LEAP at Ballydídean

LEAP (Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet) is a revolutionary humane education program providing high school students across the nation with a compassionate alternative to traditional agriculture programs like 4H and FFA. A comprehensive four-year program taught by participating farm animal sanctuaries, LEAP combines interactive curriculum modules with hands-on learning activities, leadership training, and real-world skill development.

LEAP aims to prepare the next generation of changemakers to tackle the challenges of animal cruelty, climate change, food deserts, and habitat loss, and encourages them to devise solutions for a more compassionate, sustainable food system.

The Program

LEAP provides education and training for high school students in the areas of:

• hands-on, compassionate animal care

• food and agricultural systems

• leadership development

• wildlife and habitat conservation

• farmed animal welfare

• human health supported by a vegan diet

• the intersection of human and animal rights

• climate change solutions

• social emotional learning

• ocean conservation

• food deserts and food insecurity

• domestic animal care and community outreach

From September through May for approximately 10 hours per month, students and their peers will meet at a Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary to care for rescued animals, assist with infrastructure projects, and participate in a humane education curriculum, all culminating in a community-based project related to the rescued animals!

Scholarship Opportunities

At the end of the student’s completed year with LEAP, they will have the ability to apply for competitive scholarships of $500 or $1000 to go toward college or career training. We offer these scholarships to encourage initiative, leadership, hard work, and believe it is imperative that we show students they can earn money for education by HELPING animals rather than exploiting them for money by selling them for slaughter like in traditional agricultural programs.

Why LEAP?

LEAPers will have many of the same opportunities that other agriculture programs offer – working with other LEAPers from around the region, participating in local events, learning from experts and mentors, receiving financial compensation for their work, and, of course, spending time with the animals – but without the financial and emotional burden of raising and showing a slaughter-bound animal.