Last month was full of energy and inspiration at The Elephant Sanctuary! Our Education Team has been buzzing with activity this spring—hosting multiple free, virtual distance learning classes each day and connecting with students around the world. From classrooms in California to communities in Canada, we’re proud to share the stories of our resident elephants and encourage compassion for wildlife on a global scale.
Closer to home, we welcomed students and their teachers from HopeKids Middle Tennessee, Maury County, Tennessee, and our own Lewis County, Tennessee for in-person field trips at The Elephant Discovery Center! One special visit included 50 enthusiastic 3rd graders from J.R. Baker Elementary School in Columbia. As part of their experience, students created “enrichment bags” for the elephant residents.
Each student chose an elephant after reading their biographies, then expressed their empathy through letters and drawings. The enrichment bags were thoughtfully filled with hay, popcorn, Cheerios, and spices—safe and exciting treats for the elephants to explore and eat.
Education is an important part of our mission. From hands-on activities at The Discovery Center to engaging virtual programming, we hope to foster understanding and empathy—reminding us that learning about elephants also teaches us about kindness, curiosity, and the importance of conservation.
We look forward to welcoming even more young learners to the Sanctuary soon!