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Care Farming as a Study-Away Course in Higher Education

Sarah Himmelheber, LCSW, HTR, PhD

Associate Professor & Practicum Director

Warren Wilson College Social Work Program

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Overview

  • Who we are: Warren Wilson College (& me!)
  • Evolution & Goals of the course
  • Intercultural Inspiration
  • Travel portion
  • Student comments and feedback

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Warren Wilson College (& me!)

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Course Objectives

  1. Throughout this course, students will:
  2. 1) Gain an introduction to care farming, including its history and development in the Netherlands.
  3. 2) Better understand the treatment needs of those served by care farms in the Netherlands, such as older adults, people with SPMI’s, people with ID/DD, children with trauma histories, among others.
  4. 3) Build awareness of theories undergirding this modality, with special attention to the construct of green care.
  5. 4) Increase skills related to care farm practices including organizational and planning skills as well as interaction with plants and/or animals.
  6. 5) Gain exposure to regional organizations and providers utilizing similar or overlapping practices to those of care farms in the Netherlands.

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Intercultural Inspiration

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Travel Portion

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Student Comments & Feedback

  • “The experience of a lifetime”
  • “Gave me a new understanding of farming & makes me excited to return to campus.”
  • “Helped me think about the college & its land in a different way.”

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Thank you!