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Healing Species is a
violence and bullying prevention education program that teaches young people
compassion to interrupt the cycle of returning “violence for violence.” Rescued
dogs play a key role as healers and teachers. They accompany instructors into
the classroom where the lesson begins with telling the visiting dog’s story of
abandonment, abuse, and neglect, a situation to which the children can often
relate. Seeing the happy, loved dog sitting before them offers the children
hope and courage for their own lives, forges bonds between students and
teachers, and brings the lessons to life as children practice kindness and
compassion with the dogs.
Project Canine Humane
Education Programs
Healing Species
Bridges to Compassion
Project Connecting Kid's and
Canines
Family Class Schedule
The Healing Species
is a 10-week violence intervention/character education
program. Through the assistance of rescued dogs, we teach children a process
from which to understand and overcome abuse, neglect, and grief while at the
same time teaching life skills in self-esteem, conflict resolution, anger
management, and respect for the feelings of others. The children learn to gain
success through acts of compassion and kindness instead of returning “violence
for violence”. Those who really bring the lessons to life are the rescued dogs
who act as “teachers and healers” in every lesson. Each class begins with the
dog’s story of abuse and neglect, a situation to which the children can often
relate. Through the dog’s story, the children find a happy ending, hope, and
courage for their own stories since the dog is a living example of overcoming
one’s past, and returning nonviolent responses.
Bridges to Compassion
is our new humane education program and
complements The Healing Species program. Well-trained and affectionate therapy
dogs will accompany our instructors during all the lessons. There are three
versions of this program geared towards different age & grade levels: Level 1 –
K to 3rd grade; level 2 – 4th to 8th grade;
level 3 – 9th to 12th grade. Depending on the needs of
your school the length of this program can vary between 6 to 8 weeks. Level 1
focuses on reference building & how to live in harmony with our natural
environment, wildlife & our companion animals. Level 2 explores the human-animal
bond as well as how to build enriching relationships with other people. The main
focus in level 3 is on the development of critical thinking skills. We examine
how our everyday choices impact the lives of other people, animals and the
planet we live on.
Project Connecting
Kids n’ K9s is a seven-week program that is especially
targeted at students with emotional & behavioral disorders and other at risk
children. This unique and innovative program focuses on extensive interaction
with therapy dogs. After learning how to safely interact with the dogs each
child will have the opportunity to partner with a therapy dog. Puppies and adult
dogs participate in this program providing children with opportunities to
socialize puppies and learn how to teach dogs. Lessons will focus on petting the
dogs, grooming, gently taking a treat, commands such as “sit, down, stay”, and
how to handle unusual situations e.g. people with hats, umbrellas, walkers etc.
In the seventh session the
students will demonstrate what they taught to the dogs to a group of senior
citizens making a connection between children, dogs, and their community. This
is a unique opportunity for children to learn how to interact with compassion
and kindness to two frequently underserved segments of our community – our
elders and animals in need. This program can be adapted to any grade level.
All dogs that assist in
this program are trained, evaluated, and registered therapy dogs. The program is
targeted at individual schools, school districts, and rehabilitation and
incarceration facilities. It can be adapted to grades 1 to 12.
NEW! Compassionate Concepts: Environmental, Humane & Compassion Education For
families, friends, children & adults to explore how to share our world with each
other and animals. Varied topic each week!
Friday, January 16,
7:30-9pm at Great Dog,
North Seattle
Friday, February 20,
7:30-9pm at Great Dog,
North Seattle
Friday, March 20,
7:30-9pm at Great Dog,
North Seattle
Friday, April 10,
7:30-9pm at Great Dog,
North Seattle
Friday, May 15, 7:30 -
9pm at Great Dog, North
Seattle
$35 per
week or $125 for all 5 weeks
To Sign up for Classes,
please contact our Program Director,
Carolin. Please make checks payable to Project Canine.
For more detailed information about the
curriculum and educational program, please see
Healing
Species Puget Sound's more elaborate
website.
We are
pleased to offer this highly successful program, originally developed in South
Carolina (www.healingspecies.org),
as part of our Project Canine Humane Curriculum.
2007-2009 (c) Project Canine, all rights
reserved |
