Field Trips & Classroom Visits

At JHS, we are passionate about creating opportunities to inspire animal advocacy while cultivating kindness, compassion, and generosity to secure a better future for both animals and people.

We would love to share our mission with your students!

In-Person Field Trips

In-Person Field Trips to JHS

Bring your class or group to the JHS Adoption, Education & Pet Help Center and learn about cats, dogs, and why generosity breeds joy! Students will enjoy a tour of our campus, learn about JHS and have a Q&A with shelter staff, and (when possible) interact with a dog or cat.

Field trips to JHS are available for students in grades K-12 and scheduled based on calendar availability.

Two packages are available:

Package 1 – includes a tour of the JHS Adoption Center, a tour of the JHS Hospital (for grades 2 and up only), an orientation to JHS and Q&A with shelter staff, and the opportunity interact with a dog or cat (when possible – depends upon the availability of a suitable animal) | Cost: $10 donation/student (no fee for adult chaperones)

Package 2 – includes all of the above plus an extra 30 minutes of Pawsitive Reading to the shelter pets | Cost: $15 donation/student (no fee for adult chaperones)

If your students are working on a particular project or have a special request to have an issue addressed in the Q&A with staff, please complete the “additional information” option on the request form. While we cannot meet all requests, we would love to help bring the lessons learned in your classroom to life at JHS.

Submit a field trip request form.

Field Trip Scholarships

JHS is proud to offer a limited number of field trip scholarships annually thanks to the generous support of the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation. For more information about our Furyk & Friends: Lucky’s Pack field trip scholarships, please email us at [email protected].

Virtual Field Trips

Your class or group can now visit JHS virtually! Students will enjoy a virtual tour of our Adoption Center on Microsoft Teams or Zoom (your preference), learn about JHS and have a Q&A with shelter staff, and virtually meet a dog and/or cat. You may also opt for the virtual field trip to include a 15-minute mini-lesson and demo on a craft your group can make and then donate to the animals at JHS.

Virtual field trips to JHS are available for students of any age and scheduled based on calendar availability.

As with our in-person field trips, if your students are working on a particular project or have a special request, please include that information in the “additional information” option on the request form.

Submit a virtual field trip request form.

Field Trip Scholarships

Classroom Visits

We would love to share our mission with your students!

Choose from a variety of topics – such as animal safety, careers with pets, and how to help dogs and cats in need – or customize your own program. All topics incorporate SEL themes like kindness, compassion, and empathy.

Animal encounters may be possible depending upon the availability of a suitable animal and the number of children participating in the program.

Available: Weekdays

Length: 30-45 minutes (flexible)

TITLE I PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

Through our Pawsitive Outreach program, made possible by The Jim Moran Foundation, JHS is able to offer FREE classroom visits to Title I public schools.

NON-TITLE I SCHOOLS AND OTHER GROUPS:

Our current rates for classroom visits for non-Title I schools and other groups are:

0-15 miles roundtrip – $50

16-30 miles roundtrip – $60

31-45 miles roundtrip – $70

46-60 miles roundtrip – $80

To request a visit, please submit a Classroom Visit Request.

If you would like additional information about outreach possibilities (including virtual options), please contact us at [email protected].

Learn more and submit a request for a classroom visit.

Outreach

Through our Pawsitive Outreach program, made possible by The Jim Moran Foundation, JHS is able to offer FREE visits to nonprofit organizations serving youth in the Jacksonville area.

We currently proudly partner with MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation, Sulzbacher Village, Sanctuary on 8th Street, and the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville.

Interested in partnering with us? We would love to hear from you! You can reach us by email at [email protected] or call 904.493.4588.

State Standards and Statutes:

JHS field trips and classroom visits compliment the following Florida State Standards and Statutes:

SS.1.CG.2.2: Describe the characteristics of citizenship in the school community.

Students will identify characteristics of responsible citizenship (e.g., respect others’ property, treat people with dignity, care for environment, treat animals with kindness).

Students will identify characteristics of irresponsible citizenship (e.g., damaging school property, bullying).

SS.1.C.2.4: Show respect and kindness to people and animals.

HE.2.CE.6.1: Identify ways to make positive contributions to the wellbeing of the school and the community. (Clarification: conservation, not littering, volunteering)

HE.68.CE.3.1: Demonstrate empathy in a variety of contexts and situations.

SP.PK12.US.9.2a: Select and engage in volunteer activities in school or community, such as recycling, litter patrol, or collecting money for a charity.

SP.PK12.US.9.2b: Choose and engage in volunteer activities, such as coastal cleanup, visiting elderly persons, or sorting recyclable products. (grades pre-K through 12)

Florida Statute 1003.42: Required instruction

(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, following the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved methods of instruction, the following:

(k) Kindness to animals.