Opening Hours

Animal Viewing Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm

General Hours: 
Most Days: 9am - 5pm
Wednesdays:  10am - 5pm
CLOSED: Sundays and Public Holidays

RSPCA ACT School Holiday Program

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To secure your place in our one of our School Holiday workshops,  make a booking online by clicking here.

 

Important Information

Please note that while we make every attempt to follow planned programs, there may be some days where children are unable to pat or hold animals. This is due to the nature of our shelter; many of our animals are very timid and are not ready to be handled by a group. Decisions around animal interaction are always made with the welfare of the animal as paramount. All sessions may include visits to other animals around the shelter – please let us know if there are any animals that your child is fearful of or inexperienced with.

We endeavour to keep as close to our curriculum as possible, however in the event of bad weather or not having animals suitable for the session we will alter the curriculum slightly and/or utilise staff animals. The session will still be interactive and lots of fun!

Location: 12 Kirkpatrick Street, Weston ACT 2611.

Allergy Information: Please note that while we don’t allow children to bring nuts or nut products into our School Holiday programs, RSPCA ACT is not a nut free environment. Our dogs are sometimes given peanut butter as a treat, and this is stored in our kennels. Please advise staff if your child has a nut allergy.

If your child is at all unwell on the day of their session, please do not attend the shelter. We have adjusted our cancellation policy to allow for absences.

 

Download our FREE Kids Activity Book this school holidays.

Session Information

Monday 25th September – FAMILY OPEN DAY
These sessions are open to everyone, and all ages are welcome.

Including a guided tour and a look behind the scenes, which can be a great way to learn more about our shelter and its operations.
You will also have the opportunity to create enrichment items for shelter residents, which is a fantastic way to contribute and make a positive impact. Enrichment items can help enhance the well-being and mental stimulation of the animals, making their stay at the shelter more comfortable and enjoyable. It's an opportunity to get creative and provide something special for the animals.
If you would like to have your stuffed animals "microchipped" and receive a certificate, you can certainly take advantage of this opportunity by paying an additional $5 fee. It could be a fun and unique keepsake for collectors or for children who want to have a special memento from their visit to the shelter.

Tuesday 26th September – Dogs Day Out

The participants of this session will begin the day by joining our Kennel Team for a morning staff meeting, lead by the Kennels Team Leader. Participants will be provided with an overview of the Kennel's operations, the importance of care tasks and the role of volunteers in supporting the well-being of the residents.

Participants will be paired up with volunteers and a Kennel resident for a walk, and an insight into working with the Kennel residents. Upon return, participants and volunteers will ensure the resident is settled comfortably and complete some daily care tasks.

Wednesday 27th September – Food Enrichment for Shelter Animals 

In this session the participants have the opportunity to make food enrichment items for our Shelter animals. This experience combines compassion, creativity, and the joy of giving back to our furry friends in need.

During this hands-on session, participants will create enticing treats and engaging food puzzles that will enhance the lives of shelter animals waiting for their forever homes.

Thursday 28th September – CATS

The session encourages participants to think like cats, considering their natural instincts and preferences. With an array of safe and environmentally friendly materials at their disposal, participants will learn to craft toys that awaken the cats' hunting instincts, inspire playfulness, and offer opportunities for exercise and exploration.

Friday 29th September – Paws & Profiles

As you might have noticed, there has been an increase in long-term residents at the Shelter, and we believe your unique perspectives can make a significant impact.

🎨 Unleash Your Creativity: 🎨
Animals at our Shelter each have a unique story and personality that makes them special. In this session, we want you to channel your creativity and artistic flair to develop adoption profiles that truly capture their essence. Think of it as creating a masterpiece that highlights their individuality, quirks, and lovable traits.

Monday 2nd October – PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 3rd October – Dogs Day Out 

The participants of this session will begin the day by joining our Kennel Team for a morning staff meeting, lead by the Kennels Team Leader. Participants will be provided with an overview of the Kennel's operations, the importance of care tasks and the role of volunteers in supporting the well-being of the residents.

Participants will be paired up with volunteers and a Kennel resident for a walk, and an insight into working with the Kennel residents. Upon return, participants and volunteers will ensure the resident is settled comfortably and complete some daily care tasks.

Wednesday 4th October – Food Enrichment for Shelter Animals 

In this session the participants have the opportunity to make food enrichment items for our Shelter animals. This experience combines compassion, creativity, and the joy of giving back to our furry friends in need.

During this hands-on session, participants will create enticing treats and engaging food puzzles that will enhance the lives of shelter animals waiting for their forever homes.

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Thursday 5th October – Paws and Profiles

As you might have noticed, there has been an increase in long-term residents at the Shelter, and we believe your unique perspectives can make a significant impact.

🎨 Unleash Your Creativity: 🎨
Animals at our Shelter each have a unique story and personality that makes them special. In this session, we want you to channel your creativity and artistic flair to develop adoption profiles that truly capture their essence. Think of it as creating a masterpiece that highlights their individuality, quirks, and lovable traits.

Friday 6th October – Family Open Day
These sessions are open to everyone, and all ages are welcome.

Including a guided tour and a look behind the scenes, which can be a great way to learn more about our shelter and its operations.
You will also have the opportunity to create enrichment items for shelter residents, which is a fantastic way to contribute and make a positive impact. Enrichment items can help enhance the well-being and mental stimulation of the animals, making their stay at the shelter more comfortable and enjoyable. It's an opportunity to get creative and provide something special for the animals.
If you would like to have your stuffed animals "microchipped" and receive a certificate, you can certainly take advantage of this opportunity by paying an additional $5 fee. It could be a fun and unique keepsake for collectors or for children who want to have a special memento from their visit to the shelter.

 

About Our Workshops

Class descriptions, timetables and bookings will be released approximately one month before the commencement of each ACT Public School Holiday period.

Workshops are quite popular and often book out quickly. If you would like to be notified as soon as bookings become available, please email us at education@rspca-act.org.au

Or, become a Junior SupPawter and enjoy early access to all workshop bookings (along with many other goodies!). Junior SupPawter applications can be found here.

Workshops include a shelter tour along with lots of information and hands on activities. Topics vary each school holidays.

We also invite other local animal loving organisations in to present workshops from time to time; this helps children to understand the bigger picture of animal care and protection within the community. These sessions also provide an opportunity to learn about more specialized animals or areas, including reptile husbandry and basic pet first aid.

Generally, the School Holiday Program runs for two hours, and includes:

An interactive information session Based on the chosen topic, with opportunities to ask lots of questions.
A shelter tour Depending on what animals we have, we may see kittens, dogs, turtles, rats, guinea pigs or occasionally even a pig or goat!
Hands on activities based on the session topic This can include preparing lunch for dogs, socialising with kittens, creating enrichment items for rabbits, tunnels for rats or more!
A chance to revisit any animals of interest We can show them their new toys or treats, or just spend time giving them that little bit of extra love.

School Holiday Program sessions are suitable for animal enthusiasts aged 7 -14. We are always keen to hear any topic suggestions as well, so if there is an area that your child is particularly interested in, please let us know!

What to Bring on the Day:

  • All participants should bring their own labelled drink bottle
  • All participants must wear appropriate clothing, including long pants, enclosed footwear, a hat and sunscreen
  • Participants should bring a snack and lunch (nut and egg free please). RSPCA ACT does not provide food as part of our School Holiday program, but we do have facilities to refill drink bottles.

Please endeavour to arrive as close to the session start time as possible and wait outside the reception area with your child. 

Our session educator and volunteers all hold Working with Vulnerable People cards and have met RSPCA ACT's requirements to facilitate these programs. For this reason parents are welcome to wait in our waiting area for the duration of the session, however are unable to attend the session with their child. Under special circumstances, you may receive permission to attend, however you are required to hold a WWVP card and pay the participant fee in full.