Youth Programming

Sharing the value of compassion is an important part of our mission. We offer humane education programming to our community’s youth, as together we build a more humane world.

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AWS’ on-site Youth Programs, including day camps, Rescue Readers, and after school clubs are on hiatus for the 2024-2025 school year. You can find us out in the community at events and programs, sharing our love for animals and offering humane education lessons to our community’s youth.

Humane education lessons incorporate companion animals to help children grow emotionally, socially, culturally and academically. Children who are introduced to humane education are more engaged in their community, more compassionate towards those around them, and more knowledgeable about animals and the world we share.

Upcoming Youth Programs

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

    Frequently Asked Questions

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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.)

    Youth Parade Brigade

    March with Youth Programs Coordinator, Miss Amanda, and her doodle dog, Bowie, behind the AWS van in local community parades! Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, and so it’s fun for the whole family. Bring a favorite stuffie or your family dog* to join in the fun! Kids receive an AWS cloth backpack and stickers to wear in the parade (as supplies last).

    (*Please be sure that your entire party, including dogs, is comfortable in a parade setting before joining the AWS Parade Brigade.)

    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!

    Questions?

    For more information about the programs we offer our community’s youth, please email or telephone (207) 985-3244 ext. 109.

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    Are you looking to get your cat fixed? Our Community Veterinary Clinic now accepts online bookings for FELINE SPAY/NEUTER appointments. That means you can head right to our website to schedule your cat's appointment while kitty sits in your lap. Slots are currently available for late September through October, so make sure to book today! 

Head to our website and click under Vet Care > Veterinary Clinic > Spay & Neuter Services for more details, and to schedule your appointment!
    Do you have a young puppy eager to get out and play? Are you looking to socialize them with other puppies and their people? If so, then Pop-Up Puppy Playgroup is for you! 

In these sessions, puppies learn to foster positive associations with other dogs all while having fun. Playgroups are like gym class where you get to learn, get exercise, work together, and have fun all in one go! Some playgroup activities that you and your pup might do during these sessions include:

🐾 Playtime with enrichment toys
🐾 Learning activities and games
🐾 Puppy obstacle courses
🐾 Supervised free playtime with other pups to explore and interact

Of course, all of these activities and games will be supervised under the watchful eye of our certified trainers, and owners will gain insights into their puppy's behavior. Our next session is tomorrow, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱 @ 𝟭 𝗽𝗺. Register your puppy today for a day of fun tomorrow!

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲!