Forty eight first graders and their eight adult chaperones descended upon CAS this morning. It was our 12th school field trip this spring. I'm pooped! Their energy is like that of animals: at this age, they have few filters, few internal editors. It's what I love about them, yet it's also what can terrify an animal, particularly one who's healing from past trauma, in a heartbeat.

So Betsy and I sat them down for an introduction. Betsy Messenger, one of my all-time heroes, is a long-term CAS volunteer. She's also a teacher and environmental educator, and her skills were much appreciated today. What I love most about Betsy, though, is not her skills as a teacher. It's that despite how trying a given day might be, Betsy always has a smile on her face. Her glass is always half full--no, it's always ninety percent full. She's been a morale booster, a warm hug when it's needed, a smile that says, "We can do this," no matter what we're facing. Betsy is a phenomenal teacher BECAUSE she's a phenomenal human being.

And so we sat them down, these 48 six-year-olds, under the willow tree by the goat pasture. Betsy encouraged them to define "sanctuary," and then I explained our most important rules:

1. This is a place where animals who've never known kindness come to learn to trust, learn to love, learn to be who they were meant to be. This is their home, and you are their guest. Sit down in front of them. If they want to approach you, they will. Otherwise, we'll move on.

2. The blind animals must hear your voice before you touch them. Stand in front of Bobo, for instance, and say, "I'm right here, Bobo, I'm right here." Let her find you. Once she knows you're there, you're welcome to touch her.

And so on.

It was a great day--for the kids and the animals!

Give children the opportunity to participate in the healing, to feel the magic that passes that happens in that moment of connection. They'll rise to the occasion...every single time.