Wild Wonders Outreach Programs

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.

This program is a great way for students to learn about the homes of wildlife animals. Are birds’ nests all made the same? Do all birds nest in trees? Where do they go when it rains? Students get to meet some of these amazing animals that create unique homes.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.