Column: Animal welfare gets a lifelong start at after-school lessons
A Pasadena Humane Animal Control Officer speaks with a group of Junior Volunteer club members. Pasadena Humane offers after-school clubs and summer programs for children.
As a working mom, I did a lot of searching for summer camps and after-school programs when my son James was younger. For all you parents, grandparents, and caretakers out there … please know that Pasadena Humane is an amazing resource for out-of-school time!
Just this summer, more than 250 kids and teens attended summer camps at Pasadena Humane.
Now, we are launching our fall programs. Our after-school Jr. Vets and Jr. Volunteers clubs offer an incredible opportunity for young animal lovers to learn and make a difference.
Jr. Vets, ages 7-11, dive into engaging topics such as veterinary health, wildlife conservation, and the world of animal careers. Shelter experts in the fields of veterinary medicine, animal behavior and wildlife rehabilitation make guest appearances in our clubs.
Jr. Volunteers, ages 12 -14, actively participate in meaningful service projects in the realms of animal husbandry and shelter enrichment. They assemble care packages for neonatal kittens, make “pupsicles” for shelter dogs, and help with shelter needs, such as cleaning animal training rooms. Volunteers receive service hours for each club they attend while practicing the values of responsibility and teamwork.
Pasadena Humane even has our own scout badge. Groups of up to 20 scouts are led through educational journeys and service tasks that meet patch requirements ranging from Brownies to Cadettes.
A team of passionate educators facilitate our Humane Education programs. They care deeply about fostering compassion and a love for animals in the next generation.
Khushi Iyengar is one of those amazing humane educators. “My absolute favorite part of the job is witnessing those ‘lightbulb’ moments when kids make a meaningful connection with an animal or truly grasp the importance of animal welfare,” explains Khushi.
Crafting an engaging and fun learning experience for kids takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work.
Before the kids arrive, there’s lesson planning tailored for different age groups, setting up hands-on activities, and coordinating animal experiences that bring the lessons to life.
Once the kids arrive onsite, Khushi’s day shifts into high gear. She and her colleagues, both staff and volunteers, guide participants through various activities and learning experiences.
“There’s something incredibly special about seeing a child’s eyes light up when they learn something new, whether it’s about animal behavior, the role of shelters, or how they can make a difference,” says Khushi.
Khushi believes that our programs have a profound and lasting impact on participants. She loves working with teens who have been participating in humane education at Pasadena Humane throughout their childhoods and have grown into animal advocates and volunteers.
“These moments are a reminder of why I do what I do,” Khushi shares. “They are powerful affirmations that the work we’re doing is planting seeds of compassion and empathy that will hopefully grow throughout their lives.”
The fact that Pasadena offers programs for children is surprising to some people, even though Humane Education has been a part of our mission of compassion and care since our founding in the early 1900s. Please help us spread the word.
Our next session of clubs for kids and teens starts in October.
We also schedule periodic one-time workshops and we offer birthday experiences for kids. A VIP experience for up to three children provides tours of our dog kennels, cat center, and critter house, ending with the birthday child naming a shelter animal.
For larger groups, tours are followed by a craft activity and birthday celebration in our classroom.
To learn more about Humane Education at Pasadena Humane, schedule a party, or enroll your child in an upcoming program visit pasadenahumane.org/kids
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane.
This blog post originally appeared as a column in the Pasadena Star-News on September 13, 2024.
