Volunteer
You are welcome to be a volunteer in
one of the animal areas while you are
here visiting the Sanctuary. Find out
how to sign up!

Find out more about the landmark work
being done in our No More Homeless
Pets staff!

Have you ever visited the Best Friends
Network? Join our Network - it's free!

Humane Education
Education Ambassador Program

Our Best Friends Education Ambassador Program offers parents and educators the opportunity to carry the Best Friends message of compassion and kindness to animals to students across the country. Education Ambassadors present outreach programs in both schools and libraries to elementary school audiences (children in the K-6th grade range), although programs can be modified for younger or older audiences). Launched in 2009, we are hoping that this program grows to include education ambassadors in cities and towns in all states throughout the country. Join us in helping to reach tomorrow's leaders with the tools and information they will need to build a sustainable world of No More Homeless Pets!

The four campaigns
All of the outreach programs reflect information about one of our four campaigns:

      Puppies Aren't Products
      Focus on Felines
      Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog
      First Home Forever Home

We provide you with your program blueprints
Each education ambassador receives a packet of information and a CD with all related materials to provide you with the necessary outlines and scenarios for your presentations. Each school presentation has a PowerPoint program (with talking points included) as well as interactive scenarios, leave-behind worksheets and a suggested materials list for your school visit. Topics include: safety around dogs, all dogs need love, wild cat - feral cat!, keeping pets with their families and more. 

The program is designed so that each education ambassador can provide a school with at least eight presentations - enough for once a month for the entire school year, thus keeping the Best Friends message front and center. For libraries, education ambassadors can set up to present either once a month or create an eight week summer library program. Our ambassadors can schedule the right number of schools and libraries presentations to work well with their own commitments.

School presentations
School presentations can be given to either individual classrooms or school assemblies. Private schools and local home school associations should also be included. There are enough school presentations for one visit a month throughout the school year.

Library presentations
Library presentations can be given either once a month or as weekly summer programs. We have suggested reading lists for children K-6 that address the issues of our campaigns. We also offer our "I Read to Animals" presentation guidelines for more library program ideas.  

Apply to Become a Best Friends Education Ambassador

            Join the Best Friends Network at www.network.bestfriends.org OR log into Best Friends Network and go to your profile page by clicking on your name where it says "Welcome" on the right hand side of the Network landing page.
            2. On the left sidebar on your profile page under your picture, click on "Volunteer Profile."
            3. The "Main Menu" page with your name on it will open. Click the "Search All Opportunities" link.
            4. Select Option 1: Show All Opportunities. Click Search All under this heading.
            5. Scroll down to the "Best Friends Education Ambassador" description. Be sure it says "Education" as there is also a regular 'Best Friends Ambassador' near the top of the menu as you scroll down. Keep scrolling until you see "Best Friends Education Ambassador" and click on the hotlink that says "Click here to view more details or to sign up."
            6. Read the Best Friends Education Ambassador description and then click on the email link to contact the Volunteer Coordinator listed for applying to become an Education Ambassador.
           7. You will then be contacted by our Volunteer Coordinator who will begin your registration and training process.
           8. All Best Friends Education Ambassadors must pass a background check. There is a $40 fee for the background check.

Thank you for your interest in helping to educate our young people in kindness and compassion for animals!