Humane Education Programs at RCHS

Animals are a source of great fascination for children of all ages. Rancho Coastal Humane Society encourages children to share their passion for animals. The Humane Education programs focus on teaching children the importance of proper care and compassion toward the animals that share our world. All of the education programs offered are geared towards embracing children's natural love and curiosity about animals while fostering a sense of respect and kindness for all life.

"Dinner with the Dogs"

Our monthly program will give children the opportunity to tour the shelter to see our animals, make themed crafts for shelter pets, play with friendly animals and enjoy a special dinner from Noodles and Co. with new friends. Each program meets on a Friday from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Education Center and has a different theme, reflecting the time of year. Sign up for one or all the programs and spend an evening with the animals! Special thanks go to Noodles and Co. for sponsoring Dinner with the Dogs.

Fall 2010 Dates and Themes:

Friday, September 17 Fall Fest for Pets
Friday, October 15 Spooky Pets
Friday, November 19, Thankful for my Pet
Friday, December 17 Happy Holidays Party
(All dinners meet from 4:00-6:00 p.m.)

To download a registration form please click registration form.

Birthday Parties:

Rancho Coastal Humane Society is a great place to have your next birthday party! We have a variety of packages to suit your needs and all include plenty of time with friendly shelter pets.

Packages Include:
Standard Party

• $150, 2 hours in length
• Indoor/Outdoor private venue
• Hosted animal games and treat making
• Behind the scenes tour of RCHS
• Animal Interactions
• Take-home animal cards for each participant

Deluxe Party

• $220, 2.5 hours in length
• Everything in the Standard Party plus:
• Professional face painting for all guests by Wild Faces Face Painting (www.wild-faces.com)

OR

• Individual keepsake photos of each guest with shelter pet, distributed at party

Super Deluxe Party

• $250, 2.5 hours in length
• Standard Party plus:
• Professional face painting  for all guests by Wild Faces
• Individual keepsake photos for each guest with shelter pet

All parties can be scheduled, subject to availability, Mon-Sun 11am – 3pm. There is a maximum of 20 participants per party. Parties are appropriate for children ages 5 and up.
Please contact the Education Department directly at 760-753-6413 or education@rchumanesociety.org to schedule your next party.

Kid's Community Service (KCS):

Apply Today...Students, grades 6 through 12, can share their passion for animals by participating in the Kid's Community Service program during the school year. The month-long programs meet one weekday per week (Middle School meets on Tuesdays, High School on Wednesdays) from 4:00-5:00 pm and one Saturday per session.

Kid's Community Service is our volunteer program that teaches middle school and high school students about the shelter, the community and the animals around us. During their volunteer session, students earn community service hours by helping to maintain the shelter facilities, socializing animals and participating in promotional events. Space is limited to eight students per each four-week session and applications are accepted throughout the school year. KCS does not meet during school breaks and middle school students must either be in 6th grade or 12 years old to participate. KCS is the only volunteer opportunity at the shelter for children under the age of 18. There is no cost for the KCS program.

To apply please download and read the Rules and Regulations form. If you agree to these rules, you may download and fill in the Application and Consent form and return them to RCHS by mail, fax or in person. Both the application and consent form must be filled out to be considered.

Schedules:

KCS Fall Schedule 2010
Middle School Tuesdays 4:00-5:00

High School Wednesdays 4:00-5:00

Rules And Regulations (pdf)

Application (pdf)

Consent Form (pdf)

Shelter Tours:

Tours of Rancho Coastal Humane Society are available to groups of all ages. During each tour, guests will get to see shelter animals up close and personal and have special access to areas not open to the public. Tours end with a pet safety discussion and a guest appearance by one of our animal ambassadors. All tours are conducted by trained staff, can be tailored to the needs of individual groups and are provided at no cost. Donations are accepted.

Classroom Workshops:

Free in-class presentations are offered to groups in the community from our trained educational staff. Classes include demonstrations, hands on games and often live animal interactions and are appropriate for single classrooms or large assemblies. Classes are offered during school hours Monday through Friday, can be tailored to any age group, and meet many California content standards. Classes include:

• It's Raining Cats and Dogs: Pet Overpopulation
• Dog Safety
• Be Kind: Preventing Bullying to all Beings
• Responsible Pet Care
• When Dogs Were Wolves: Origins of our Pets
• Shelter Sense

To schedule a presentation please contact the Humane Education Department at 760-753-6413 or email via the contact us page.

Read for Wags:

What has paws and loves books? Our "Read for Wags" pet therapy dog! Using shelter volunteers and their own trained, licensed and insured canine companions, RCHS offers a unique program to help children with reading difficulties. "Read for Wags" offers an animal-friendly way to get kids to read aloud. The "listening teams" of specially trained canines and their handlers provide children with a non-judgmental and supportive environment that makes reading fun! Programs range from small, one-on-one sessions to large assemblies. For more information on our "Read for Wags" program or to set up a session at your site, please contact the Education Department at (760) 753-6413.

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