About Clearpool Campus - Green Chimneys

Image of a brown miniature horse in the snow with a holiday gift graphic in the lower right corner

Holiday Gift Guide 2021

November 8, 2021

About Clearpool Campus

Originally founded in 1901 as a summer camp for disadvantaged inner-city children, Green Chimneys’ Clearpool Campus has become an established education resource for schools, a valued partner to human services organizations, and an environmental steward. After more than 100 years, it remains one of the finest outdoor facilities in the same pristine surroundings that existed a century ago. These elements continue to inspire imagination and exploration among children and adults.

A History of Outdoor Exploration and Education

In addition to outdoor education and recreation programs for the public, the Clearpool Campus includes classrooms that are part of Green Chimneys School and also provides a very popular day camp to the community each summer.

In October 2011, the Clearpool property became the location of the fourth New York State Model Forest established in the New York City Watershed region. This designation set aside 264 acres of privately-owned forestland as a demonstration site to promote land and water stewardship in the Lower Hudson Valley.

Russian Tortoise

There’s a reason this Russian Tortoise looks so iconic; it’s one of the most popular breeds sold in pet stores. This gentleman arrived at the Green Chimneys Wildlife Center as a rescue and secured a regular role in the classroom, helping students study the differences between tortoises and turtles; tortoises dwell on land, while turtles live in the water some or nearly all of the time. He has a reputation for being very active and outgoing and on warm, sunny days, the students take him outside to search for dandelion leaves to eat.