Tours & Visits
Summer Camp
Animal Afternoons
Birthday Parties
Calling all teachers! If you are looking for ways that your students can help our community’s homeless animals while learning lessons of compassion and responsibility, then consider having one of our Department of Humane Education staff members pay your class a visit to teach one of the following important lessons. Your class could also take a field trip to our shelter.
This lesson teaches children the importance of proper pet identification and what to do if a pet gets lost. This hands-on activity demonstrates how to make a flyer for advertising a lost or found pet. The program lasts one hour and includes a tour of our adoption center, when conducted at the Richmond SPCA. (Grades 5 - 8) For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
This lesson teaches children the important responsibility of caring for our pets, specifically dogs and cats. Children pick items out of a “surprise” bag and discuss the importance of that particular item to an animal. One of our kid-friendly shelter pets or a puppet may accompany the presentation. If the lesson is scheduled at the Richmond SPCA, a tour of the adoption center will follow. The lesson may include a video and lasts one hour. (Grades K through 5) For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
This lesson invites children to attend a behind-the-scenes tour of our facility and learn how they can help orphaned pets and the Richmond SPCA. During the tour, children learn how the shelter staff and volunteers care for our homeless animals and help them get adopted. Schedule the tour before noon, and children can see vets in our clinic as they perform spay/neuter surgeries. A Power Point presentation accompanies the tour for middle and high school students. This lesson lasts 45 minutes to one hour. (Grades 3 through 12 and adults) For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
Since children account for more than half of all dog-bite victims, this lesson will teach kids how to protect themselves around pets in their neighborhoods. We will teach them how to interact with animals safely, including their own pets, friends’ pets and strays.
A video is included. This lesson lasts one hour, and children can take home an activity booklet. A donation of $1 per child is much appreciated. (Grades K through 6) For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
Children will learn what pets need with the help of Sam and Sophia. This interactive flannel board presentation teaches children about a pet’s basic needs and how these needs are similar to our own. The presentation is about 30 minutes long. (Preschool) For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
Don’t miss the fun at Critter Camp! We welcome children ages 6 to 10 to attend one of our fun and exciting one-week summer camp sessions at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. Activities are pet-related and include arts and crafts, games, skits and animals!
Now’s the time to register for Critter Camp 2008! Week-long Critter Camp sessions are held during the months of June, July and August and costs $150 per child.
This year you may chose either a morning session (9 a.m. to noon) or afternoon session (1-4 p.m.). For more information or to reserve your space, please call (804) 521-1327. Click here >> to download a Critter Camp brochure. If you would like to sponsor a less fortunate Critter Camper, please click here.
Want to spend an afternoon or morning with the animals? In addition to tours, the Richmond SPCA offers the following activities for children:
Join us at the Robins-Starr Humane Center for story time about a special animal. Story time is for children of preschool age, and can be arranged according to a visiting group’s schedule. Mommy groups and preschools are always welcome. One of our own pets or Wags the Puppet will make a special visit to the kids. Every child will go home with a balloon, a sticker and a fun, safe pet-related experience. A $1 donation per child to support the pets at the Richmond SPCA is much appreciated. For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.
Have you ever read to a dog? No? Why, dogs love stories! In fact, some dogs are specially trained to listen to readers, and their people can even help if you get stuck on a word.
Paws to R.E.A.D.®, a joint program of the Richmond SPCA and Sprite’s HERO, gives kids the opportunity to read to dogs at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. These dogs are registered and insured therapy dogs who all love a good book. Sessions are held the second Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to noon. All ages of readers are welcome. To sign-up for a 15-minute reading session, call (804) 521-1327. Bring a favorite title or choose from the wide selection of books in the Richmond SPCA children's room. These dogs even like books about cats!
The Richmond SPCA and a furry friend will present story time at two different Barnes & Nobles locations each month. Join us at the Short Pump location on the second Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. in the children’s department. On the Last Monday of the month we'll be at the Libbie and Broad location at 10 a.m. We’ll read an animal story and have time to pet and play with an animal from the Richmond SPCA.
Children ages 6 to 10 are invited to visit the Richmond SPCA for some fun animal craft time! Kids will complete an animal-related craft (typically lasts between 45 minutes and one hour) that they will be able to take home. Parents are welcome to stick around to help out. A $2 donation per child to support the pets at the Richmond SPCA is much appreciated. To schedule a Crafty Critters session for your own crafty critters and their friends, please call (804) 521-1327.
Children ages 11 to 15 who have demonstrated a strong commitment to animals, are invited to apply for membership to the Animal Brigade. There is a Tuesday squad and a Thursday squad each meeting every other week from 4 to 5 p.m. Children will explore various topics related to animal care and welfare and will develop and implement their own projects to help animals. An application is required to participate in Animal Brigade.
For more information related to any of these programs, please call (804) 521-1327. Please call ahead to reserve your child’s spot.
Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate your birthday at the SPCA! We promise lots of doggone good fun, so schedule your party today. For more information or to schedule a party, please contact our education coordinator at (804) 521-1327. Parties must be scheduled at least six weeks in advance.
Cost: $165 for up to 10 children
$12 for each additional child up to a maximum of 20 children
A $50 non-refundable deposit is due the first day of the month of the scheduled party.
Includes: Party invitations and envelopes (mailed to you for distribution)
Animal-related goodie bags and a balloon for each child
Age-appropriate craft
Age-appropriate game
Party supplies (cups, plates, napkins, utensils, tablecloths, streamers and balloons)
Set-up and clean-up
Animal interaction
Richmond SPCA party administrator
When you contact the education coordinator to schedule your party, you will be asked to provide:
- Your contact information
- Birthday child’s name and age
- Number of children you are inviting to the party
- Age of the children attending the party
You will need to provide food and drink for your party guests. We ask that the drinks not be purple or red. If you bring ice cream, a cooler will be needed. We ask that at least two adults stay for the duration of the party and additional adults are always welcome! For more details, please call (804) 521-1327.