Are you up for the challenge? 

Animal Welfare Warriors is an elevated learning experience is for 13-15 year-olds who are motivated to understand and be active in the world of animal welfare. Participants will see the Humane Society of Chittenden County from the inside and will learn directly from the staff. We will cover shelter medicine, the history of animal welfare, what it takes to run an animal shelter, our community’s needs, open adoptions and the process of taking in animals and caring for them. At the end of this week long adventure graduates will be able to advocate for animals in need and speak to the role that shelters play in our community.

This is not your average animal lover’s program! Students will be involved in hands-on learning and exploration.

2025 Dates: 

Monday June 23rd - Friday June 27th 
8:30AM - 12:30PM
Cost: $300
Limit 10 students per session. 

How to Apply:

The initial application period for 2025 sessions has ended, and all spots have been filled. Any new applications received will be automatically added to our waitlist.

About Our Placement Process:

In an effort to make our programs more equitable and accessible to our community’s youth, we accept initial applications for program spots over a 2 week period (December 16th - December 30th 2024). Applicants are then selected to register via random lottery system, based on the spots available. Anyone who is not placed in a session will be added to our waitlist.

Applications received during our initial application period are entered into our initial camp placement process. Applicants are notified by email within 1-2 weeks about either placement in a program or on the waitlist. 

Basic Overview of Curriculum:

• Introduction to HSCC, the history of animal welfare and shelter medicine
• Intake/relinquishment of animals and adoptions
• Animal socializing, feral cat colonies/TNR Program, and animal cruelty investigations
• Dog training/behavior, dog genetics, and breed-specific labeling

As a working humane society, we provide care for animals with a wide variety of personalities, behavioral and medical needs. Although campers/students will see animals during their program, we cannot promise a certain amount of direct animal contact.

CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY:

In the event of cancellation, a full refund can be issued if requested at least 30 days before the the program start date. Cancellations with notice given less than 30 days before the program start date are not eligible for a refund. 

If you need to cancel because of COVID-19 or other illness, please reach out to us as soon as possible. We also recognize that summer plans change and occasionally we are able to switch camp weeks if an opening becomes available.

For all cancellation and refund inquiries, please reach out to us at  education@hsccvt.org.

Learn more about our other humane education programs: Camp Paw Paw and Humane Heroes Workshop!