MISSION FOR EDUCATION
Our goals for AWARE will be accomplished most effectively
through education. The care we provide to the animals
is of immediate importance; however, our role as a trusted source
of information will produce the most lasting effect on the future
of wildlife and habitat. As educators, we have an opportunity
to save thousands of animals with each presentation we make.
Programs will be offered to schools, civic groups and the general
public in a natural setting on site, and through outreach classes.
Topics
will include environmental awareness, habitat conservation and
preservation, natural history, peaceful coexistence with wildlife,
backyard habitats and wildlife rehabilitation. The center will
offer training in the principles of wildlife rehabilitation
to volunteers and aspiring rehabilitators. We will also provide
an accredited internship program to students interested in wildlife
biology, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies.
AWARE
will be working closely with state and federal agencies including
the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to complement their educational
outreach programs. We will also work in a cooperative effort
with city and county parks departments to provide an additional
resource for their public education programs.
If
you would like to schedule a program for your organization or
class, please contact us.
Educational Outreach Programs
Programs are designed to fit curriculums K thru 12 and are also structured for adults. The two options we offer are:
* K thru Adult, Classroom Visit (40 Participants Max*) - $200.00
* K thru Adult, Auditorium Program (300 Participants Max*) - $350.00
All program prices are flat rates for visits within a 20 mile radius of the center. Visits that are 21 to 50 miles are an additional $35.00. Over 50 miles are an additional $50.00 per hour travel time to and from visit. Follow-up programs on the same day and at the same facility, within one hour of original program are discounted 30%. All programs are designed to be approximately 45 minutes and may include educational material handouts.
Individual programs are conducted by a trained naturalist(s) with at least two animal ambassadors. Auditorium programs are designed for two representatives and at least three animal ambassadors. Audio and video equipment should be provided by the hosting facility, as well as a staging area of at least 12 x 12 feet.
*hosting facility must provide adult chaperones, (at a ratio of 1-20 students - depending on the age of the children and needs of the audiences) - for all outreach programs.
back to top
On-Site Programs
Programs are designed and conducted at the AWARE facility at Arabia Mountain Park, in Lithonia, Georgia for varied audiences. All programs need to be pre-reserved however walk-in tours are welcome with a 24 hour “pre-call” to the center.
* On-site “General Wildlife” Program (15 participant minimum, 40 participants maximum) $100.00 per 1 hour program
* On-site “Art in Nature” Program (5 participant minimum, 20 participant maximum) $150.00 per 1 hour program
On-site programs are conducted by a trained naturalist/educator(s) and include a visit to one or more of the Animal Ambassadors, enclosures, viewing of ongoing rehabilitation efforts (if applicable), and educational handouts and if applicable, classroom lecture information and fact sheets to take home.
All On-site programs must be booked in advance by reservation at least two weeks prior to the scheduled program date. A non-refundable deposit of $50.00 is required to hold the reservation before program is formally booked.
All on site “General Wildlife” programs are limited to a maximum of 40 participants (larger groups can be scheduled with special arrangement) with a ratio of one adult per 20 children.
All on site “Art in Nature” classes can accommodate additional students if pre-arranged. We suggest the program best suits children between ages 4-13, and adult supervision is required (1-5 or less ratio).
back to top Program Samplers
“Keeping Mother Earth Safe”: Focus on global concepts, contributions and consequences of humankind's impact on world ecology. Students are allowed to experience these issues first-hand whereby the ideas are no longer abstractions. They learn about ways to make a difference, one kid at a time.
Natural History “Natural Georgia Past, Present & Future”: Offers a look to the past, focusing on the history of Arabia Mountain, uses for the land, and how as homesteaders, Georgia grew. This includes topics about mining, the impacts on the environment, and how we can help preserve and restore our environment for future generations. Hikes and close exploration of fauna with a visit from some of the local animal ambassadors are part of this course.
Peaceful Coexistence with Wildlife - Leaving the “wild” in Wildlife: Focuses on ways anyone can pay attention to the many forms of life around us, from the ants under our feet, to the bats that help keep the mosquito population “in check”. Whether you live in the city or the country, wildlife is everywhere! Learn how to live with it and love it!
Backyard Habitats- “Creating a Sacred Space for all Things Great and Small”; Discover ways to create a special place for the creatures in your backyard. We will explore food sources, habitat creation, natural flora and fauna, and build a “special” recycled feeder to use in your own back yard
Wildlife Rehabilitation (Wild Animal Care Basics Course): Start your studies with the basics to wildlife awareness, as a volunteer, animal husbandry student or wildlife enthusiast.
Course is focused on learning the principles of wildlife rehabilitation, get hands-on experience with the centers residents, and/or to gain accreditation in internship programs.
Students are able to work towards their wildlife biology, veterinary medicine, and environmental studies degrees. College or advanced degree students, naturalists, docents and teachers welcome. This is a two day or weekend intensive. Call for prices and scheduled times.
Second Sunday of Every Month “New Volunteer Orientation”
The second Sunday of every month, we welcome new AWARE volunteers, and offer them a glimpse of what they might do when assisting us at the center. Since we are a center still in process, creating outdoor habitats, working on the education center, and attending to wildlife, AWARE needs all kinds of volunteers with all kinds of talents. If you are a organized book-keeper, graphic artist, teacher, handyperson or just have an interest in wildlife, we need you! Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to call and sign up for one of our 1 hour orientation sessions, which is filled with the basics, some animal husbandry, a hike up the mountain, basic nature education, and a single mini-wildlife course with one of our animal ambassadors. Reservations required in order to ensure at least 5 volunteers per session.
back to top
Art In Nature Series Special Classes
Come and learn with us as we explore some of the cultures of our American ancestors (both two legged and four), as we explore some fun facts about special animals, read a “Native lore story”, and complete our fun hour with a craft project your child may take home. Some programs are interchangeable across more than one season. Samples of some of the courses include the following;
back to top
Winter
“Winter Burry Day Treats for the Birds”: What could be more fun than decorating an outdoor tree for your feathered friends in the winter months? Join us as we read a Native lore story of how the “Red Bird Got his Color”, and help create healthy food sources for all our bird friends in the winter. For one hour we will engage in a fun mix of education and creation as we make edible bird ornaments from peanut butter, pinecones, rope, corn cobs and a variety of recycled items. Come learn about what items are best to feed Georgia’s song birds in the winter and the summer. What to bring? Your creativity, comfortable cloths, an interest in songbirds, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
“Blue Bird and Coyote”: Nearly 400 species of birds (about 20% of the 2,037 species seen in North America) are seen in Georgia. The Blue Bird is one of these special creatures. In Native cultures, the Coyote totem says if you are a match with the coyote, you need to learn to laugh at yourself and life's irony. He lives life simply and is very trusting. Come see how our animal friends work to help each other in the forest, as we share a tale of two animals from a Native Lore story. We will be talking about how our animal friends cohabitate and explore what they have in common. And how we humans can better live with nature, despite our differences. What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in coyotes and blue birds, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
"A Tail of a Different Kind": Today there are roughly 1,500 bears in North Georgia, or about one per square mile of “good” habitat. The premier bear habitat includes areas with huge acreages (Cohutta National Forest in North Georgia), however because our green spaces are being deforested at an alarming rate, of recent, some of these furry fellows have made their way down into our neighborhoods. Since black bears are not true hibernators as they can be roused from their winter sleep, more people are sighting them at all times of the year. Many lore stories of bears as animal totems in Native stories state when you have a Bear show himself to you, you are being guided to a leadership role and you must fearlessly defend your beliefs. Bears are associated with trees which are natural antennas, and are said to be a link for the heavens and the Earth. The good news is there are viable healthy bear populations now in all or parts of 12 North Georgia counties because we humans are being more tolerant of their presence. What's more fun than participating in the reading of a Native American Lore story, and then making a craft related to the characters in that story? Come and join us and find out "How the Bear Lost His Tail", an Iroquois Legend followed by a half hour of crafting as we create and paint an animal from our story from recycled paper items! . What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in bears, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
back to top
Spring
Earth Day Celebration (only done spring and fall): Come celebrate with us as we wish our planet a happy birthday and talk about its origination from a wise aboriginal and ancestral perspective. We will read a special story about the “Origin of the Earth” from some people who lived here before us, (Cherokee lore story), then we will explore evidence of what makes our feathered friends so special, and why we are so privileged to have a great quantity of them living among us. Finally, we are going to explore the handiwork of our song birds by testing our own nest building skills, as we get our hands dirty, and make our own spring nests! What to bring? Your creative ideas, old comfortable cloths, an interest birds, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
“The Frogs and the Crane": Did you know that the earliest known fossils where of frogs which date back to the late Jurassic period, about 190 million years ago? Or did you know that for some cultures frogs are a symbol of good luck or that that all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads! The Native American and Australian aboriginal peoples believed frogs were a weather indicator and could predict rain from their wonderful songs. And that a frog has a voice range and pitch so high that we humans cannot even hear some of them! Come join us as we read the Native lore story about the Frogs and the Crane, and hear how the frog learned his lesson on his boasting. Then join us as we create funny frog characters for our own at home storytelling. Explore AWARE’s own frog pond, and see what natural creatures share the waters wonders right here at the center. What to bring? Your creative ideas, old comfortable cloths, an interest in frogs, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters. (No nets or jar captures please!)
back to top
Summer
“Silly about Snakes”: Ever wonder why some snakes rattle while others are silent? What about the stripes on a snake which run the length of their body vs. those with rings around the middle? Or how did the Corn Snake really get his name and what makes the King Snake so royal? There is so much to learn about our snake friends, we are just Silly about the possibilities! Join us for a special hour exploring the unusual aspects of Georgia snakes and we will read a special Native lore story called “The Snake With Big Feet” , and create and paint a fun silly snake to take home. Finally we might even have a visit with one of our resident reptiles! What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in snakes, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
“Bonkers about Butterflies”: Butterflies may appear to lead very carefree lives as we see them flitting here and there in early spring and throughout the lazy days of summer, however, unless they find suitable food, shelter, water, and an appropriate place to rear their young, many may not survive. Did you know that the Tiger Swallowtail is the state butterfly and is one of Georgia's most beautiful species of lepidoptera (derived from the Greek word meaning scaly wings). There are 165,000 species worldwide, but of those, only about 24,000 are butterflies! They range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches, and most adult butterflies only live one or two weeks. Butterflies are quite the magnificent insect as they can see red, green, and yellow, and are brightly colored to scare away predators (their colors are warning to birds that they taste bad!). And most incredible is their transformation from a furry some times bizarre caterpillar into an elegant flying fairy. Come learn with us how to attract butterflies to your garden so they can drink, lay eggs and seek shelter. Then craft with us your own beautiful butterfly and mimic its flight around your own garden. What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in caterpillars and butterflies and kids from 5* and up!
"Animal Mask Making Madness"; Mask making has been around for at least 20,000 years. Images painted on cave walls depict human bodies with animal heads. This information has lead scholars to believe that masks were an important part of primitive rituals which brought forth food for the winter, rains for the spring and good luck to those who participated. Masks have been a popular art form from places as far away as Asia and Africa. Come join us as we explore the limitless possibilities making our very own animal masks, representing and honoring the animal’s right here at the center. We will create our own ritual and story with our masks, be they feathered, furry, finned or scaled! What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in animals and kids from 5* and up!
back to top
Fall
“The Turtle's Race”: There’s a lot to admire about turtles and tortoises. They seem to have a steadfast character, and a plodding, yet undeniable gait that sooner or later gets them to where they are going!!!! As we head into the colder weather, we will explore some fun facts about our animal’s friends, and how they survive on land and in the water during the winters. With our entertaining Native Lore story, the adventures of turtle introduce us to life under water, and how he creatively survives his water challenge! We will read the "Turtle's Race" and see how animals interact and learn valuable lessons from each other. And you'll have plenty of time to create your own fun turtle craft to take home! What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in turtles, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
“Why the Opossum’s Tail Is Bare”: Did you know that the Opossum belongs to a primitive group of mammals known as marsupials and they are related to Kangaroos? Opossums are a highly misunderstood creature which can be viewed as aggressive and dirty, when in fact they are one of Georgia’s best groomed and docile wild neighbors! Considered the “janitors of the forest” by many, environmentalists have praise for this little creature, and embrace their presence in and around their homes and forest areas. Join us in exploring an interesting and comical character, as she is portrayed in Native lore and learn how she lost all the hair on her tail. We will create our own funny paper opossum, with recycled paper, paints and color sticks. And if we are really lucky we might even have a visit from the wildlife center’s real opossum. What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in opossums, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
“Weaving a Web of Your Own”; When the north winds begin to blow and the leaves begin to fall off the trees what remains of the little creatures we enjoyed all summer like the grasshoppers and the spiders? Explore with us the customs of our aboriginal and native friends, by using items from our planet to weave a web just like our spider friends. By using natures own items much like the Chippewa did, you can create your own web of magic to appreciate the work it takes to make such a masterpiece. We will share the wisdom of a Native lore story about the wisdom of Unktomi (the spider) and talk about the legends which speak of something which were made only by Chippewa called the Dream Catcher. What to bring? Your creative ideas, comfortable cloths, an interest in insects, and kids from 5* and up! Parents may be asked to help with the reading of the story by playing one of our characters.
back to top
|
