Animal Samaritans

Animal Samaritans’ Humane Education Program is a year-round program providing free-of-charge in-classroom presentations during the regular school hours and info booths for community events when invited. During summer break, Animal Samaritan’s Education Department provides its own Summer Critter Camps to continue improving the lives of animals and people by educating our future pet owners.

This summer program teaches children ages 7-11empathy, compassion, kindness, and pet responsibility in different learning styles such as visual, auditory, verbal, social, logical, and physical. We have live animal presentations, PowerPoint presentations, Q&A time, arts and crafts, games, and many prizes.

For a successful “animal lover” camp, we invited our friends from Mobile Zoo of Southern California with Kiwi, a yellow and blue Macaw, and friends. Mobile Zoo of Southern California has been a camp partner for many years by bringing their much loved and needed wildlife educational program. Of course, dogs are a must at our camps. This year we are fortunate to have partnered with Desert Paws Sanctuary to bring one of their rescued dogs along with her wheels to share her story which we titled: One Act of Kindness Can Save a Life…or Two. Elora, who was rescued at 2 weeks old, was diagnosed with Radial Nerve Paralysis which is also known as “wrist drop”. Elora’s participation is extremely important to our Summer Critter Camp program since she is representing everything taught during our camps in addition to reminding children that a physical disability shouldn’t stop anyone from being loved and respected. Elora’s presentation also goes perfectly with our Future Vet and No More Bullying! lessons.

Every summer we provide our career oriented Future Vet lesson. Our campers get to utilize a real stethoscope and otoscope to examine a stuffed animal and fill out an exam sheet just like real doctors. The best part of this lesson is when our future vets listen to their own heartbeat which many have not experienced before. No More Bullying! is a great lesson reviewing five important core values which are responsibility, empathy, compassion, self-control, and integrity.

The camps are not possible to provide without our amazing partners from Desert Hot Springs Recreation Center and Family Resource Center in Mecca and Desert Hot Springs. The camps are fully funded by Anderson Children’s Foundation: our biggest camp supporter throughout the years. We are forever thankful for their dedication to helping children in the Coachella Valley.

Contact: Diana Martinez, Humane Educator

Email: dmartinez@animalsamaritans.org

Website: www.animalsamaritans.org