New collaboration to teach kids

The Santa Fe animal shelter and New Mexico Wildlife Center are teaming up to help children learn about responsibility, compassion, safety and awareness of the environment.

Caring Kids … Wings and Paws is a five-week educational program targeted for fourth-graders that focuses on companion animals and wildlife. The program is being supported in its first year by a grant from The Rotary Club of Santa Fe.

The two nonprofits have worked in the past engaging in classroom presentations, field trips and summer camps. In developing the new program, organizers said staff and volunteers from both agencies worked with local teachers to incorporate state education standards in each session. The program begins and ends with joint meetings presented by both groups.

“This unique program will reach children at the age where they still have a deep interest in animals and are also ready to develop empathy and responsible behavior,” said Melissa Moore, executive director of the wildlife center.

The collaboration is designed for maximum student attention and interest while focusing on the principles of the nonprofits and to develop empathy toward animals.

For more information about the program, contact the shelter at 505-983-4309 or the wildlife

center at 505-753-9505.