Helping Endangered Species

What is an endangered species? Why are many animals and their habitats disappearing? Learn about endangered species in the wild here in New England, and around the world, and what we can all do to help them. Don’t miss meeting some of their animal relatives up close and personal!
(Live animal, or live animal hybrid, with an option for a crocodilian)

Not Really So Scary Animals

Some animals like sharks, snakes and spiders we think of as scary, but are they really when we learn more about them? Many seemingly “scary animals” have really important jobs in nature, even helping people! See giant megalodon shark teeth and don’t miss meeting some not really so scary animals too!
(Live animal hybrid)

Terrific Turtles

What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? How big can a sea turtle grow? Are all turtle shells the same? Find out for yourself! Learn more about our wonderful shelled friends and meet some real turtles at the end!
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Sensational Snakes!

Some people fear snakes, but we often fear what we do not understand. Snakes look very different and move very differently from many other animals, but anything that is different can be amazing too. Learn how snakes act as important predators and help people in many ways we may not realize. What should you do if you see a snake? Come find out and meet some very sssssspecial guests.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Wild World of Reptiles

What is the difference between a lizard and a snake and a crocodile and an alligator? Can turtles really leave their shells like they do in the cartoons? Are snakes really slimy? Learn more about our wonderful scaly friends and meet some reptile special guests.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Leaping Lizards!

From a tiny anole and a huge Komodo dragon to the venomous Gila monster, lizards can look very different. How are they similar? How do their differences actually help lizards survive around the world and even here? Find out about some of the amazing abilities of different lizards and don’t miss our special lizard guests.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Creepy Crawlies

How do you move if you don’t have legs? Hiss without using your mouth? Eat by using a built-in straw? Learn about some of the strange and creepy critters from our wild and wacky world of animals. Don’t miss a visit with some live creepy creatures! 
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Animals of the Rainforest

Learn about rainforest animals around the world. A wet, leafy habitat requires animals have special adaptations to survive. How do they find food and avoid predators in the forest? Do they climb? Do they change color? How do some species deal with extreme temperatures and other challenges? Come find out as you meet some rainforest animals up close, and learn more about about their wild relatives.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Animals of the Desert

Learn about desert animals from the US and around the world. In a hot, dry desert, animals have special adaptations that help them survive. How do some species deal with extreme temperatures and other challenges? How do they find food and avoid predators? Do they dig? Do they change color? Come find out as you meet some desert animals up close, and learn more about their wild relatives.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Animals of the Desert vs Rainforest

From a hot, dry desert to a wet, leafy rainforest, all animals have special adaptations to survive in their habitats. How do they find food and avoid predators? Do they dig? Do they climb? Do they change color? How do some species deal with lots of water, or very little water? Come find out as you meet some desert and rainforest animals up close, and learn about how their wild relatives survive.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid)

New England Animals in Winter

Brrr, winter is cold in New England! How do animals survive here? Learn about what mammals, birds, insects and reptiles do in the winter.
(Live Animal/Live Animal Hybrid option with cold blooded animals only)

Reptiles in Winter
Around the World

Winter is cold in New England, but not everywhere! Learn how animals survive freezing temperatures, floods or other winter challenges in different parts of the world. Who is active and outside? Who is sleeping or hiding? Who is freezing? Find out what some of our local animals, and others around the world, do to survive their winter seasons.
(Live animal or live animal/hybrid available with some cold blooded special guests)

Animals in Spring

Spring is a time of change! Some animals are emerging from hibernation while some have been active all winter.  Others might be singing, or even look like they are dancing, to show off. Learn up close and personal about animals in the spring here in New England, and beyond, and learn more about about their wild relatives.
(Live animal or live animal hybrid with some cold blooded special guests)

Working with Dangerous Animals
(1 hour)

Venomous snakes, massive pythons, alligators and polar bears, what do they all have in common? They are all considered dangerous animals! What is it like to work with animals like cobras or rattlesnakes? Find out what some scientists are learning about venomous snakes by studying them in the wild and captivity. Learn how animal keepers and scientists stay safe when working with captive alligators or wild crocodiles. Why is it important to train captive polar bears, sea lions and even sea otters in zoos? (Live animal hybrid option will include meeting some live animals during the program)

Can be customized for a shorter 30 minute program

Creepy Crawlies and other Creatures of the Night
(1 hour or 30 minute option)

At some times of the year, like Halloween, we often think about many creepy creatures in the animal world, including many that are active at night. How do you hiss without using your mouth? Eat by using a built-in straw? From animals that look creepy like spiders and bats, to those that just sound creepy, many of these creatures include important predators that help us unseen under the cover of darkness. Learn about some of the amazing talents of some of our creepy animal friends and what you can do to help them help us! (Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Oceans of Reptiles!
(1 hour or 30 minute option)

We think of reptiles as land animals, but what about those that live in or around the ocean? Sea turtles are seen in many oceans around the world, but what about other reptiles? From large snakes like boas and pythons to smaller sea snakes, many snakes can be seen in and around water! But what about lizards? Some are very good swimmers as well! Learn about a variety of reptiles, including crocodilians. Why might they be in the water? What adaptations help them survive in the water, including the ocean, come find out!

Don’t miss meeting some live reptiles up close!  (Live animal or live animal hybrid)

Joy working with venomous snakes in the field with the Copperhead Institute

Working with Dangerous Snakes

What is it like to work with cobras, mambas, gaboon vipers and large constrictors in captivity? Learn what amazing things these animals can teach us and the importance of current research on venomous snakes being done right now in the wild around the world and even in the Northeast. You never know, a venomous snake may save your life some day! Find out this and much more.
(Live animal hybrid option will include some non-venomous snakes)

Working with Alligators & Crocs

Crocodilians like alligators, crocodiles and caimans are amazing animals. Powerful, smart and resilient, they have survived since ancient times, despite over hunting and habitat loss around the world. Learn about scientists and their work with crocodiles in Belize and efforts to help local communities co-exist with these living dinosaurs. Find out what is it like to work with these animal in the wild and in captivity!
Live animal hybrid option available with special guests

Fintastic Sharks!

Sharks are ancient and amazing animals. How large were the teeth of the pre-historic megalodon shark? How does a shark find its food? Just how smart are sharks? What is it like to be under water diving with them?  Learn what makes these animals special with images of great white, hammerhead, tiger, lemon, whale sharks and so much more.

Our Amazing Bats

Halloween is coming, and there will be bat decorations everywhere, but where are the real bats outside? What time of year should we see bats? Bats are amazing creatures and have very important jobs in nature if we know when and where to look for them. Learn more about the bats in New England, how they find food, and how they are different from some other kinds of bats around the world!

Wild about Horses!
(1 hour or 30 minute options)

Before we had cars, horses were one way people could travel long distances. Now horses are often considered more of a partner with their human riders. From the small Icelandic horse to a large Cheval Canadien, horses are found around the world and come in many colors, patterns and sizes. Learn about some of the different types of horse and what makes each of them special. Have you ever wondered how horses are trained? Do they all move the same way? How do they sense the world around them? Learn how they communicate with each other and us! This is a great chance to ask your questions and learn more about these amazing animals!

Joy has extensive experience riding and training horses, including competing at an advanced level.

More options!

More program options include:

Magnificent Marine Mammals

Sensational Sea Serpents

Want another topic? Just ask it may be in process!

Magnificent Mammals

Learn about some of the amazing large mammals across the US, like bears, seals, sea lions and big cats. What do big cats and sea lions have in common? Find more about these amazing creatures and which ones can be found here in the Northeast!

(Note: Magnificent Marine Mammals also an option)

Our Feathered Friends

Many birds may visit our backyards during the year. Some are colorful, some are comical, but all can be fun to watch. Learn about our backyard birds and what brings them to our neighborhoods. Experience the sights and sounds of some of our most beautiful neighbors!

The Furry and Fuzzy:
Our Backyard Mammals

Various mammals live in and around our backyards. What makes a mammal different from other animals? How do you know which mammals are spending time in your yard? Learn more about our rabbit, chipmunk, squirrel and fox neighbors and learn how to tell by their tracks who is visiting!

Fabulous Frogs

We have many species of frog here in the United States. Some frogs prefer grasslands, some woods, some desert habitats. Some make funny sounds too! Learn about the biggest, the smallest, the good tree climbers and so much more.

Super Frogs! Early Spring Wildlife of Vernal Pools

What is a vernal pool? It is a fresh water pool that may only have water in winter, spring and early summer and may dry up by fall. Some adult animals may only use the vernal pool for a short time each year. On cold, wet spring days, even when ice is still on the surface of the water, wood frogs and spring peepers emerge from their winter slumber far before other frogs. Learn more about these “super frogs” and the special ways they, and other early spring vernal pool visitors, survive.

Fairies, Frogs and Damsels: Spring and Summer Wildlife of Vernal Pools

In the spring vernal pool animals are often in a race against time for survival before the pool dries up during the summer. From fairy shrimp to damselflies, green frogs and painted turtles, learn about these seasonal pools and the many creatures that might inhabit them.