local animals and recently received a commendation from the Island County Sheriff’s Office for working with them in several cases of child abuse and neglect. animals. Many of them included large numbers of pigs, some of which were found loose. A saved pig who made South Whidbey record was pregnant and ended up giving birth to ten piglets.
At the end of the school year, students have the option of applying for competitive scholarships of $500 or $1,000 from LEAP. Ansel said they are happy to help kids work on independent study projects if they want to apply for scholarships.
“Many families participate in 4-H to raise money for college,” he said. “The founders of LEAP are therefore very aware of this and want to offer students who need this additional financial aspect the means to make it available to them.”
For more information on the new program, visit ballydidean.farm/leap.