Learning about wildlife, connecting with nature, and having a lot of fun are in store for kids attending the Summer Wild Adventure Programs conducted by EARTH Ltd. in partnership with Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon.

“The program is really cool, kids love it,” said Betsey Brewer Bethel, EARTH Ltd. founder and executive director.

The weeklong educational programs, which start June 19 and run through mid-August, include half-day and full-day sessions for students in grades K-12.

“The kids have a chance to be immersed in the zoo that now has over 850 animals, learn from guest speakers, do arts and crafts and make their own tie-dye T-shirts,” Bethel said. “They have so much fun.”

Beyond fun, Bethel believes the sessions help participants grow.

“It is so important to connect kids with nature in this era of technology,” she said. “But even more so, kids who attend our program leave with a bigger sense of caring. I think it helps them with their own self-esteem. To me when you’re connecting with animals, you’re developing empathy, caring and understanding. What could be more important than that?”

Sessions are done by grade level, and include everything from Zoo Babies & Animal Behavior for kindergarten through second grade youngsters, to Teen Zoology and High School Zoo, for students in grades 7 -8 and 9-12, respectively, who might want to work with animals.

“The zoology courses, which fill up so quickly, speak to the teen who might be interested in a career working with wildlife as a zookeeper or vet,” said Bethel. “It is important for them to find out what they want to do as well as what they don’t want to do with their lives.”

Next year, the program will be bigger, since it will be located in the new Earth Connection Center that is under construction. According to Bethel, this year’s campers will get to watch the progress on that building, “which has been a long time coming; I’ve been thinking about it for 30 years.”

For more information about the 2024 programs visit EarthLtd.org/wild-adventure-programs/summer/ or email Bob Clark, program director, at EarthLtdSummerProgram@gmail.com. Registration is done through the website, with EARTH Ltd. members receiving a 10% discount.

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