Outreach and Education

Tree House has always been committed to providing animal related education to the Chicagoland community with our group and classroom presentations, service learning opportunities, field trips, and youth volunteer program.

Educational Presentations

Tree House offers several presentations at varying age levels to best meet your needs. One of our educators will work closely with you to determine which presentation is most appropriate for your situation, and we can provide "leave behind" materials you can use to further integrate the study of the humane treatment of animals into your class or group’s work.

Our presentations include:

This program is designed to give very young children the chance to learn how to approach and interact with animals. They will learn that sometimes animals, just like people, are afraid of loud noises or something new. Stories about Tree House and Tree House cats will be shown on video, and a live cat ambassador from Tree House will give children a chance to appropriately interact with a cat, in a gentle and safe way, on an individual basis.

This interactive presentation challenges young students to put themselves in a cat’s shoes. Students will learn how cats communicate and how to approach and interact with animals in a safe and positive way. They will learn about basic care and needs of companion animals, and why there are not enough homes for all of the animals being born. They will learn about what Tree House does to help stray cats, and how they can help homeless animals themselves. Video stories help illustrate what can happen to a cat if not properly cared for.

This presentation is targeted toward students with a basic knowledge of animals and pet care, or to groups within neighborhoods with a large number of stray cats. Students will be educated about how animals become homeless and the number of animals who are in need of homes. Interspersed within the program are video stories of cats from Tree House, illustrating points about what happens to homeless animals. We will explain the need for shelters and how Tree House and others help animals, including a discussion of Trap-Neuter-Release as a way of helping strays.

This presentation emphasizes the need for good basic care of companion animals. It will help students understand that animals have feelings and do suffer when they are neglected or abused. We will discuss the importance of good care for pets and how animals are neglected when they are not given proper care. We will include information about how Tree House and other animal shelters help homeless animals and what students can do to care for their pets and help all animals. Interspersed within the program are video stories about cats from Tree House, illustrating points about what happens to homeless animals.

Service Learning and Field Trips

Tree House can help with service learning projects, including ideas about how kids can help raise money and resources for our facilities. Field trips to the shelter, including a guided tour and additional information, may be arranged for a limited number of people at a time.

Junior Volunteer Program

Tree House also offers a Junior Volunteer program for youth who are 12 to 16 years of age to volunteer under the leadership of Tree House staff members. This program takes place every Saturday morning from 9a-12p and provides a hands-on experience working directly with the cats, while always emphasizing humane education in a safe, inclusive environment. To get started, email volunteer@treehouseanimals.org.

For more information or to schedule an educational presentation, please contact:

Kate Boisseau
Education Outreach Coordinator
773 784 5488 ext. 301
kate@treehouseanimals.org

If you are interested in becoming a Tree House educational outreach volunteer, please contact volunteer@treehouseanimals.org