Wow! I’m so excited about the fantastic response I received to my first email update to subscribers this weekend. Matter-of-fact, I’m so excited that I rescheduled the post that was planned for today and wrote this one instead. 🙂
Much of the feedback was about Animals Who Educate (AWE). I’m inspired by the fact that so many people said they’re looking forward to learning more about AWE. I hope that means you’re all also looking forward to discussing it, because our conversations are going be a major driving force in building the organization.
What is Animals Who Educate?
The idea for AWE was born on this blog three years ago. The name "Animals Who Educate" was suggested by the first person who commented on the post and the name TOTALLY stuck. (Thank you, Hope!) The original objectives – only slightly revised – are still the cornerstones of the plan.
- providing guidelines, training and certification for volunteers,
- promoting the program to educators,
- bridging the gap between schools and volunteers, and
- creating and distributing a standard curriculum to be used by schools and volunteers throughout the country.
How Do We Start?
The first task is to brainstorm and determine as many of the challenges that the organization will face as we can. The second task is to spread the word far and wide and bring more people to the conversation.
How Determining Challenges Will Inform the Blueprint for the Organization
The objective of the organization is a challenge in and of itself – to reach as many children as possible and to encourage and nurture an empathy for animals within them. However, building an organization that can make a difference on the national level will involve many OTHER hurdles – legal, logistical, gaining acceptance, financial, etc.
One challenge in particular that came to mind a year or so ago was how to efficiently communicate with, and coordinate, so many volunteers. After some time, thought and research, I realized that AWE lends itself perfectly to a structure like Intermountain Therapy Animals uses for the R.E.A.D program. (Read about how becoming a R.E.A.D. team works.)
Identifying the challenges to be faced will help us make a better plan for what to do and how to do it.
OK, Get To Work!
First: Monumental to tiny and everything in between… what hurdles and complications do YOU see Animals Who Educate needing to clear along the way? Leave a comment!
Second: Forward this post (by email, facebook, Twitter, etc.) to everyone you think may be interested in joining the conversation.
I worked for 12 years taking farm animals to schools, malls, and stores. The most problems we had was that ignorant people thought we were abusing our animals because they were not obese(yeah, right) People will not tolerate the slightest notion that animals are not perfectly cared for. Even if you PROVE them wrong. Places worry about animals “filth”, or hair, or drool….so maybe keep folks aware of those things (no wet mouth, skin issues, dewormed…..) Good Luck!
One more thing….what are we educating folks about? Should a dog be overindulged, until it is obese, obnoxious, rude, dominant….you name it? Some people have this idea in their heads that dogs should not be treated like dogs, but more like humans, which is NOT good for dogs!
The initial plan is to take animals into schools for the most basic education purposes – to expose children to the concept that animals are thinking, feeling creatures who deserve our empathy. I would like to build a program that starts in elementary schools (most important) and eventually reaches through to high school. Sessions with older kids could delve into more complex topics like diet and training.
I agree with you re: overindulging – dogs are dogs and treating them like children can potentially lead to many unhealthy consequences.
I think it will be helpful to ensure people know AWE is not a rescue organization. Of course (I think) AWE would certainly be able to point folks in the right direction to reputable rescue organizations. I think the R.E.A.D. structure looks good. I’m looking forward to getting involved with my Sami, a sweet Shepherd-mix.
Hi Hope!! 🙂 That’s a good point. I’ll keep that in mind while working on the website and the documentation.
Could we “cheat” a little bit by using some 4-H materials?
http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/curriculum/4-h-dog/
It’s not cheating if they want to share. 🙂 We probably could use some of that for middle school and up. I have gathered some other lessons plans from various sources that might help as well.
I’m envisioning AWE Pets will visit classrooms for short periods, like 20 to 30 minutes per class, once or twice per week. That’s what Snick and I did when we were part of the ASPCA’s humane ed program in Manhattan. That was elementary school though. Sessions could be longer with older kids, if the schools were willing to do it. There’s a challenge! Finding ways to get schools to see the benefits of having volunteers visit with their pets.
YAY. I think you should do some demo videos. I think most of us have no clue but you’ve actually done this. That might also help to “sell” it to the schools too.
That is a VERY good idea. I’ll have to find some kids to do a demo with me and Snick at some point. I don’t even have photos of our past visits (schools don’t allow photos to be taken with the kids).
I haven’t had a chance to think of what I want to say but for now I will say “Yaaayyyy! Good work!”
LOL. Thanks! And, I’m expecting more than that when you have a chance to gather your thoughts.