Our Educational Philosophy
Foster Parrots’ goal is to connect visitors empathetically to the lives and experiences of the parrots at the sanctuary, to ignite a new awareness of our roles and responsibilities in the lives of all animals with whom we share this planet, and to inspire a commitment to change. For more information please email us at: Education@fosterparrots.com
Scroll down to see our VIRTUAL EDUCATION program offerings, available now!
Humane Education
Empathic Learning
We must learn to appreciate the experiences of others whether they be a person, place, plant or animal. The ability to form empathetic connections helps us to better understand our own experiences and the impact of our actions on the world around us.
Experiential Learning
Understanding the world around us cannot be articulated solely through the words in a textbook. We each have our own way of experiencing the world and, as educators, it is imperative that we help children and adults alike to understand the impact of their choices and their actions on animals, on the planet - and on each other. Our connections to the earth and to each other is what propels us towards action in making the world a better place.
Non-traditional Learning
Working with animals and the environment offers us a compelling alternative to traditional classroom learning. We encourage kids to engage through drawing, singing, dancing, building, talking or simply observing.
* This song was written and arranged by a group of middle schoolers participating in the AfterZone PASA Program where they spent time with a Foster Parrots educator learning about our birds, about the many native animals in their urban and suburban environments, and exploring the woods and rivers around our sanctuary. They concluded their experience by writing a song about how they view themselves in relation to the world around them.
Programs
Virtual Education Programs
We are launching a brand new series of online educational programs! Each program is available for families and small groups, or for large classrooms. The presentations are conducted using Zoom. To book an online program, contact us at Education@fosterparrots.com.
Available programs:
Foster Parrots Sanctuary – No Cage is Big Enough
Appropriate for ages: 16+
Time: 45 minutes (30-minute presentation followed by 15-minute Q&A)
Cost: $75 for a family, $125 for a classroom
Parrots are wild animals who have long suffered the consequences of pet trade exploitation and public misinformation. In this presentation, we look into how parrots end up in captivity, why they are surrendered to our organization, and how we manage a sanctuary housing over 400 parrots. We discuss the challenges of keeping these wild animals in a captive setting as well as our offsite conservation efforts for wild parrots in Central and South America. Learn why we believe that No Cage Is Big Enough!
Note: This presentation is geared toward high school students and older. We delve into the realities of illegal trapping and trading, and some of the imagery is difficult to look at.
We Are Wild!
Appropriate for ages: 6+
Time: 35 minutes (25-minute interactive presentation followed by 10-minute Q&A)
Cost: $50 for a family, $100 for a classroom
Parrots are wild animals, just like tigers and chimpanzees! This interactive presentation is geared toward younger students and teaches the difference between wild and domesticated animals. You’ll learn about parrot behavior in the wild and how we can support those natural behaviors in captivity. We can tailor this presentation for your age group if you have older students who would benefit from a deeper look at domestication.
Meet The Birds!
Appropriate for all ages
Time: 30 minutes (15-minute pre-recorded video followed by 15-minute Q&A)
Cost: $25 for a family, $50 for a classroom
We provide an exclusive 15-minute Meet-The-Birds video where you will learn about the history and personalities of several of our birds. Following the viewing, one of our staff members will join your group for a private Q&A session where you are welcome to ask about the birds in the video or any questions you may have related to our work at Foster Parrots!
Sanctuary Tour Q&A
Appropriate for all ages
Time: 20-minute Q&A session
Cost: $20 for a family, $40 for a classroom
This Q&A session is meant to accompany our virtual sanctuary tour, found on the Foster Parrots YouTube channel. The video is free to view at your convenience. During your session, a staff member will join your group to answer any questions you have about the sanctuary tour!
Custom Presentation
Cost: Varies
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? Contact us with your ideas and we’ll create a custom presentation for your group!
To book an online presentation, email us at Education@fosterparrots.com.
Sanctuary Tours and Presentations
We look forward to meeting you and will do our best to accommodate your schedule, but please understand that our top priority is caring for our residents. Consequently, tours are usually scheduled between 1p and 3p, and are subject to staff availability. We offer packages that combine educational programs with tours of our facility. We’ll put together a program you won’t forget.
Offsite Presentations
We travel throughout Southern New England or Southeastern New York, bringing humane education programming to groups who are not able to visit our facility. We also offer on-site presentations and tours. Most presentations are about an hour long, but workshops and special programming options are also available. Please note that we do not bring parrots to off-site programs. Instead, we provide photo-rich presentations with a proven track record of keeping children and adults engaged.
Internships, Merit Badges and School Projects
Merit Badges/Scout Projects: Whether you’re a Cub Scout or an Eagle Scout, our sanctuary is a great place to put your feet on the ground and your ideas to work! From “nut drives” to habitat enrichment, we appreciate every opportunity to collaborate on service projects that teach real-life skills and improve our residents’ quality of life.
Internships & Independent Studies: Internships at The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary are unpaid and educational in nature. We strive to develop programs that complement various curricula and provide students with a valuable experience. To apply, submit your resume (or C.V.), a letter of introduction and a listing of your school’s internship requirements to danika@fosterparrots.com. *Please note that Foster Parrots does not provide interns with transportation or housing.
Events and Outreach Tables
If an outreach table is more appropriate, we’re pre-packed and ready to go with minimal notice. Be advised that, as a 501(c)(3) organization, it is difficult for us to cover registration fees for outreach events. Consequently, requests to attend events that require fees will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
