Today, this day gives campers a chance to see and learn a little bit about every animal in the Habitats to decide which animal they want to adopt. After a camper choses an animal, they are given the animal information and workbooks to learn more. They will complete a short activity sheet on their adopted animal and learn about the other animals from the rest of the class. 

This day of the course is all about the importance of nutrition for an animal. In the wild, animals are designed to eat what is around them, but in captivity they are eating what humans can provide, which isn’t always the same stuff. Nutrition is a fundamental biological need in order for animals to stay healthy. 

Photographers also come around and take pictures of all the campers with their adopted animals. You are expected to help them during this activity because it can be stressful for people and animals alike. 

Sometimes interacting with animals can be fun and games! Today is all about animal mental health and how providing proper enrichment as well as training animals helps animals feel like they have more control over their environment, participate in more human-animal interactions, and feel generally more comfortable in their home. 

As an animal caretaker, it is vital to understand what an animal looks like when they are healthy versus when they are not. It is even more difficult in wild species (as opposed to domestic species), so sharp observation skills are needed. While there are many ways an animal is kept healthy, a properly set up enclosure is the first step to housing any captive animal. Campers will learn about the standard items needed for their adopted species to live happy and healthy. 

While not a glamorous part of the job, cleaning is still highly important to maintain the health of an animal. Not only that, but clean environments and low odors attract more people to interact and learn about the animals. Campers will have the opportunity to help clear out poop, debris, cobwebs, and more to ensure the enclosure(s) are kept up to facility standard. 

Today, this day gives campers a chance to see and learn a little bit about every animal in the Small Animal Room to decide which animal they want to adopt. After a camper choses an animal, they are given the animal information and workbooks to learn more. They will complete a short activity sheet on their adopted animal and learn about the other animals from the rest of the class. 

This day of the course is all about the importance of nutrition for an animal. In the wild, animals are designed to eat what is around them, but in captivity they are eating what humans can provide, which isn’t always the same stuff. Nutrition is a fundamental biological need in order for animals to stay healthy. 

Photographers also come around and take pictures of all the campers with their adopted animals. You are expected to help them during this activity because it can be stressful for people and animals alike. 

Sometimes interacting with animals can be fun and games! Today is all about animal mental health and how providing proper enrichment as well as training animals helps animals feel like they have more control over their environment, participate in more human-animal interactions, and feel generally more comfortable in their home. 

As an animal caretaker, it is vital to understand what an animal looks like when they are healthy versus when they are not. It is even more difficult in wild species (as opposed to domestic species), so sharp observation skills are needed. While there are many ways an animal is kept healthy, a properly set up enclosure is the first step to housing any captive animal. Campers will learn about the standard items needed for their adopted species to live happy and healthy. 

While not a glamorous part of the job, cleaning is still highly important to maintain the health of an animal. Not only that, but clean environments and low odors attract more people to interact and learn about the animals. Campers will have the opportunity to help clear out poop, debris, cobwebs, and more to ensure the enclosure(s) are kept up to facility standard. 

Today this course gives campers a chance to see and learn a little bit about every animal in the Reptile Room to decide which animal they want to adopt. After a camper chooses an animal, they are given the animal information to learn more. They will complete a short activity sheet on their adopted animal and learn about the other animals from the rest of the class. Most importantly, the campers will learn how to interact with each animal that resides in this area, allowing them to be able to visit them the rest of the week during freetime. If not everyone is tested fully, this will continue the next day. 

This day of the course is all about the importance of nutrition for an animal. In the wild, animals are designed to eat what is around them, but in captivity they are eating what humans can provide, which isn’t always the same stuff. Nutrition is a fundamental biological need in order for animals to stay healthy. As an animal caretaker, it is vital to understand what an animal looks like when they are healthy versus when they are not. It is even more difficult in wild species (as opposed to domestic species), so sharp observation skills are needed. 

Photographers also come around and take pictures of all the campers with their adopted animals. You are expected to help them during this activity because it can be stressful for people and animals alike. 

This class is going to be a little different than usual as it is Snake Feeding Day. Every Wednesday the snakes get fed, a pattern they are very familiar with. We don’t handle them before feeding in case they accidentally mistake a person’s hand for prey and we don’t handle them after to allow them a stress-free digestive period. To make up for not being able to hold half of the animals, the class will instead go to the CCC Room and learn about a whole new set of animals. 

Proper enclosure set up is crucial for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. They are extremely sensitive to heat and humidity changes so proper knowledge is a must. Understanding the specific needs of a species as well as being able to keep the enclosure clean and functioning is the main focus on this day. 

Sometimes interacting with animals can be fun and games! Today is all about animal mental health and how to provide proper enrichment. A simple way that can be done is just bringing the animals outside to get real sunlight and eat some wild plants. 

You will already be versed in grooming small animals, but this period also extends to grooming horses, dogs, tortoises, and more! Depending on your comfortability and camper choice, the class can choose to groom varying animals (of varying difficulty as well). 

Help the Animal Team out by pre-making the Enrichment that is given to courses throughout the week. For the second half of class, enrichment will be made for an assigned area of the Animal Area that does not get as many campers coming through.

This is an extended version of the Wednesday Course Period that you will already be trained on. Instead, the entire class period is spent in the CCC Room getting to know the animals there. 

This is already part of Friday's Course Period, but this class does not include Stallone encounters and spends the whole time with animals relaxing outside. Animals can be switched out throughout the period and fencing areas can be set up to let the animals explore the ground.