Catskill Animal Sanctuary Makes The Switch to Virtual Visits, Tours, Cooking Classes & More
Facing a 30% income loss due to COVID, there was no time for Catskill Animal Sanctuary to hesitate. The 19 year-old organization has always been on the cutting edge of educational programming— and this unprecedented moment required that same innovative spirit that has defined them as one of the leading teaching sanctuaries in the nation.
In March, the programs that the non-profit depends on to stay afloat (tours, school programs, camp, and cooking classes were put on indefinite pause, but the Sanctuary never stopped moving: the programs team immediately transitioned to Virtual Sanctuary broadcasts in the style of weekend tours. The Sanctuary’s rescued animals are broadcast live twice weekly on the Sanctuary’s Facebook page. Virtual Sanctuary is free for all to attend and has inspired a devoted audience.
Next came more in-depth programming: CAS: Live — the Sanctuary started offering private video calls where attendees meet farmed animals, hear their stories, and learn about their unique personalities and their lives at the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary’s team of engaging educators is thrilled to host these one of a kind experiences for work conferences, family get-togethers, happy-hours— and educational models for students of all grade levels. They (Attendees?) can connect with animals for a single virtual tour, or develop deep understanding with a multi-session series. The Sanctuary, recently honored as a Best Local Kids Attraction by the Chronogram, can align a classroom series with New York state educational standards and Next Generation Science standards.
CAS is also famous for its award-winning vegan cooking classes and food demos, led by Linda Soper-Kolton, Culinary Director, and author of the Sanctuary’s popular cookbook: Compassionate Cuisine: 125 Plant-Based Recipes From Our Vegan Kitchen. Chef Linda’s wildly popular in-person classes are now available online for cook-alongs, demonstration-style classes, happy hours, and more. Classes cover a wide variety of topics, from making awesome vegan cheeses, decadent desserts, vegan “101”, creative entertaining, and everything in between. The Sanctuary’s culinary program is entirely unique (unique in the world): no other animal rescue teaches vegan cooking and no other vegan cooking program is directly connected to a Sanctuary. Their mission of animal rescue and plant-based choices is part of each class— including offering guest cameos from rescued animals before each cooking lesson!
For the last two decades, Catskill Animal Sanctuary has been a movement leader — and despite the effects of COVID being felt around the world— they will do whatever it takes to follow their mission: to build a kinder world for all beings.
To learn more about CAS:Live or to book a session, go to casanctuary.org/cas-live
About Catskill Animal Sanctuary
Founded in 2001, Catskill Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit, 150-acre refuge in New York’s Hudson Valley. It is home to eleven species of rescued farmed animals with between 275 and 400 residents at any given time. In addition to direct animal aid, the Sanctuary offers on-site tours, vegan cooking lessons, and educational programs that advocate veganism as the very best way to end animal suffering, improve human health, and heal an ailing planet.
