Youth Programs

Sharing the value of compassion is an important part of our mission. Youth Programs bring humane education lessons to children of all ages and students in all grade levels.

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AWS’ Youth Programs, led by a state-certified educator, provide interactive humane education lessons for children of all ages, both in the AWS Youth Programs Classroom and out in classrooms, libraries and school assemblies in our community. Our unique and engaging learning opportunities targets three important educational components: literacy, social-emotional learning and animal advocacy.

Humane education lessons incorporate companion animals to help children grow emotionally, socially, culturally and academically. Students who participate in AWS’ Youth Programs are more engaged in their community, more compassionate towards those around them, and more knowledgeable about animals and the world we share.

Literacy & Story Time

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After School Clubs

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Full-Day and Part-Day Camps

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Youth Volunteers

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Classroom Programs

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Special Events

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Youth Blog

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Upcoming Youth Programs

We offer lessons and programs for children of all ages. Check out what’s coming up soon!

  • April 26 10:30 am

    Furry Tales Story Time @ McArthur Library: Apr 26 @ 10:30 am

    Furry Tales Story Time combines pets, literacy and fun! Toddlers, preschoolers and their families explore the exciting world of animals with stories, playtime, crafts, songs, movement and plenty of time […]

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  • May 4 12:30 pm

    Youth Parade Brigade: May Day Festival

    Local families: Join the AWS Youth Parade Brigade! March with Miss Amanda and Bowie behind the AWS van in local community parades. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. All […]

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed eu facilisis libero. Nunc blandit mollis euismod ipsum orci, eu ornare nisi imperdiet non. Integer et congue nulla. In sed semper ante, sit amet interdum urna.

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You’re Invited!

Special Youth Programs with AWS

Special youth programs events take place seasonally at AWS. They are free, family-friendly lessons and celebrations for children of all ages. Unless otherwise noted, please leave family pets at home.

Check out our Youth Programs Calendar to see what special events and learning opportunities are taking place soon.

Spring Bunny Hop

Celebrate warmer days, blooming flowers, and adorable animals with AWS Youth Programs. There will be crafts, stories, face-painting, and springtime animals to meet! Free and fun for the whole family!
(Please leave family pets at home.)

Paloween

At this FREE, non-spooky, family-friendly event, we’ll have fun crafts, a costume parade for the kiddos (parents, bring those cameras to get pics!), trick-or-treating, and a Halloween themed scavenger hunt around the AWS’ campus. The majority of the event will be held outside so please dress accordingly.

Kids, please bring your own trick-or-treat bag or pail so you can go home with lots of candy, treats, and prizes!

Kids Holiday Party

Fun for the whole family*! Get in the holiday spirit with your AWS friends. Stories, snacks, crafts, pets of all kinds and more! Bring a gift for the pets spending the holidays at AWS.

Drop in anytime! We’ll have special guests to read holiday-themed stories. Crafts run for the whole party. Pets, including cats, dogs and small animals, will be available to visit!

Youth Blog

A blog just for AWS’ youngest participants and their families, here we feature helpful humane education projects, upcoming youth events, important announcements, fun learning opportunities and lots of ways for students to get involved with pets at AWS and those right in their community. If you’re a pet-loving student (or teacher) who wants to advocate for and learn about animals, you’ve come to the right place!

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Questions?

For more information, please contact Youth Programs Coordinator via email or telephone at (207) 985-3244 ext. 109.

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𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑼𝒔!

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬
Working with both children and pets takes a special and compassionate person, and that’s exactly how we would describe our Youth Programs volunteers! Alongside our Youth Programs Coordinator, volunteers help children visiting with AWS both inside and outside the classroom with fun games, tasks, education and, of course, animals. With programs like Rescue Readers, Furry Tales, and After School Club, there’s a lot to do around here regarding humane education! We’re grateful for the hard work and dedication of our Youth Programs volunteers who assist in teaching compassion, kindness, and care for all creatures!

Open
𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑼𝒔! 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 Working with both children and pets takes a special and compassionate person, and that’s exactly how we would describe our Youth Programs volunteers! Alongside our Youth Programs Coordinator, volunteers help children visiting with AWS both inside and outside the classroom with fun games, tasks, education and, of course, animals. With programs like Rescue Readers, Furry Tales, and After School Club, there’s a lot to do around here regarding humane education! We’re grateful for the hard work and dedication of our Youth Programs volunteers who assist in teaching compassion, kindness, and care for all creatures!

You’ve probably heard of getting your pet microchipped. But what exactly does this mean? We’re here to break down the ins and outs of microchipping for pets and why it’s so important! Check out our newest blog post online and don`t forget about our upcoming FREE microchip and rabies vaccine clinic this Sunday, April 21 at Waggerstown Pet Supply Store in Wells, ME!

Open
You’ve probably heard of getting your pet microchipped. But what exactly does this mean? We’re here to break down the ins and outs of microchipping for pets and why it’s so important! Check out our newest blog post online and don't forget about our upcoming FREE microchip and rabies vaccine clinic this Sunday, April 21 at Waggerstown Pet Supply Store in Wells, ME!

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