The SPCA’s Humane Education Department, established in 1883, offers programs and services for children and adults of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors. Our goal is to help build a kinder community; by incorporating the values of kindness, compassion, responsibility, and empathy into our programs, we inspire individuals to join us in our mission.

GET ON OUR EMAIL LIST and be the first to know about all Humane Ed programs and openings!  You can even volunteer and help us teach children about the importance of compassion for all living things. Just send your contact information to Director of Humane Education Christine Davis at HumaneEducation@yourspca.org!


 

Camps

REGISTER: Kindness Camp Summer Session June – August 2023 >>

SPCA KINDNESS CAMP INFORMATION:
The SPCA Serving Erie County has three sessions of Kindness Camp scheduled for 2023!

Keep the kids busy during school break by signing them up for one day or all days of Kindness Camp Feb. 20 – Feb. 24 or April 3 – 6! More >>

Summer camp sessions are back in full swing June – August, as the SPCA offers eight exciting themes for children ages 6 – 14! More >>

Be the first to know about future camp dates and learn about early registration before details are released to the general public! Just send an email to HumaneEducation@yourspca.org to get on the list! And remember, space will be extremely limited so don’t wait! REGISTER TODAY!


Tale for Two

Tale for Two is  a “reading-to-animals” program for children ages five through 16, encouraging them to read aloud to adoptable shelter animals or SPCA Paws for Love therapy pets! Animals will benefit from the increased socialization and reduced stress levels, while children will work on their literacy and reading skills, building their self-esteem and confidence.

Tale for Two 2023-2024 Programs >>

If you are a parent, teacher, or group leader looking for more information on Tale for Two, please contact SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis at 716-875-7360, ext. 262 or christined@yourspca.org.


Humane Education Programs

Education is an essential part of the SPCA’s mission. The SPCA Serving Erie County is now offering virtual programming, providing interactive, engaging experiences. Programs are tailored to the audience’s age level and interests, and are available to groups of any kind, including schools, clubs, homeschool groups, learning pods, early childhood groups, and community organizations.

-Field Trips
-Presentations
-Other school programs

For information on the above, please contact SPCA Humane Educator Katherine at
(716) 875-7360, ext. 234, or HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.


Scout Compassion Program

For Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and older scouts. The SPCA’s Scout Compassion Program consists of different levels. Troops are given the option of coming for a general tour or participating in our patch program. Tours are scheduled on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. All patch program activities are done during troop meetings or at home, and each scout will receive a patch at the end of his or her visit. Girl Scout opportunities are listed below. To learn more about opportunities offered for other scouts, to schedule a tour, or if you’d like further information about our patch program, please contact Katherine at the SPCA:  (716) 875-7360, ext. 234 or katherineg@yourspca.org.

Brownie Patch Program
Daisy Patch Program
Junior Patch Program

Cub Scout Program


Other Ways to Help Animals at the SPCA

Form your own animal club.
Complete service learning projects.
Fundraising projects.

These are all ways children and adults can help the animals at the SPCA Serving Erie County!

The SPCA relies on the generous support of our community. We receive hundreds of inquires annually about how troops, schools, groups, individuals, or agencies can help the SPCA.

If you believe in the important message of humane education and are interested in sponsoring or supporting one of these programs, please call SPCA Director of Humane Education Christine Davis at 716-875-7360, ext. 262.

If you or your child are interested in holding a fundraiser to support the SPCA, please find more information and fundraising packets for children and adults here.


Humane Poster & Creative Writing Contest

We’re making changes! This competition, created in 1895 and one of the oldest in Erie County, is being revamped and revised to better suit today’s youth. Look for more information soon!


 

Tours of the SPCA

Come learn about the SPCA, view our available animals looking for homes, visit our Educational Farm, take a trip down to our Wildlife Center, and witness the SPCA staff and volunteers in action! We are able to accommodate groups of 45 children and/or adults per tour. For more information, please contact Katherine at (716) 875-7360, ext. 234, or HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.


Community Presentations

Let the SPCA Serving Erie County come to you! Representatives of the SPCA can visit your business, organization, club, retirement home, etc. to teach participants about animal-related topics. We offer several different presentation lengths and can accommodate groups of all sizes. For more information on the topics we offer, please call Katherine at
(716) 875-7360, ext. 234, or HumaneEducation@yourspca.org.

Information on school group presentations can be found below under the heading “School Programs and Presentations.”


Get Email Updates