Outreaches for Kids

In order to take precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic, humane education programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center are closed until further notice. We understand the disappointment this may cause as many of these events have required lengthy planning from the participants, but we are committed to preserving the community’s health and safety. Please connect with us about either rescheduling your program to a later date if possible, or fully cancelling it and receiving either a refund or considering your current payment as a donation.

We recognize the importance of staying positive and educated during times like these, so check out our live Critter Cam and Virtual Field Trips!

Year-Round Outreaches – We bring the animals to your classroom!

Interacting with animals is a fun and unique way for students to learn about the world around them. We offer a variety of programs that give kids in San Diego the chance to meet cute critters while learning lessons that complement their grade level’s NGSS and incorporate STEM.

Year-round outreaches to your classroom are offered for preschool, elementary, middle and high school classes. Call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or email education@animalcenter.org to book a program!

Outreach Information

Grades/Ages: Preschool–High School

Cost: $250 per class for 90 minutes OR $205 for 60 minutes ($75 minimum)

*Adult chaperones are admitted free of charge for the purpose of supervising children at a ratio of 1:5. Extra chaperones are $5 each.*

**NOTE: This outreach program is free for schools and local education agencies that have at least 50% of students enrolled in Free and Reduced Price Meals**

Details: 90-minute programs include interactions with 4 animals plus a STEM activity.

60-minute programs include interactions with 3 animals plus a STEM activity OR interactions with 4 animals and no activity.

Lesson Details

Preschool and Elementary School Lessons

All Grades: “Remember Me Thursday®” – Discuss pet overpopulation and how we can make positive change for orphan pets by remembering pet adoption. This lesson comes with a special teacher’s kit to continue the lesson throughout the year. We encourage your class to celebrate with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Remember Me Thursday® event in September! You will meet a dog, parrot, guinea pig and box turtle.

Preschool and Kindergarten: “Plants and Paws” – Understand the needs of plants and animals and how they’re connected to each other and their environment. You will meet a dog, rabbit, dove or pigeon and millipede.

1st Grade: “The Wonderful World of Animals” – Discover the different ways that animals interact with the world and why these interactions vary depending on the species. You will meet a parrot, guinea pig, bearded dragon and Madagascar hissing cockroach.

2nd Grade: “Home is Where the Heart Is” – Explore different habitats and discover the types of animals that live in each one. You will meet a chinchilla, snake or leopard gecko, parrot and hermit crab.

3rd Grade: “Learning about Life Cycles” – Investigate the many unique life cycles of animals and why it is appropriate for their environment. You will meet a bearded dragon, frog, dog and pigeon.

4th Grade: “The Senses of Survival” – Dive into the animal world where our five senses have gone wild and learn how animals perceive the world. It can be the similar to the way that we do, or it can be very different! You will meet a snake, Madagascar hissing cockroach, rabbit and parrot.

5th Grade: “You Are What You Eat” – Explore the food web and how everything in our ecological community is connected. You will meet a snake, rabbit, dove or pigeon and cockroach.

Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.

Middle School Lessons

6th Grade: “System Overload” – Understand the way that animals have adapted, or failed to adapt, to the environmental changes that humans have created with the growth of civilization. Discuss ways we can improve our energy usage and be more aware of our actions on the ecosystem. You will meet a frog, pigeon, dog and California desert tortoise.

7th Grade: “We’re All in This Together” – Discuss some of the ways that people impact the world around them and what we can do to provide positive change. You will meet a blue-tongued skink, millipede, rabbit and parrot.

8th Grade: “Diversity by Design” – Classify animals into different groups based on their external characteristics and understand how this isn’t the only method. Plus, learn how even animals in different classifications can have similarities. You will meet a parrot, hermit crab, frog and guinea pig.

Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.

High School Lessons

9th–12th Grades: “Biodiversity and Beyond” – Analyze how organisms maintain life through diversity and how they adapt to their surroundings. You will meet a hermit crab, chinchilla, snake and parrot.

9th–12th Grades: “Wild at Work” – Most people think of veterinarians when they think about careers with critters, but there are so many options out there! Discover all of the unique careers that allow you to work with animals! You will meet a dog, rabbit, snake and parrot.

Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.

If you are looking for a chance to get your students out of the classroom, come visit us at the Center! Click here for information on our year-round field trips.

Feel free to call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or email education@animalcenter.org with any questions.