 Imagine one of Alaska's wild eagles coming into a classroom in your neighborhood… Watching the students' eyes get as big as, well, an owl's as they turn their attention to their feathered guest, listening as the flood of questions about the bird fills the classroom… Imagine being able to watch the students as they learn about Alaska's wild birds with a live eagle ambassador from the Alaska Raptor Center. The Alaska Raptor Center's "Alaska Air Warriors" program does just that. To teach people about Alaska's wild birds and environmental conservation, our "Raptors-in-Residence" travel with their handlers to classrooms across the country, from Alaska to Florida to New York, and points in between. Schoolchildren learn more about the birds, their habitats and Alaska firsthand during these up-close visits. Our educational programs touch the lives of thousands of schoolchildren each year. Classroom visits are a powerful way to teach children the importance of wildlife and environmental conservation, and they offer truly unique and exciting memories - for everyone involved. A child's first interaction with an animal as majestic as a bald eagle, seeing that child's jaw drop and eyes widen with curiosity and excitement… it's a powerful moment to witness - and even more powerful for the child to experience. Our classroom visits focus upon Alaska's wildlife and conservation, and, of course, the important role bald eagles and other birds have in the environment. Our education birds - including our "chief ambassador," Volta, the bald eagle - are powerful and effective teachers who leave a lasting impression on those who meet them. Classroom visits are customized by age, from elementary school through high school - children of all ages share a common thrill in a visit from Volta or another of our birds. For information on our Alaska Air Warriors program, call (800) 643-9425 or email us at: members.alaskaraptor@alaska.com.
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