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zsanorah · #1 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:40 AM

Iam trying to find a way to promote snake ownership responsibility here in my home town. Things such as "Care, Safe handeling and the best snake for you" Just general stuff. Ive seen that so many people who own these wonderful creatures dont know how to care for them and its sad really. I would like to do something about it.
Ive heard about people in other places going to junior high (and in some cases 6th grade) class rooms to educate students about snakes. Any ideas how I could go about this?
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas im sure to be getting.
~jessica

PythonGuy24 · #2 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:42 AM

Get a job at the local pet store is one way to do it.

robmarli · #3 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:47 AM

It sounds like you are going to be the one doing the promoting. I would make sure you do your research and possibly find another reptile lover in the area. Contact the local school and see if they would be willing to let you come in had have a seminar with the students. Good Luck!!

DannyBoy · #4 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:54 AM

I have visited my nieces elementary school class's for show and tell a few times. Do have any family that go to schools or are in positions to give you access to other people in a group? Network through them.

zsanorah · #5 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 06:57 AM

Unfortunatly I most likely do not have any access to little graders :P Perhaps my bestfriends ( and fellow rep lover) kid sister. If I did do this, she would come with me and share her wonderful berdie. And as far as the research I would constantly be updating my info :P After all my cause is to provide correct info. The pet store thing, atm the arent hiring and I would have to have a min of 40hpw at 8.00ph to survive my bills. Somehow I doubt that most pet stores could offer that. So for the time being I think that I will have to stick with going somewhere on my days off ( unless I get lucky and find such a pet store)
Thanks for the ideas guys, hope they keep coming.

dfreeman1313 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 12:04 PM

How about joining your local herpetological society. If there is one around, I'm sure they would have ideas, events, or programs where you could help. If you are a good speaker, try calling the local elementary school and talking to the science teachers. A lot of times they LOVE having people volunteer to help teach a class. You'll have to so some legwork to find out what grade is studying snakes, but when you find a willing teacher and you do a good job.....she will give you more names or more classes and they will start calling you!

Hold it.....in Raleigh there is a Wake County Scientist/Teacher Partnership that I used to volunteer for......you may want to call your local school system to see if there is anything like that in place where you live.

Keep searching! There are a LOT of organizations who LOVE to have guest speakers. I know my cub scout pack would love to have you come by. So think about the youth organizations in your area.......Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.

Good Luck!

wreckwriter · #7 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 02:52 PM

Not to pour water on a good fire but before you start doing educational activities on your own own please be sure your reptile knowledge and experience are solid. I think a herp club or society is the best option.

JuliusSqueezer · #8 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 03:09 PM

A school program on how to properly care for reptiles is a stick of dynamite with a very short fuse. The only point you need to get across to the general public about husbandry is to research before they make a purchase and maybe direct them to forums. Telling a bunch of 6th graders how to set up a snake cage and how to take care of them? Waste of time. They just want to see the snakes and hear a bit about them. You can toss in little tidbits like...when they ask what does it eat? Tell them frozen thawed rats. "really?..I thought they had to kill their food to death..." You go telling kids that don't have prior interest in reptiles how to take care of one..Mom's gonna come after you with an ice pick. You have to remember too that people retain maybe 1/3 of what they hear if it's something they are interested in so you aren't doing the hobby any favor by sparking some impulse interest at the elementry schools. Also, proper husbandry is species specific. You can't possibly stand up infront of a bunch of people and go over all the caresheets for all the commonly kept reptiles and keep anyone awake. Focus on respect and conservation..little information on the animals you have with you...btw...with the new Madagascar movie out, kids go nuts for anything from Madagascar.

dfreeman1313 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-22-2005, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wreckwriter

Not to pour water on a good fire but before you start doing educational activities on your own own please be sure your reptile knowledge and experience are solid. I think a herp club or society is the best option.

Oh I agree!!!! You must be VERY knowledgable and have worked with kids before. In my experience with kids, you can't just stand up there and talk. You have to entertain them, let them participate and most of all be very energetic!!!! Some people don't necessarily agree with Steve Erwin, but there's a reason he has TV shows, a movie, etc.

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