Meet a variety of animal ambassadors from around the world, and discover some of their amazing adaptations that help them survive in their native environment. Discover how adaptations that are physical, metabolic (internal), behavioral, or even social can increase their chances of survival. Scientists seek to understand why features that may appear to be strange to our eyes are really structures that help animals survive. During the class, your students will be the scientists attempting to discover the reasons these features exist.   

Let us introduce your students to the World of Birds through a series of images, videos, LIVE birds and bird artifacts (nests, feathers, eggs, wing mounts, etc).  We discuss flight, beaks, feathers, sight, smell and other bird adaptations. Students will see live birds up close.  We partner with the Long Island Parrot Society educators in order to increase the diversity of live birds.

Raptors, including owls, eagles and hawks are for their speed, agility, and accuracy when hunting.  Where did the name “raptors” come from? Our educators utilize storytelling to bring their daily struggles for survival to light including their incredible migrations, and their varied adaptations including hunting strategies, specialized eyesight, silent flight, and much more.  Participants will have the opportunity to handle raptor artifacts such as feathers, talons, and skulls.  We can delve into the long history of falconry, the oldest human-animal cooperative sport.  There is an Owl Pellet Dissection workshop that can be added onto this presentation.

Dig into reading…Dig into Geology!  Participants will learn about the geologic cycle and how various types of rocks are formed.  Ranger Eric will have his personal rock collection on display for you to look, touch, or maybe even hold!  You’ll get lots of ideas about starting your own rock collection.  Lastly, we end with a show-and-tell session, so be sure to bring your favorite rock, fossil or gem to share or ask Ranger Eric a question.  Participants can sign up to receive an identification sheet to start their own rock collection.

We’ll be exploring the realm of bugs, including insects, arachnids and myriapods, and which ones do and don’t make great pets.  Not only will participants get a chance to see these up close but some of these animals will be TOUCHABLE!  Plan for a lively and educational show with plenty of participation.  45 min – 90 min depending on audience participation level.

Although reptiles might not seem as cuddly as mammals at first, to know them is to love them!  Participants will learn the characteristics of a reptile and be able to identify members of the snake, lizard, turtle and crocodile families.  Specific themes such as “The Class of Reptiles,” “Desert vs. Tropical Adaptations,” and “Careers with Animals” are available.  This program can be modified to fit NYS Standards.

Mammals are a diverse and fascinating group of animals that both delight and scare people.  Come see why we love them! They range in size from a tiny shrew to the massive blue whale. Their specializations enable mammal survival in a vast range of habitats. Learning about other mammals gives us further insight into understanding ourselves. Join our CEED Educators as they bring in a collection of mammal skulls, furs, bones and more, and learn why a whale and a wolf are in the same animal group. We look into locomotion, body structure, biology and more, and you’ll also get to meet several of our animal ambassadors.

CEED’s Traveling Rainforest Museum is a marvelous introduction to the physical environment of the rainforest and the overall importance of the world’s rainforests.  Through this immersive experience, students will learn about tropical plants and animals and the symbiotic communities they form.  While the jungle is a very different environment than ours it isn’t necessarily to be feared. Actually, people live there too!  Our program uses a multimedia presentation, LIVE ANIMALS, sights and sounds from the rainforest, as well as artifacts such as seeds, leaves, animal skulls, and more to bring further life to this experience.

This is CEED’s most booked program!  Live animals are an exciting way to connect kids with science!  Wildlife Diversity teaches about the different animal classifications, such as birds, mammals, and reptiles.  This one hour presentation is designed to get kids close to the animals, even learning how to safely touch them!  Animal artifacts may be used as well, including nests, feathers, skulls, or furs.  We can usually cover 5 – 7 animals in an hour.

CEED’s Bobwhite Quail Project is an educational opportunity to teach students about our local ecology, predator-prey relationships, animal life cycles, egg incubation, chick brooding, habitat restoration, and doing something good for the environment through hands-on inquiry learning. This in-school program will detail the life cycle of Quail, their ecology, the history of the project, and benefit to the environment. For more information on the Bobwhite Quail Project, click here.

Each 30-minute program will cover two Tales about animals with Tails such as turtle, deer, skunk, fox, bear and otter. Choose your two favorite animals or book multiple presentations to hear them all.