Virtual Education For Kids with Helen Woodward Animal Center
Virtual Education Program
It can be tough to find engaging virtual presentations, but the education animal ambassadors are sure to captivate the crowd! These interactive and informative programs are perfect for schools, Scout troops, families and anyone else who loves to see adorable animals.
By appointment: Contact us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or education@animalcenter.org
Cost: $75 per group (40 person limit)
Duration: 60 minutes
For Schools Programs include grade-specific lessons with four animal presentations and a STEM activity that you can lead your class through after the presentation based on materials we’ll provide. Ask us about removing one of the animals to have us lead the STEM activity with your class, if possible for that lesson. 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 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 see a dog, parrot, guinea pig and box turtle. All Grades: “Spring Tails” – This limited-time program is only available in March through May. The lesson is focused on life cycles, baby animals and other changes that occur during the spring. You will see a chicken, sheep, goat, and rabbit or turtle. Seasonal program cost: $50 per group (40 person limit). 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 see a dog, rabbit, dove or pigeon and millipede. 1st Grade: “The Wonderful World of Animals” – Discover the ways that animals interact with the world and why these interactions vary depending on the species. You will see 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 see a chinchilla, snake or leopard gecko, parrot and hermit crab. 3rd Grade: “Learning about Life Cycles” – Investigate the unique life cycles of animals and why it is appropriate for their environment. You will see 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. You will see 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 see a snake, rabbit, dove or pigeon and Madagascar hissing cockroach. 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 awareness of our impact on the ecosystem. You will see a frog, pigeon, dog and California desert tortoise. 7th Grade: “We’re All in This Together” – Discuss some of the ways people impact the world around them and what we can do to provide positive change. You will see 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, understand how even animals in different classifications can have similarities. You will see a parrot, hermit crab, frog and guinea pig. 9th–12th Grades: “Biodiversity and Beyond” – Analyze how organisms maintain life through diversity and how they adapt to their surroundings. You will see a hermit crab, snake, parrot and chinchilla. 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 see a dog, rabbit, snake and parrot. Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability. Interested in booking an in-person field trip or outreach? Click here to learn more. (We can book up to one year in advance.)
For Scouts Programs include badge-specific lessons with four animal presentations and an activity that you can lead your troop through after the presentation. Ask us about removing one of the animals to have us lead the activity with your troop, if possible for that lesson. Eco Learner Badge Pets Badge Habitats Badge Animal Helpers Badge Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability. Interested in booking an in-person program? Click here to learn more. (We can book up to one year in advance.)
Nature is something that we all enjoy, and it’s up to us to protect it! This program focuses on the proper ways to explore in nature. (For Daisies)
Whether they’re cute and cuddly or slimy and scaly, pets are so much fun! Find out what care different pets need including how to keep them comfy, well fed, healthy, safe, and most importantly, LOVED! (For Brownies)
Explore the places that animals call home- their habitats! Discover where different animals live, how they play, and how we can help them. (For Juniors)
Animals are amazing for so many reasons, including their ability to help humans! Learn about the various ways that animals make our lives better and the importance of the human-animal bond. (For Cadettes)
For Families, Playgroups and Learning Pods This customizable program includes themed lessons with four animal presentations. Lesson Theme Options: Animal Options: Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability. Interested in booking an in-person program? Click here to learn more. (We can book up to one year in advance.)
Chinchilla
Alpaca
Sheep
Miniature Horse
Duck
Miniature Donkey
Rabbit
Guinea Pig
Snake
Lizard
California desert tortoise
Frog
Chicken
Dove or Pigeon
Parrot
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Box turtle
Hermit Crab
Goat
Millipede
Dog
Check out the Critter-grams if you’re looking for an animal to liven up your next virtual meeting or to deliver an electronic message to someone. Click here.
Activities at Home
Check out these awesome activities that you and your family can do at home!
Scavenger Hunt
Explore with an adult and stay safe. Complete this scavenger hunt by finding the listed items around your neighborhood or yard. Color them in as you find them, collect them if you can (leave animals in their wild homes)!
Sidewalk Art Complete with adult supervision and stay safe! Sidewalk art is a great way to spread positivity and express your creative side. Write an uplifting message with chalk, create something with sticks, paint on a rock or come up with your own way!
Animal Yoga Yoga is great exercise you can do at home! Ask your pets to be your workout partner, too. They might not get all the poses right, but maybe they’ll inspire some new ones! Show us what you’re made of by tagging @hwac.
Create a Fantastic Fort There’s no place like home! While that’s a sentiment we might not be feeling right now, there are still ways to have fun indoors. One great way is to build a fort with items you have around your house. Show us what you construct by tagging @hwac.
*For information and updates on COVID-19, please find our message to the community here.