Invite our educators to your school or organization
for an up-close look at the natural world.
Download the Program Request Form
About Our Programs
We’ve designed our programs using wild animal encounters with CWC’s live Wildlife Ambassadors, including snakes, turtles, raptors, songbirds, opossums or other wild animals. Programs may further incorporate stories, games, artifacts and other interactive experiences designed to enlighten and excite participants to the wonders of the natural world.
- Programs are 45 to 60 minutes.
- Includes live encounters with one (or more) of our non-releasable wildlife.
- Can be customized to coincide with a specific unit of study.
- Adapted for age and grade level.
Requests for Programs and Costs
CWC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and charges program fees to offset the cost of animal care. Due to increasing costs in recent years, we have changed our pricing structure for all programs scheduled on/after January 1, 2023. During all programs, the well-being of our animals – the Wiildlife Ambassadors – is critical; for this reason we need our hosts to support positive behaviors among all attendees.
The base cost for one program is $300. Consecutive programs can be provided on the same day at the same location for a discount of $75 per additional program.
To Request a Program
Please complete the Program Request Form and send it at least 45 days in advance of the first possible date for your event. Terms of Agreement are non-negotiable and are included in the Form; your payment, with submission of the form, represents your acceptance of the Terms.
You may return the form with a check (or indicate if we should contact you for credit card payment), to:
Carolina Wildlife Center
Attn: Wildlife Education
5551 Bush River Road
Columbia, SC 29212
Alternatively you may email the request form to info@carolinawildlife.org and we will contact you for payment prior to confirming the schedule.
Available Outreach Programs
Amazing Animal Adaptations
Delve into the world of natural habitats and the creatures calling them home. Students investigate wildlife and discover how adaptations help wildlife survive within their environment. What makes an opossum play dead? Why do turtles have different feet? How does camouflage benefit an animal? Our wildlife ambassadors provide the clues to answer these questions and more.
Animals People Love to Hate
Bats flying into hair and snakes chasing people are stories we often hear, but are they true? Students unravel the mysteries behind such strange, but beneficial creatures. We identify fact from fiction and children gain a better understanding and respect on these misunderstood animals and their turbulent relationship with humans.
From Shells to Scales & Tails
Utilizing live birds, reptiles and artifacts from both, students have fun discovering the similarities and differences of these strange animals that hatch from eggs. They may seem different at first, but students are amazed to discover just how similar birds and reptiles really are!
If You Care, Leave Them There
Do birds reject their young if touched? Each spring millions of young birds, squirrels, fawns and other wild animals enter this world. Their parents are programmed to take care of them, but sometimes people intervene. To rescue or not to rescue, that is the question. Students will learn the “dos and don’ts” for rescuing wildlife and leave the program with the answers they need to answer that question.
Interactive Wildlife Program
This is a unique program integrating live animals with a “hands-on” component, encouraging students to explore and experience the natural world up close. Children are engaged with the introduction of “wildlife ambassadors” and a stand-alone, sensory-learning display that incorporates colorful graphics, samples (birdhouses, feeders) and artifacts (nests and eggs). This program is a fun way for young people to learn through experience about wildlife and introduce them to the important concept of conservation. NOTE: This is for groups of 25 or less.
Keep the “Wild” in Wildlife
Wild animals are fascinating creatures and sometimes it seems cool to feed a wild animal by hand or even keep one as a pet. This program examines the differences between domestic pets and wild animals and why bringing a wild animal into your home may be riskier than you think. Children discover why it’s best to keep the “wild” in wildlife.
Litter Harms a Critter
Turtle Hurdles
Urban Wildlife: As Close as Your Backyard
Neighborhoods keep growing and changing and wildlife is losing habitat, forcing them to move into our backyards. Opossums that climb, snakes that slither and birds that fly – our backyards are filled with countless fascinating creatures to protect! Students learn how animals have adapted to living close to humans and how we can make our neighborhoods safer for them.
Whoo’s Stirring in the Shadows?
When we go to sleep at night, a whole other world comes alive. Meet some of these mysterious nocturnal animals and learn how they use special adaptations to survive in a world of darkness.
