Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) is the use of animals in recreational and visitation programs. Animal assisted activities have been proven to reduce stress, improve self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and improve moods and overall well-being. Animal Assisted Activities are most often conducted on a volunteer basis by people and animals (usually dogs), which have received at least introductory training and preparation for visitation in social institutions for motivational, educational and/or recreational reasons.
The IC Library has been sponsoring Animal Assisted Activities since the spring of 2014. These events are typically scheduled around mid-term exams, final exams, and more recently, first year orientation. The LGBT Center has been co-sponsoring these events with the library beginning in Spring of 2019. Note: the chipmunk pictured below happened to be in the area the day of our event, and agreed to be photographed.
