Green Chimneys

What Green Chimneys does

Green Chimneys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic special education school and residential treatment facility founded in 1947 in Brewster, New York, serving children and adolescents (ages 6-21) with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges who have been unsuccessful in traditional educational settings. The organization's defining feature is its nature-based therapeutic model, which integrates human-animal interaction (farm animals, horses, wildlife), horticulture, and outdoor adventure as core educational and therapeutic modalities rather than peripheral add-ons. Core offerings include the NYS 853-approved Green Chimneys School (grades 2-12 day and residential), Brewster and Clearpool Day Programs, a Residential Treatment Center for emotionally fragile youth, the Sam and Myra Ross Farm & Wildlife Center (housing 300+ animals), the Sam and Myra Ross Institute (research and training arm), and a portfolio of community programs (summer camps, Nature's Nursery early education, swim programs, outdoor education, youth and family services, and the Boni-Bel organic farm and country store).

Operations span two main campuses totaling roughly 550 acres — the Brewster Campus (headquarters, 400 Doansburg Road) and the Clearpool Campus (33 Clearpool Road, Carmel) on 350 acres of natural woodlands. The organization maintains an 8:1:2 student-to-faculty-to-teaching-assistant ratio and serves over 10,000 students annually through its outdoor education programs alone. Revenue mechanics are diversified: tuition and fees for day and residential programs (coordinated through NY school districts and government funding), fees for community programs (camps, early education, swim, facility rentals), retail and admissions revenue from the Farm & Wildlife Center and Boni-Bel Country Store, and donations/grants from foundations including Avangrid, Petco, Mother Cabrini, Engelstad, and Newman's Own. The go-to-market is primarily referral-driven for therapeutic programs (school districts, hospitals, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, attorneys) and direct registration for community programs; marketing is multi-channel (website, social, email newsletter, annual haI conference, community events, earned media including The New York Times). Kristin Dionne was appointed CEO in February 2024.

Name

Green Chimneys

Legal name

Green Chimneys

Website

https://greenchimneys.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Green Chimneys is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1947 in Brewster, NY that operates a NYS-approved therapeutic special education school and residential treatment center serving children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges through a nature-based, human-animal interaction therapeutic model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Special Education and Youth Residential Treatment Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Therapeutic special education
• Residential youth treatment
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Nature-based programs
• Special education school

Headquarters

HQ city

Brewster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Services Revenue: Tuition and fees for therapeutic day school and residential treatment programs. Green Chimneys School is a New York State 853 approved special education school. Funding is coordinated through school districts and government programs.
2. Community Programs Revenue: Fees for summer camps, early education (Nature's Nursery), swim programs, and facility rentals for outdoor education and corporate events.
3. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions and foundation grants from organizations including Avangrid Foundation, Petco Foundation, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, Engelstad Foundation, and individual donors.
4. Public Access and Retail: Revenue from Farm & Wildlife Center visitor admissions, Country Store sales at Boni-Bel Farm, and Christmas tree sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Green Chimneys is a nonprofit organization that operates a New York State 853-approved therapeutic special education school (grades 2-12), residential treatment for emotionally fragile youth ages 6-21, and animal-assisted and nature-based therapy on multi-acre campuses in Brewster and Carmel, NY. It supplements these educational and clinical services with community programs including summer camps, early education (Nature's Nursery), outdoor education, swim programs, youth and family services, and a working organic farm with a country store.

Product overview

Green Chimneys is a multi-faceted nonprofit organization primarily serving students who have been unsuccessful in a traditional educational setting. It offers a portfolio of therapeutic and educational programs organized around nature-based approaches incorporating animals and the environment. The core offerings include Green Chimneys School (a NYS-approved therapeutic special education school with day and residential programs), Brewster Day Program, Clearpool Day Program, and Residential Treatment. Supporting programs include the Sam and Myra Ross Farm & Wildlife Center (home to 300+ animals), The Sam and Myra Ross Institute (research and training), Nature-Based Therapy, Summer Camps (Clearpool and Hillside), Nature's Nursery (early education), Youth & Family Services, Swim Programs, Outdoor Education & Activities, Boni-Bel Farm & Country Store, and Children's Activities. The organization operates across multiple campuses in Brewster and Carmel, NY, with the therapeutic special education and residential programs as the primary focus, supplemented by extensive community programs serving families and children of all ages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Chimneys School A New York State 853-approved therapeutic special education school for students in grades 2-12 who have been unsuccessful in traditional educational settings, offering academic, behavioral, and emotional support with a nature-based approach.
• Brewster Day Program An enriched academic program for day and residential students at the Brewster Campus offering life skills, music, art, therapeutic animal-assisted activities, and outdoor education based on experiential learning.
• Clearpool Day Program A smaller, more intimate educational environment for day students in grades 4-8 at the Clearpool Campus, featuring forest study and nature-based experiential learning.
• Residential Treatment A Residential Treatment Center (RTC) providing intensive structure and support for emotionally fragile youth aged 6-21, located on the Brewster Campus only.
• The Sam and Myra Ross Institute An institute dedicated to education and research on human-animal connections and nature-based interactions, serving as a model and training site for practitioners, grounded in evidence-based practices.
• Summer Camps (Clearpool Camp & Hillside Camp) Dynamic summer camp programs for ages 4-15 at two locations in Putnam County, licensed by NYS Dept. of Health and accredited by the American Camp Association.
• Nature's Nursery Early education and school-age programs for children 3-10 years old, providing preschool, pre-K, bridge program, before & after school care, and summer sprouts day camp with nature-based curriculum.
• Youth & Family Services Community-based services including therapy services, case management, crisis and shelter services through Arbor House Youth Shelter, and youth programming for positive youth development.
• Swim Programs Year-round swim programs including Learn to Swim (ages 3.5+), American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course (ages 15+), and public swim at the Brewster Campus pool.
• Outdoor Education & Activities Nature-based education and discovery programs at Clearpool Campus including school/group programs, youth & family programs, corporate team-building, and the Clearpool Model Forest.
• Children's Activities Children's activities including pool parties at the Brewster Campus pool facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small class sizes with high staff-to-student ratio
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• University of Denver - Institute for Human-Animal ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Since 2017, Green Chimneys has partnered with the University of Denver's Institute for Human-Animal Connection on a joint research project to study the impact of farm programs on developmental health and education outcomes for Green Chimneys School students. The partnership advances evidence-based practices in human-animal interaction.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Hillside (Hillside Family of Agencies): New York State nonprofit operating residential treatment, special education, and community programs for at-risk youth. Comparable to Green Chimneys' residential treatment and youth development programming within NY.
• Astor Services for Children & Families: New York-based nonprofit providing children's mental health, residential, and community-based services across the Hudson Valley. Directly comparable to Green Chimneys' youth and family services and residential treatment in the same geography.

Direct peers

• Wediko Children's Services: Nonprofit providing therapeutic residential and day school programs for children with emotional and behavioral challenges. Comparable in mission, residential model, and therapeutic education approach.
• New England Center for Children: Nonprofit providing residential special education, day school, and outpatient services primarily for children with autism. Comparable in residential special education operations and clinical/academic integration.
• Judge Baker Children's Center: Nonprofit children's mental health organization affiliated with Harvard, providing therapeutic services, research, and training. Comparable in clinical service delivery and research/training integration via the Sam and Myra Ross Institute.
• North American Family Institute (NAFI): Nonprofit providing residential treatment, special education, and community-based services for youth with emotional/behavioral challenges. Directly comparable to Green Chimneys' residential treatment center and youth services.
• Camelot Education: Nonprofit operator of therapeutic day schools and alternative education programs partnering with school districts. Comparable to Green Chimneys' day school model serving students unsuccessful in traditional settings.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: National nonprofit operating therapeutic residential special education schools and behavioral health treatment programs for children and adolescents. Directly comparable to Green Chimneys in service model, clinical staffing, and school district contracting.
• May Institute: Nonprofit provider of residential treatment, special education, and community-based services for children and adults with autism, behavioral health needs, and developmental disabilities. Closely aligned with Green Chimneys' residential and day school model.

Emerging players

• Berkshire Hills Music Academy /生命的牧场 (Life Farm): Note: weak/inferred match — niche farm/residential programs for special needs adults or youth exist (e.g., farm-based therapeutic communities). Included as a thematically adjacent emerging peer in the nature-based therapeutic space; limited direct comparability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GreenChimneysNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/gcbrewster
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/860113
• Instagraminstagram.com/greenchimneys
• Xx.com/greenchimneys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Chimneys