Overcome Your Fear of Snakes with SnakeSmart

In order to take precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic, this program has several modifications and safety protocols in place, which were created based on CDC guidance. Policies are subject to change; please review this page carefully.

SnakeSmart at Helen Woodward Animal Center

Overcome your fear of snakes!

2021 SnakeSmart Workshop Dates:

March 13
(9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.)

May 15
(9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.)

September 25
(9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.)

October 10
(1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.)

Ages 5 and Up

$30 per person (1 parent admitted free per child, additional adults are $5 each)

*Automatically receive $5 off the program fee when registering siblings. (Must register them at the same time)

Many people have ophidiophobia or a fear of snakes for a variety of reasons, which is why we’re offering SnakeSmart workshop to help you overcome your fear of snakes. You will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding about snakes and their behavior, learn how to react if you encounter a snake in the wild, and hopefully come to appreciate these misunderstood reptiles when you learn how they benefit the ecosystem. The snakes and other reptiles that are involved in this program are not venomous, and you can choose whatever level of interaction you’re comfortable with!

If you have any questions, please contact us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or education@animalcenter.org.

Policies During COVID-19

Click here to carefully review the safety protocols (subject to change, last updated 7/14/21):

Masks & social distancing if you are vaccinated:
- Outside masks and social distancing aren’t required.
- Inside masks and social distancing are required if you are with children between 2 and 12 years of age.
  - Inside masks and social distancing are not required if you are with other vaccinated individuals.
Masks and social distancing if you are not vaccinated or any children between 2 and 12 years of age:
- Outside masks are required whenever social distancing between multiple households isn’t maintained (such as when playing games).
  - Outside masks are not required if you are social distancing from others (not needed if with your own household).
- Inside masks and social distancing are required at all times.
  - At some points social distancing may not be possible, such as when petting animals, but these instances will be kept short.
The program will be held outside as much as possible for ventilation.
- The program may go inside at times due to certain animal/activity requirements, or if the weather requires. When inside, all windows are open and the room has an H13 HEPA filtration unit.
- A maximum of 15 can be inside.
- Certain animals may not be available to be met due to needing to be indoors for presentations.
We will sanitize hands directly before and after using any shared items (such as petting animals).
Guests should not attend if anyone in their household has a fever or displays symptoms like coughing, sore throat or headache.

**Protocols are subject to change. Reach out to us at education@animalcenter.org if you have any questions or concerns