Youth Programs Mission

Our Youth Programs create impactful connections and nurture a healthy relationship between kids and animals. We envision a community where all children have the opportunity to engage meaningfully with animals and learn how to respect, advocate and show kindness for all living beings and the environment.

Virtual Field Trip

For schools outside of our focus areas, we can offer a 45-minute virtual field trip. This virtual visit gives students a behind-the scenes look at our San Diego Campus and what it takes to care for thousands of animals each year! Students will learn age-appropriate lessons about responsible pet care, adoption and the programs and services we offer for pets and their people -  all from the comfort of your classroom! These have been a great succes and a favorite of many classes over the last year!

Please submit the Virtual Field Trip Request Form to schedule your visit!

Request Form

Classroom Foster

Teachers can foster a small pet in the classroom! This program provides a small pet with a break from the shelter while they await adoption and allows teachers an opportunity to incorporate real world lessons about responsibility, kindness and respect into their classrooms. To learn more about this opportunity, please email [email protected].

Classroom Foster FAQs

Classroom teachers currently have the opportunity to foster small pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice. Some of our animals may already be in bonded pairs, so you could potentially have more than one pet, but they would be housed together. You will be matched with a good fit for you and your students!

Yes, but it will depend on who we have available at the shelter. Also, we may encourage you to foster a certain type of animal if we have a large number of them in need at the time!

The minimum time commitment for this opportunity is two weeks, but you could foster the animal until adoption if interested! The length of foster assignments varies based on the needs of the animal and the time it takes for the animal to get adopted. You will receive an approximate duration before you commit to an animal, and we will match you with a foster assignment that works with your schedule, availability and interests.

As a foster volunteer, you will be responsible for providing daily care to your foster pet. We prefer that you take your foster home on the weekends if possible, or you can arrange to come in to the classroom to care for and spend time with them.

San Diego Humane Society will provide most of the supplies needed to care for your foster pet, including a cage/pen, food, bedding and enrichment items. The foster volunteer provides fresh fruit and veggies and additional enrichment items (when appropriate). Having your students make items from our Small Pets DIY Packet is a great way to get them involved in the care of the pet!

Foster volunteers will have access to our online training and volunteer manual. A classroom liaison volunteer will also provide in-person training and support for you to learn more about how to care for and safely handle your foster pet. The liaison volunteer and a San Diego Humane Society staff member will be your point of contacts in case you need any assistance throughout your foster journey! We can also provide a lesson about pet care and responsibility for your students while you are caring for your foster pet.

Yes! We encourage you to spread the word in your classroom and beyond to help your foster pet(s) find a home.

Educational Resources

Please visit our Humane at Home page for videos, handouts, activity ideas and reading recommendations to inspire compassion in kids at school or home!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our outreach programming and opportunities, please contact Staci Hurley at [email protected].