How the program works and its mission:

When working with animals, children learn empathy, respect and self-esteem. It is a proven fact that animal cruelty in youngsters is associated with future abuse to people, both partners and strangers. If we can teach children compassion for animals, especially for reptiles which so many people have unfounded fears of, we can promote their continued future compassion for others.

We encourage children, ages 8 years and up, to become active in volunteering and working with animals. Specifically within our program, they will work with reptiles, but volunteering can involve being a dog walker at the SPCA, foster care of kittens and puppies and outreach with any rescue program.

Children who participate in the program reap many benefits beyond compassion. They learn to mentor others, excellent research skills, public speaking, and increased self esteem.

In the MaxMan Junior Volunteer Program, the children will progress through a variety of steps: Support and Shadowing, Novice Handler, Handler, Educator and Spokesperson.

The volunteers will receive a training log to record any training they do. This includes buddy shadowing a more experienced Junior Volunteer or Adult Volunteer. Throughout the program, we require the children to research and learn as much about reptiles as possible. This is part of their training, and can be logged and signed by their parents. This research can include attending seminars, herp group meetings, watching Discovery/ Nature programs on reptiles; reading magazines and/or educational Internet sites. Any time a volunteer is at a program and participating is also considered training time.

Support and Shadowing involves providing hand cleaner, providing literature, answering questions accurately and getting help and answers from more experienced handlers, and learning the rules of proper and appropriate public reptile handling. During this time, they will learn the importance of understanding which reptiles make good pets and which do not, and expressing this to the public.

Novice Handlers will be able to handle our calmest and novice type reptiles, including: leopard geckos, bearded dragons, King snakes, ball pythons and turtles and smaller tortoises.

Handlers will slowly learn to understand the body language of larger animals, such as the Boas, the larger Pythons, and smaller monitors. They will be allowed to work with these animals under the tutelage of experienced Adult volunteers. The initial handling experiences are often at home or at the Rescue during quiet times, prior to working the animals in public.