Humane Education

“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

The VBSPCA Humane Education Program cultivates kindness and empathy in children by teaching them to understand and respect the feelings of others. Our programs are built on a philosophy of teaching that integrates respect, empathy, and compassion into classroom lessons, stories, and everyday life. The Virginia Beach SPCA educates nearly 10,000 children annually through our many humane education programs, including school programming, week long camps, and one-day workshops. By instilling a sense of responsibility into these children, the younger generation is empowered to make more compassionate choices, setting the foundation for today’s children to grow into a kinder, more compassionate tomorrow.

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Camps
The VBSPCA offers week long spring break and summer camps for children ages 6-12. Camps provide a behind the scenes look at an animal shelter as well as some on site excursions. Campers can look forward to guest visitors, animal-inspired arts and crafts, critter time, and more.

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Workshops
We offer a variety of single-day workshops for youth, including our popular Vet-for-a-Day workshop and our brand new Kitten-Around workshop. Each session includes themed activities to engage your youth while offering education, entertainment, and enrichment. Workshops occur year-round on select dates.

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School Programming
The VBSPCA brings two unique programs to local schools: Compassion Classroom and Listening Ears.  Compassion Classroom is a series of SOL-aligned, character education lessons in compassion, respect, and responsibility. Listening Ears is a program partnering reluctant readers with an animal companion to build confidence and skills.

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Tours
The VBSPCA is happy to offer visiting groups a tour of the shelter. Our tours highlight the cattery, kennel, and small animal room, offering a behind the scenes look at many components of our organization. Tours are offered on Saturdays from 11-3, and they are scheduled by appointment only.

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Parties
The VBSPCA offers a variety of unique party packages blending celebration with education. We can provide all the party elements or you can bring your own, we are happy to work with your preferences.  We have very limited space, so we strongly encourage you to reach out more than 30 days in advance to plan your party.

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For general humane education information, please email humaneeducation@vbspca.com.