An idea you may be interested in???

[lordkovacs]

Since becoming an elementary school teacher in 2001 I have put on many reptile presentations to the kids in my school. The children are perhaps the best audience for us herp-lovers to educate. They are un-biased and very willing to listen and absorb the information you give them. I strongly feel that if we are to educate the minds of people today regarding reptiles (I'm including lizards in this, though I don't currentlly own any), it should start with children.
Here are my thoughts...
Call your old elementary school (or one in your area), and ask if they would mind if you gave a reptile presentation to the children on an afternoon, as a volunteer gesture. I know almost every school would jump at the chance... first, it gives the teachers a break, and second, it's an invaluable learning experience. If you haven't given a presentation to children, there are some important things to think about.
1)bring a very docile snake that isn't too intimidating...perhaps an emerald tree boa isn't the best option! haha
2)make sure the children wash their hands after touching the snake
3)make sure the snake isn't one that gets stressed from noise
4)present the rules for observing the snake to the children before taking the snake out of the tank (quiet voices, do not approach unless invited, etc...)
those are just a few. I know many people here already do this, so if that's you, AWESOME. For those that don't, perhaps give it a try. It's not for everyone, but it would really make a difference in a child's life...
Thanks for reading...
Cheers all,
MIKE

[LISA127]

I am the latchkey director at my local elementary school, and have been wanting to do this in my latchkey program. The problem I have is, the latchkey setting is not like the classroom setting. It's not as structured, which means the kids aren't as calm. Once I can figure out how to get them to sit and be calm for the sake of the reptiles, I will be doing this also. I know the kids would love it.

[lordkovacs]

they certainly would... what is latchkey? i'm not familiar with that? cheers,
MIKE

[LISA127]

latchkey is a program in the school to care for the kids who's parents work full time. I work before school, from 7 to 9 am, for the parents who work early. Then I work from 3-5:30 pm, for the parents who are at work later. Latchkey is held right in the school, so I release them right to class in the morning. In the afternoon, they come right to latchkey when class lets out. Of course, by the end of the school day they are tired of sitting. This is the problem with bringing the reptiles in. The environment is more chaotic than the classroom.

[LadyHawke]

the problem with doing shows with animals in schools or other public areas, is that these people must have a liability insurance of at least 1 million or you will not be allowed

[LISA127]

I volunteer at my local humane society also, and we did a presentation in latchkey on pet care. The school allowed us to bring a dog in for the presentation, so I'm assuming the reptiles would be ok as far as the insurance goes also?

[lordkovacs]

that's true... about the liability insurance.. it's something to ask about. i know most private schools are forced to have that because they don't have the government to cover it. I guess it's up to the school board. good point. try a private school if the public schools say "no".
Cheers,
MIKE

[lordkovacs]

to add, I personally have done about 15-20 shows and have never been refused... I guess it's up to the individual district board.

[LadyHawke]

i own my own reptile show business, to do any kind of reptile show at schools or in public i have to have liability insurance or no show

[BoidKeeper]

Here's how it works. A mall will not let you in with out insurance because if they are going to get sued they want someone else to get sued too. If your kid is in a school that allows a snake show and your kid gets bit and you decide to sue you're going to sue the school and the show owner. Schools cary insurance so they are covered no matter what. Its up to the individual doing the show to carry their own insurance to protect them selves, not the school. Lots of schools have lots of people bring animals in with out the presenter showing proof of insurance, they're covered already.
Trevor

[Linds]

Originally posted by lordkovacs
3)make sure the snake isn't one that gets stressed from noise


Snakes don't get stressed by noise, they are pretty well deaf. They have no outter ears and can only hear very low, deep pitches.

[lordkovacs]

Linds,
I didn't mean volume..I was talking about when you give presentations to children 6 and 7 years old as I do, they bang things and run around, and hit the tank, stuff like that. I guess it's that the snake can feel them, more then hear them. I don't know why you would point this out on a forum? Did you assume I wasn't aware that snakes have poor hearing? You could have pm'd me...oh well.

[Mike177]

i am accualy doing this soon. i realy got into snakes is probly the 6th grade when the scince teacher had a pair of corn snakes. well he didnt know a great deal about them just there proper care and husbandry. well from there my facination took off! scince i am now in high school i have worked it out with my old teacher to give a presentation on snakes. the kids are bigger then the ones in elementry and a bit more responsible so i will probly be takeing almost all of my snakes except by blood python, and if i do i will be the only one holding it. but it is a great idea and more people should be doing it. i cant speak for everyone but if someone wants to know about snakes and asks me you could be there for an hour! lol i just dont shut up and i love talking about it.

[lordkovacs]

good job Mike... sounds like you'll put on a good show. is your blood py. a little too aggressive? :0) cheers, mike

[Linds]

Wow. Ease up. Don't get all defensive. This is what these forums are for, learning and sharing knowledge. Not everyone knows that snakes cannot really hear much. Just because people keep snakes doesn't mean they know everything about them, which is why we have forums to share and learn :) You said in your post that "make sure the snake isn't one that gets stressed from noise"... which implied to me that you thought a snake could get stressed by volume. I wasn't assuming, the way it was written looked like fact. Had another words such as commotion been used, I wouldn't have made the mistake. No need to jump down my throat, just trying to help :) Why shoud I PM knowledge when there is always someone out there that can benefit? :D

[lordkovacs]

Sorry Linds, my fault. I guess I just thought that you could have added more to the discussion then to simply correct me. But, you are right...some may not realize about the hearing thing, and that's why the forum exists...
sorry,
MIKE