CHAMPS Program
Join CHAMPS in Building a Mine-Free World
CHAMPS campaigns across 16 states—and now expanding into Canada—have successfully sponsored 50 mine detection dogs (MDDs), supported hundreds of landmine survivors with medical care, and educated youth worldwide. MLI invites schools, students, teachers, and parents to take part through three key initiatives:
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Interactive School Visits: MLI staff and retired "canine ambassadors" demonstrate how MDDs safely sniff out landmines, giving students a firsthand look at landmine detection.
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Sponsor a Mine Detection Dog: Youth can lead their own fundraising campaigns to sponsor and name an MDD, receiving regular progress reports on their dog’s life-saving work abroad.
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Global Youth Connections: Through monthly video conferences with schools in mine-affected countries, students build cross-cultural friendships and raise targeted funds to assist young landmine survivors directly.
Meet K9 Ambassador
Rico Cosby
Rico's story as a mine detection dog turned K9 ambassador is a powerful example of the impact each four legged hero has on communities.
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You can follow the adventures of Rico’s retirement on Facebook and Instagram @mddrico.
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If you are interested in having MDD Rico visit your school so you can learn more about CHAMPS and our landmine removal programs, send us a message or call 703-243-9200.
Interested in a CHAMPS Presentation?
MLI currently offers 8 different CHAMPS presentation options. You can explore them below:
CHAMPS General Presentation
Appropriate for 2nd grade and older
Information about the Marshall Legacy Institute and the work this non-profit organization does. The presentation will also cover a basic overview of the humanitarian impact of landmines and the work being done around the world to locate and remove them. MLI’s Canine Ambassador, Rico, will be introduced with brief information about his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The presentation ends with ways for people to act if they would like as well as a live demonstration of Rico’s sniffing skills.
Introduction to the Marshall Legacy Institute
Appropriate for 2nd grade and older
Learn about the humanitarian work of the Marshall Legacy Institute, where they work, and the impact of their work. Through this presentation, information about CHAMPS and K9 Ambassador, Rico, will be shared. Following the presentation, Rico will conduct a live demonstration of his sniffing skills.
Landmine Facts and efforts to Rid the World of Them
Appropriate for 4th grade and older
Basic information about landmines, including geography, economics of landmines, and impact on the communities impacted by landmines. There is also a focus on the work being done to remove landmines and educate all community members to be safe in areas contaminated by landmines. The presentation includes a live demonstration of Rico’s sniffing skills.
Ongoing Campaigns
Puppy to Hero
Appropriate for all ages
The story of how Rico went from a puppy to training to becoming a hero to retirement and his new career as a K9 ambassador for The Marshall Legacy Institute. During the presentation, participants learn about the different types of service dogs before watching a live demonstration of Rico sniffing out his training device. ​
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Appropriate for 2nd grade and older
Participants learn all about Bosnia, including the geography, landmine issue, Rico’s work there, the culture of the country, and the work still being done to make Bosnia a mine-free country. The presentation includes a live demonstration of Rico’s sniffing skills.
Landmine Survivors
Appropriate for 6th grade and older
The focus of this presentation is to compare the landmine situation in Yemen and Bosnia. Survivor stories or resilience are shared during the presentation. The presentation includes a live demonstration of Rico’s sniffing skills.
The Science of Sniffing
Appropriate for 3rd grade and older
Through this presentation, participants will learn about the differences between human noses and dog noses and how dogs can sniff our specific scents and even illness and changes in humans. The presentation then focuses on Rico’s training and his work sniffing out landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina before becoming the K9 Ambassador for MLI. Following the presentation, Rico will demonstrate his sniffing skills.
The Geography of Landmines
Appropriate for 4th grade and older
The Geography of Landmines provides information about the countries MLI works with through their Mine Detection Dog Program, Educational Programs, and Survivor Assistance programs. Basic information about the country (where it is located, flag, and cultural pictures) is shared in this presentation. Following the presentation, Rico will demonstrate his sniffing skills.
CHAMPS Campaigns
​There are currently two ongoing fundraising campaigns held by different CHAMPS groups. Each campaign is fundraising $20,000 to sponsor a mine detection dog! The students and community of Dayton, Ohio, and multiple schools in Connecticut are working hard to help those in war-torn countries live free from the fear of landmines. To help and check out how each campaign is doing, click the fundraise buttons below:​
Connecticut
Dayton Dog
CHAMPS History in the U.S.
Click on the bubbles in each state to read about previous CHAMPS Campaigns!
Since the program began in 2003, MLI’s CHAMPS team has given hundreds of presentations throughout the U.S. Thirty-one U.S. schools have been engaged with CHAMPS, and more than 200 international video calls have taken place between American youth and peers abroad.
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CHAMPS programs have been established in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, Lebanon, Vietnam, and Yemen. U.S. students, touched by survivors’ stories, have raised money providing hundreds of landmine survivors with the medical treatment they need.
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CHAMPS campaigns are currently ongoing in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. If you are interested in getting involved in CHAMPS, please contact us!
Learn about CHAMPS Bosnia - MLI's Longest Running CHAMPS Program
Successes
278,000+
People have received lifesaving Mine Risk Education
1,754
Landmine survivors assisted through CHAMPS
$900,000
Money raised by CHAMPS kids to sponsor 50 MDDs
Special Opportunities
In many cases, student leaders who have led CHAMPS campaigns are nominated by their teacher to visit Washington, D.C. and attend MLI’s annual Clearing the Path Gala. The Gala offers an opportunity for student leaders and teachers to learn more about our work, meet other honorees, and tour the nation’s capital during their stay. While we are pleased to provide complementary Gala tickets to CHAMPS student leaders and teachers, we are unable to assist with travel or accommodation costs.
Student leaders and teachers from CHAMPS campaigns also have had the opportunity to travel with MLI staff as members of donor delegations to mine-affected countries to see their sponsored Mine Detection Dogs at work, meet government officials who oversee demining operations, and interact with the host country’s CHAMPS leaders. Donor delegations must bear the cost of travel expenses.
