Building a more humane, kinder, and better future
Through a variety of school-based programs and community outreach, our team of humane educators reaches people all over southern Arizona, from school-age to adulthood. Our school-based programs bring humane education right into the classroom, providing interactive lessons on a variety of topics, including:
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s mission and services
- Basic pet care
- Bite prevention
- Wildlife awareness
- Importance of spaying and neutering
- Animal cruelty prevention
- Animal-related careers
Classroom education for your students
Our school-based education programs are designed for your elementary and middle school classrooms through monthly visitations during your choice of either fall quarters, spring quarters or the entire school year.
School-based education programs are offered during the regular school year on weekdays during school hours.
The 2024/25 school year classroom visits will focus on schools in the 85705 area and schools within a 15 minute drive from the HSSA. Any other schools outside of the focus area will be schedules based on availability once all request in the 85705 are filled.
We cannot fulfill requests for June or July due to scheduled summer camps.
Support our classroom visitations!
You can help support our school-based education programs by making a donation to help fund our education visitation in Title I schools. Your gift will allow students to get a well-rounded education that will help them expand their empathy and compassion for animals and become future changemakers creating a safer future for all animal.
Click here to make your contribution today!
School-based education funding opportunities for Title I schools
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona believes that all children should receive quality education on the humane treatment of animals. All Title I schools qualify for our scholarships to receive free classroom education. If you are a staff member at a Title I school, please make sure to select that you are part of a Title I school in our application, which can be found below.
How to apply for our school-based Humane Education Program
If interested, complete the online Education Request Form below. All requests for education programs MUST BEGIN with this application. Please DO NOT call to request outreach.
Due to the popularity of these programs, request must be made during the application period between July 1 - August 15.
This application process helps us assess which schools are best suited for our programs. The application process takes about five minutes to complete. Please be aware that we may not be able to accommodate all requests due to staff, time and resource limitations.
Field Trip Opportunities at HSSA
Visit the HSSA for a behind the scenes tour, Ambassador Animal meet-and-greet and enrichment opportunities.
Field trips are not intended to be petting zoo-type experiences. As part of our larger humane education program, field trips are designed to give kids an understanding of the daily challenges faced by animal welfare professionals, volunteers and the animals in our care.
You are encouraged to participate in our classroom-based education programs prior to a field trip visit, but are not required to do so.
Field trip information:
- Designed for grades 3-12
- Can accommodate a maximum of 50 guests, including chaperones and teachers.
- Run from 9:00 - 1:00 p.m.
- Visitors must bring their own lunch; lunch is not provided.
- Each visitor will need to present a completed liability waiver upon arrival.
- Cost $10 per visitor
Community Service Project
Making a Difference Now
As part of our education program for school-age kids, we strongly encourage completion of a community service project to make a difference now for the pets in our care.
There are endless ideas for a project – limited only by the kids’ imaginations! You are invited to create your own benefit to help the Humane Society’s pets, whether you sign up for our humane education classes or not.
Need some help getting started? Download our service project booklet below to see dozens of do-it-yourself projects.
Youth Service Group Opportunities
Onsite Service Opportunity
- 2 hours of service
- Read to shelter pets OR create enrichment items
- Ambassador Animal meet-and-greet included
- 20 participants (including adult chaperones) maximum
A donation of $150 is required for all youth groups to help HSSA care for the numerous pets temporarily living at the HSSA, plus offset the cost of supplies and staffing.
Payments must be made at least 10 business days in advance of the scheduled service group date. Once payment is received, the group will be confirmed for their service date and will be emailed the wish list and liability waiver.
Where are the HSSA Classrooms?
If you are visiting HSSA's Education Department, you will want to go to the coral Education building.
