Virginia Wildlife Education and Outreach Programs

Empowering Communities With Knowledge to Protect Local Wildlife

Welcome to our platform dedicated to Virginia’s native wildlife species. Our mission is to educate communities about the importance of living in harmony with wildlife and to raise awareness of the threats these animals face, including illness, habitat loss, and human interaction.

Through engaging wildlife outreach programs and classroom experiences, we give students and community groups the rare opportunity to meet non-releasable native wild animals up close. Trained animal handlers lead every program, ensuring safe, respectful, and educational interactions that prioritize animal welfare.

Close-up of a young opossum standing on grass in sunlight with a small enclosure fence behind it.

Educational Programs That Inspire Stewardship

Our outreach programs help educators meet Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) objectives while fostering curiosity and respect for the natural world. Participants learn about:

  • Virginia’s native wildlife species and their habitats

  • The role wildlife plays in healthy ecosystems

  • Common misconceptions about wild animals

  • The real dangers wildlife faces and how people can help protect them

We customize each program for any age group, subject area, or time frame, making these experiences ideal for schools, homeschool groups, libraries, camps, and community events.

Eastern box turtle walking through bright green grass outdoors.

Program Length and Group Size

Each wildlife education program lasts approximately 45 minutes.

To reduce stress on our education animals and create meaningful, up-close learning experiences:

  • The ideal group size is fewer than 40 participants per session.

  • We offer up to two sessions per day, allowing larger groups to divide into smaller sessions when needed.

Program Pricing

Our pricing structure helps support the ongoing care of our education animals:

  • Local programs:

    • $200 for one session

    • $325 for two sessions

  • Travel outside the local area:

For locations 25 miles or more from Roanoke, we charge an additional $0.75 per mile

Juvenile gray squirrel sitting on a wooden deck inside a screened outdoor enclosure.

Animal Welfare Comes First

The health and well-being of our wildlife ambassadors always come first.

  • If a group becomes excessively loud or uncooperative, we will end the program to protect the animals.

  • We ask all participants to remain seated during the presentation to minimize stress.

  • Most animals are observation-only, allowing participants to learn while respecting natural behaviors.

By participating in our programs, you help promote wildlife conservation, education, and responsible coexistence — while giving students an experience they won’t forget.