"The only wildlife theater company in America promoting science to cure Nature-Deficit Disorder"

The programs described here can be customized upon request, (we can mix and match to suit your needs - whether a 30 minute seminar or an all day series) and program fees vary based on audience, location, and event. Please contact the Foundation for more details.

 Mentoring Options.

Continuous Event Programming

Photo Seminars

Reviews-Read what people say about our programs.                  


           

Dillon Nature Nights:20 Years of Learning
 

Another first from the Raptor Education Foundation

Photos from annual appearances
at Dillon Nature Nights-

This hour-long interactive program features five different raptors. During the course of the program, participants learn the natural history of each of the species represented, as well as the importance of raptors to ecological diversity. Topics include, predator/prey relationships, habitat, legal issues, anatomy, flight dynamics, behavior, and more. Audience members are treated to several flying sequences, during which one or more of the raptors flies between handlers and catches a lure in mid-air, all at breathtakingly close range. A costumed food pyramid activity gets participants on stage and into the action. Perfect for school assemblies! All programs follow Project Wild guidelines and directly address Nature-Deficit Disorder issues.  This is the program that has set the standards of excellence for the past 29 years

Booking for this program is very heavy- call early! Get our new book Free with this program.

Base Price- $175 for groups of up to 200, within a 25 mile radius of our offices-using MapQuest  or Google Map standards using the shortest time mapping process. Additional fees for greater mileage and larger groups.  Discounts available for multiple bookings. This price is offered for schools, libraries, scout, and church youth groups only. If you do not fall into these three previous categories, please see our Schedule of Consulting Services. or call for a quote.  Book one of these and get our new book as part of the package---see above.

Face-to-Face

This half-hour program features one live raptor-except eagle. Designed for smaller groups, it is an ideal introduction to raptors and environmental concepts for scout groups and science clubs. Available only in the Denver metro, Colorado area. Cost is $50, within a 25 mile radius of our offices in Brighton... availability is limited .  For locations outside the 25 mile radius there will be an additional charge for time and distance.   Audience size limited to 50 with this program.   Eagle Face-to-Face: $160 +-limited availability.

Owl Summit

Teacher's Membership Special  Program Discounts Available to Teacher Associates

Falconry Summit

New: Falconry, Then & Now: focusing on the ancient field sport of falconry-very popular with anyone studying the Medieval Period, and related issues. Presented by one of the few women Master Falconers in the world, author, and Curator of  Raptors for REF, Anne Price. Meet 4 birds used in falconry in historic and contemporary times; learn about their training, their use, the legal aspects of falconry, and the cultural aspects of this 4,000 year old field sport. Anne's knowledge of  the historical aspects of falconry is comprehensive, including the history of falconry in Russia and the ex-Soviet republics. Learn more about Anne, recently featured in the oldest continually issued sportsmen's magazine in the world published in Russia. She is the first woman falconer to be so honored, and is pictured with her Merlin on the left. Find out what those little "hats" are really all about. (Pricing:$160 +)
 

 By far the best, most professional, most experienced education programs featuring live raptors in Colorado, and probably the U.S.--just shop and compare- the others are just "back-yard operations."  

"The only wildlife theater company in America promoting science to cure Nature-Deficit Disorder"

This presentation format is perfect for public events with high traffic and limited program space, such as fairs and festivals. Continuous 20 to 30-minute presentations normally feature 3-6 different raptors in a booth-type setting. Audience response, and photo opportunities are exceptional.

Pricing is portal to portal with 3 hour minimums @ $150-$200/hour plus expenses.  Discounts available for multiple day bookings and other factors.   Call for specific information and quote.

What people and peers say about REF, its programs and seminars...

REF President & Founder, Peter Reshetniak, welcomed by V.P. George Bush at a special Bald Eagle commemorative in 1982.	Past Governors of Colorado,  Richard Lamm, and Roy Romer have endorsed REF's conservation programs-In  1982, REF officers were part of a  special Bald Eagle commemorative at the White House... a testament  to REF's  longevity and credibility.
From Governor Lamm	From Governor Romer

Nominated for the prestigious Awards For Excellence program (environmental category) by the  El Pomar Foundation of Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2000, 1999(one of 3 finalists), 1998, winning runner-up award in 1999.

January 29, 2007

This letter is an effort to outline the benefits our environmental education program has realized through our programming partnership with Raptor Education Foundation (REF).

The first and most important benefit of partnering with REF is your support of our mission. Our Nature Center and naturalist staff strive to make meaningful connections between people and the natural world. REF programming facilitates these important connections by presenting a diversity of birds and using those birds to illustrate important concepts in environmental literacy.

An example of this type of relevant programming is when you used a bald eagle to discuss the importance of predators in ecosystems. Another example is when you used a diversity of owls to illustrate different roles these birds have in their respective ecosystems. It was a very engaging way to connect people to the idea that each owl has a unique niche. In this way, your program content is supportive of our goals as an Environmental Education facility.

Another important benefit of partnering with REF is the popularity of their programs. Live birds are very attractive to people and seem to draw an audience we might normally not attract without live birds. In 2006, REF programs averaged over 53 people per program. This is much higher than our average attendance for programs that do not feature live birds or other animals. By reaching larger audiences, we are better able to achieve our mission.  

Another important benefit of partnering with REF is your commitment to good science. It is our desire to present scientific fact in an engaging way to our audience. REF is very good about presenting well-researched, scientific information. In many cases live animal program can become a discussion of what the caged animal eats and where it lives. In REF’s case we know the birds will be a vehicle for understanding well-research scientific concepts, which we hope will connect people to the natural world.

In summary, our programming partnership with REF help us better achieve our goals and helps us reach a larger audience than we would without this partnership.

We are thankful that REF is not only our neighbor here in Aurora, but also dedicated to providing professional science programming designed to help people better understand the natural world.

Sincerely,

 Mary Ann Bonnell, Lead Naturalist: City of Aurora Parks and Open Space Department

From Sandra Elliott, Children's Librarian, Thornton Library, August 10, 2006, "Thank you so much for doing a program for the Thornton Branch Library this  summer! It was the most popular program we had, and we had to turn people away because our program room was full.  We could have easily filled two more programs that day. I may not have these names right, but I believe it was Peter and Alexis who did our programs.  They were wonderful presenters, patient teachers, and great ambassadors for your foundation.  I found myself as mesmerized as the children were during the program.  It made a big impact on our young patrons.  They still come in and talk about, " Remember when..." and then tell me a fact they learned about raptors.  Thanks again for a great program!"

From Edward Rogers, Cub Scout parent, April, 2003: "The differences between REF programs and the others out there are easy to see- just look at REF's book, Raptors, and its imitators.  REF's book is a real book, the others are cartoons. If anyone wants a real environmental program for their kids, there is only one choice."

From Brian Millsap, President, Raptor Research Foundation, and Chief of the Migratory Bird Division, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reviews our new book: Raptors. March 1, 2003:  See full text of letter.

From Frances Owens, Colorado's First Lady, endorses REF's revised book: Raptors. See full text of letter.

From Bill Buxton, Director Plant Operations, Rose Medical Center, December, 2002, " A BIG thank-you for your recent presentation to our Leadership Group here at Rose Medical Center.  Our goal with this project was to inspire our leaders to have a bigger picture not only of themselves, but also of Rose Medical Center.  Both of these goals were met.  Your knowledge and skill in handling such a magnificent creature of God exceeded all of our expectations, and truly inspired us as we strive to provide the best patient care in Denver.

From Joan Watts of Ralston Valley Preschool, May 2, 2001: "This note is long over due, but I wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed your visiting and bringing the owl to our Magical Family Night.  We had a lot of positive feed back from our families that attended.  Your presentation was educational, interesting, and a lot of fun.  I look forward to working with you in the future."

From Amy R. Oaks, Assistant Principal of Skyview High School, Thornton, Colorado in a letter dated May 10, 1999 writes:" To Whom it May Concern,   The Raptor Education Foundation Programs that we hosted at our school this past week were wonderful!  Here's why:  The presenters were very knowledgeable about their subject and they were able to present that knowledge in a way that made sense to our students... The presentations were engaging.  Students were captivated by the free-flying birds, they loved making the food web, and they were eager to volunteer to help.  Unlike many educational assemblies which require students to be totally passive, this one allowed students to interact, to respond, even to get up and move around--remarkable in a setting win which the only two ground rules were to be quiet and to keep body parts of out the way of the birds!  The raptors were beautiful.   Everyone in the room was treated to a view of these magnificent birds that most of us will only see on educational television... I recommend this group to you highly!"

From Mark Risner, Cubmaster of Pack 351 writes, "I want to thank you for the great job you did with your program in our Pack meeting on April 20.  When you get that many kids who are quiet for the whole program, something good must be going on!  I thought the program was very educational and fun at the same time.  As you will remember, that was the day of the Columbine shootings, and I thought your program was just what we all needed to take our minds off of the days events.  Had we canceled the meeting, I think that the scouts would have been at home watching the television coverage of the shooting to no avail.  So your program was a double bonus!"

From the Principal of Aurora Hills Middle School, November 8, 1998: "Thank you for your presentation last week on Raptors.  Our students truly enjoyed themselves and obviously learned a great deal as was evidenced by their "rapt" (no pun intended) attention.  The content was very appropriate to the 7th grade life science students.  The instructional strategies you employed were both effective and highly motivating.  The students responded well to the skills and knowledge offered. The opportunity to role play characters in the food chain was a big hit and should guarantee long range retention... The Raptor Education Foundation is one of the few programs we can be sure our parents will support without question."

From Western Gas Resources, Inc., November 13, 1998:
"On behalf of everyone at Western Gas Resources, Inc.,  I want to extend to you our sincere appreciation for bringing the Raptor Summit to our backyard. We found it to be a great educational experience and a nice diversion for our employees over the lunch hour.

Some of the employee comments we heard were: "I  found the raptor program to be educational and highly entertaining. Standing that close to those magnificent creatures was an uplifting experience."  "The presentation made me stop and realize how our thoughtless actions can impact beautiful creatures like those raptors.  That someone could shoot and leave for dead an animal like that Bald Eagle makes me want to impress upon my own children the respect we need to have for God's creation."

Or,  from Douglas A. Bell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Ornithology & Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences: " I wish to highly commend... the Raptor Education Foundation for their sterling performances held here at the California Academy of Sciences, April 10 -19, 1998.  ...The participation of REF was instrumental in contributing to the success of our raptor exhibit, Hunters of the Sky. The program that REF offers is unique in that it provides an opportunity for the public to see and watch raptors fly 'up close and personal', yet it also imparts to the audience an appreciation for the global ecology of raptors."

And from St. Mary's School of Littleton, Colorado, "On behalf of St. Mary's School of Littleton and all of the room parents involved, I would like to thank you and your co-workers at The Raptor Education Foundation for the excellent program that was presented on October 30, 1999.  The 4th and 5th grade children loved the program. The parents and teachers in attendance felt like we had achieved a major coup. The children were having a great time and learning too!"

While a teacher from Faith Christian Academy writes: "As a kindergarten teacher at Faith Christian Academy, I would like to thank the Raptor Education Foundation for the excellent presentation given this year. Staci and Nannette gave a very clear, age-appropriate presentation.  The attention of the children was kept throughout as the birds were displayed. The children enjoyed taking part in the the "food chain."  In the classroom the next day, as we reviewed the characteristics of raptors, the children had great recall of what Staci had taught them. She is a good teacher and handles the children with respect and efficiency. We look forward to the raptors each year!"

RAPTORS, The Birds of Prey, An Almanac of Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons of the World, published in 1996 by Lyons & Burford listed only 29 raptor organizations in its chapter, "Helping Raptors."  The Raptor Education Foundation was the only Colorado organization included.

Best of Denver-1995, Westword Magazine: "What separates this organization from others dedicated to preserving wildlife is its focus on bringing information to school children. Since 1980, when the foundation got its start, REF representatives have presented a one-hour program about eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and other birds of prey to well over half a million students both here in Colorado and in in states such as Ohio, New Mexico, and Nevada. And these displays aren't boring affairs filled with faded slides. Instead, falcons and the like are the stars of a show that teaches kids about ecological diversity without the kids realizing how much they're learning."

Although widely imitated, nobody comes close to the Foundation's level of experience, professionalism, and accuracy. If you want the best environmental education programs featuring live raptors, contact us. We deliver exceptional value.