- (559) 338-3216
- info@cathaven.com
- Public Tours (Weds – Mon) 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Educational classes are a great way to get the most of your field trip to Cat Haven! Below is a list of classes that can be taken in addition to the guided tour of our facility.
If you are unable to visit, we can bring our classes to your venue for an additional travel fee if it is located within a 60-mile radius of Cat Haven. For further distances, please call for a price.
Minimum enrollment for all classes is 15 students and advanced reservations are required.
To schedule a class, call (559) 338-3216 or email info@cathaven.com.
Students learn how to interpret animal tracks and identify key characteristics, including stride length and track patterns. They will practice distinguishing tracks from native species and learn how to identify the characteristics unique to each animal. Students will also create a plaster cast of a bobcat paw print to take home as a keepsake.
Recommended for: Grade 3 and above.
Please note: Works best when lunch is eaten at Cat Haven – the plaster casts will need time to cure before they can be taken home.
How does energy move through a food chain? How much energy is lost as energy moves from one level to the next?
Students will explore the flow of energy through a food chain and learn why only a portion of energy is transferred between trophic levels.
This engaging activity helps students visualize an otherwise abstract concept while creating a take-home project they can share and discuss.
Recommended for: Grade 2 and above.
Students are introduced to the study of animal bones and learn how dental structures vary among different species. Through hands-on observation and comparison, students will examine skull structure, tooth shapes, and other adaptations that help animals survive.
The class focuses on the differences between carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores, with an in-depth look at the skeletal and dental adaptations of cats.
Recommended for: Grade 4 and above.
Explore the fascinating relationship between cats and human cultures throughout history. Students will discover how different societies have incorporated wild and domestic cats into their traditions, art, mythology, and daily lives.
Special attention is given to ancient Egypt, where various cat species—including cheetahs, leopards, and caracals—played significant roles in culture and society. Students will examine the ways these animals were valued, represented, and connected to the beliefs of the time.
Recommended for: Grade 6 and above.
Explore the variety of ecosystems where various cat species live and discover how animals adapt to survive in different environments. Students will rotate through interactive discovery stations designed to introduce them to a variety of ecosystems and the unique adaptations that help wild cats thrive in each one.
Through hands-on activities and exploration, students will learn how features such as body structure, behavior, camouflage, and hunting strategies help cats survive in their specific habitats.
Recommended for: Grade 4 and above.
Students explore adaptations that help cats survive and thrive in their environments. They will learn how features such as stripes, spots, coloration, body shape, and behavior can help cats hunt, hide, communicate, and avoid other predators.
To bring these concepts to life, students will design and create a cat mask inspired by the adaptations of different feline species. Each student will take their unique mask home as a keepsake.
Recommended for: Grade 4 and below.
Students explore different ways cats camouflage while creating a colorful paper cat mosaic to take home. Through this hands-on activity, they will learn how spots, stripes, and other patterns help cats blend into their surroundings and why each cat’s markings are unique.
Students will use colorful pieces of paper to design their own cat mosaic while discovering how patterns and coloration can help animals survive in the wild.
Recommended for: Grades K-3
Get an up-close experience with one of our small cat ambassadors during a Cat Chat. In this 30 minute encounter, keepers will demonstrate some of the specialized behaviors our cats know and explain why ambassadors play such an important role at Cat Haven.While Cat Haven staff reserve the right to select an ambassador on the date of the event, possible small cat species include Serval, Caracal, or Lynx. Cat participation varies. Due to Federal law, no touching of the cats is permitted.
During this experience, Cat Haven staff may take your camera or phone to get exclusive and closer photos for you.
How can people and native wildlife share the same spaces? Students explore the ethics and challenges of living alongside wildlife, considering how human activities can affect native animals and their habitats.
Through an interactive game board, students will examine real-world scenarios and explore practical ways communities can reduce conflicts and promote positive coexistence with wild cats and other native wildlife.
This activity encourages students to think critically about conservation, responsibility, and the choices communities can make to protect both people and wildlife.
Recommended for: Grade 3 and above.
Project Survival’s Cat Haven promotes the conservation and preservation of wild cats in their native habitat by educating visitors and publicizing the work done by Project Survival Cat Conservation Group. Project Survival’s Cat Haven maintains an educational room at the facility for youth programs and an outreach program. The Cat Haven is designed to act as ‘base camp’ in the belief that preserving wild cats in their native habitat is the principle justification for maintaining them in captivity. Project Survival is engaged in fundraising, including the creation of endowments, to support wild life specialists and educators working in range countries.
If you would like us to address any specific questions, you can email us at info@cathaven.com.
