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April 1, 2007
 Snaffles was a good dog, but never got adopted after four months in the animal shelter because he just didn’t have a lot of personality. But Snaffles’ life was transformed over a summer at Camp Pedee, where his teachers were kids.
Camp Pedee is a breed of summer camp where kids and animals come together, and both benefit. These “critter camps” offer the typical fun day camp activities for kids: play, c reativity, adventure, and new friends.
What makes critter camps unique is, well, the critters. Kids are naturally fascinated with animals, so learning and many life lessons come easy: responsibility, safety, social skills, self-esteem, empathy, unconditional love, respect, compassion, a feeling of peacefulness, and how to be a best friend.
 “The kids in our camp get a feeling of being part of something bigger,” says Melanie Wagner, Director of SPCA Los Angeles’ Camp Pedee, which operates eight summer day camp sessions, each one week long. At Camp Pedee, kids age eight to thirteen learn how to care for and train selected shelter dogs, even exercising together on an agility obstacle course. Campers take pride in creating signs for “their” pets, making pet toys, cooking pet treats, preparing animals for adoption, exercising with dogs on an obstacle agility course, and doing what comes naturally to kids: playing and having fun. Many dogs that graduate Camp Pedee will be adopted quickly, and the proud human camper will eagerly share newly-learned wisdom with the adopting family.
 Snaffles attended five sessions at Camp Pedee and became the camp mascot. Wagner says, “Kids who repeated more than one camp session noticed Snaffles’ development.” Snaffles got a certificate of completion along with the kid campers. Most importantly, Snaffles was adopted. “Many kids wanted to teach Snaffles’ new family about their fantastic new dog,” Wagner says.
 Teenagers also enjoy critter camp. The Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA has summer programs for thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds, who have fun while taking a mature, hands-on approach to learning. In fact, some teens “realize that they can train their parents using the same principles for training animals,” muses Liz Baronowski, Pasadena’s VP of Educational Outreach Programs. When campers reach age fifteen, they can become full-fledged interns, which provides tremendous learning and leadership opportunities. Baronowski says that “parents realize how wonderful the program is,” especially when their teenagers “talk all evening about what they did that day.”
“Every activity has a humane lesson,” says Stacey Zeitlin, Director of San Diego Humane Society’s Animal Adventure Camps, which offers programs for kids age five through thirteen, plus junior counselor opportunities for ages fourteen and older. “Kids want to come back and help out more.” She says, “Kids become prepared to adopt animals, and some do. The program also teaches kids what a great resource our humane society is.” Zeitlin is also lead author of the 239-page Summer Camp Resource Manual available from the Association of Professional Humane Educators.
Yes, when kids discover pets, they discover themselves.
A few more well-known critter camps across America
Brewster, NY
Green Chimneys: Now in its 60th year, day camp and residential camp, especially for children with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. Brewster, NY
Hillside Camp: an offshoot of Green Chimneys, is for all kind of kids, including kids in wheelchairs.
Denver, CO
Dumb Friends League: Critter Camp for 3rd through 5th grade, six one-week sessions. Brand new Critter Careers three-day camp for 6th through 8th grade.
Los Angeles, CA
SPCA Los Angeles’ Camp Pedee. One week sessions.
Kauai, HI
Kauai Humane Society: Critter Camp for 3rd through 5th grade, two one-week sessions. Yes, tourists from the mainland have attended their camps.
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA: summer programs for ages 13-14 with full internships starting at age 15.
Portland, OR
Portland Humane Society: Carol Shiveley, Camp Director for 17 years, says she has “seen kids mature into leaders.”
San Diego, CA
San Diego Humane Society’s Animal Adventure Camps.
San Diego, CA
Helen Woodward Center: Critter Camp, now in its ninth year, also offers on-site conferences for humane educators from around the world.
St. Louis, MO
Humane Society of Missouri: Kids for Critters Camp (pet animals) and Long Meadow Rescue Ranch (farm animals). Ages 9-14.
Let Animal Wow know about other humane education camps. Send us a message.
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