Education & Outreach

The Wildlife Center of Virginia is a teaching hospital, with the mission of teaching the world to care about and to care for wildlife and the environment.

The Wildlife Center has a wide variety of educational opportunities for a range of audiences, including viewing the Center’s online Critter Cam and moderated discussion, unique online opportunities for audiences around the world, field trips and tours of the Center,  and programs presented at locations throughout Virginia.

The conservation themes we emphasize in all of our education lessons are drawn directly from the stories of the thousands of wild animals that arrive at the Wildlife Center’s doorstep every year in need of care. The stories of these animals illustrate the wider problems wildlife face — litter, pesticides, free-roaming domestic animals, habitat loss, and diseases – and challenge people of all ages to take action to protect wildlife.

Online Opportunities
The Wildlife Center offers opportunities for virtual learning through live virtual programs plus the Critter Cams and moderated discussion. 

Highly customizable to your group's needs, virtual programs are a perfect chance to learn more about an individual education ambassador and species, or to virtually tour though the Center's hospital and grounds. 

There are a variety of online resources available for teachers who are interested in supplementing their lesson plans with information on wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation.

Tours & Field Trips at the Center
A visit to the Wildlife Center of Virginia is a truly unique opportunity for your class, club, or group. Learn about the inner workings of a wildlife hospital and take an up-close look at our resident non-releasable raptors. 

Off-site Programs
Invite the Wildlife Center of Virginia to present one of our award-winning environmental education programs at your library, festival, school, organization, or special event. All Wildlife Center programs include up-close experiences with live, non-releasable wild animals – hawks, owls, falcons, snakes, turtles, and opossums.