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WESTPORT, Conn. Calling all junior animal lovers. Earthplace, Westport's nature discovery center, is offering a four-week animal care training program for students in grades 4 through 6.
The Junior Animal Care Technician program pairs students with staff members who are trained to work with the center's animals. Through the program, students will help care for and maintain the center's animals. Skills learned will include snake handling, raptor feeding and mammal grooming, among others.
"This program is perfect for students in grades 4 through 6 who are interested in learning more about the animals that live at Earthplace and the daily care involved with each of them," said Linda Roberts, director of Animal Hall.
"Children will experience how to feed, train, water, groom, bathe and exercise the animals, as well as [how to] clean, disinfect and repair their cages. They also play with the animals, provide companionship, and will observe behavioral changes that could indicate illness or injury."
At the end of the training, students show off their newly acquired skills during a Saturday afternoon presentation to family and the public. The program will meet Thursdays, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, from 4 to 5 p.m. The final animal presentation will be Saturday, Feb. 11, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
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