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Children participate in activities at their school throughout the school year. A year-end recognition ceremony at the Zoo is in development to honor Kids for Critters participants. Children learn that one individual can make a difference, and working together we can change the world.
This program is especially important because the members of the club become agents of change within their schools. Kids listen to other kids. The Kids for Critters model presents being kind to animals as fun and ”cool.”
Staff lead activities at Kids for Critters Clubs, providing direction and motivation to the kids as they complete activities related to animal issues. Kids have been involved in making posters to hang in their schools to promote proper pet care, collecting used towels and blankets for the Michigan Humane Society, making and selling dog biscuits and kitty herb pots, and preparing for National Tag Day and Be Kind to Animals Week. Individual schools have done an assortment of other activities including creating Pet Care brochures, writing skits, and making presentations to younger children in their schools.
The Kids for Critters club engages children in three areas:
• Personal Choices – making choices for a softer footprint.
• Helping our Community – improving our community for all living creatures.
• Helping the World – Celebrating and saving our earth’s biodiversity.
Kids for Critters have several different messages to impart on others:
• Pet Care – Kids for Critters teach what it means to be a responsible pet owner, including providing proper care and love for an animal’s entire life.
• Humans and Other Animals – Kids can encourage other kids to investigate and question how animals are used in entertainment, including circuses, rodeos, and television. These activities may be fun for some people, but they are definitely not fun for the animals.
• We Can Make A Difference – Children get involved in activities to help animals – not only in their homes, but also in their communities. Kids can help animal shelters with activities such as collecting towels, creating cat toys, or making dog biscuits. They can also help animals at home by creating backyards for wildlife.
Kids for Critters sessions include City Critters, Zoo to the Rescue, Four-Legged Family Members, and Helping People Help Animals.
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