Humane Education & Youth Programs
We believe the next generation has the power to create a kinder, more compassionate world for animals. Our Humane Education and Youth Programs provide fun, engaging ways for young people to learn, connect, and make a difference — through hands-on experiences, animal-focused learning, and real community involvement.
A progressive pathway for young animal advocates.
The Santa Cruz SPCA Youth Pathway is designed to help children and teens grow their knowledge, confidence, and practical skills in animal welfare. Each program builds on the one before it, creating a clear progression from learning about animals to becoming a confident future shelter volunteer.
Start the PathwayGrow With Us, One Step at a Time
The core Youth Pathway moves kids from their first after-school program all the way to the volunteer team. Beyond it, our camps, readers, and classroom programs welcome kids and families at any stage.
PAWS Afterschool Program
Looking for something fun to do after school? Love animals? Join PAWS and discover what it takes to care for shelter animals while making new friends and learning through hands-on activities!
Kids begin with PAWS Foundations, then return as PAWS Ambassadors — learning animal care and spending time helping our cats and dogs feel loved and confident.
Junior Animal Care Team
Ready to level up your animal skills? If you love animals and want real, hands-on experience, the Junior Animal Care Team gives you the chance to go behind the scenes at the Santa Cruz SPCA
Go behind the scenes with hands-on care projects — creating enrichment, preparing supplies, and supporting the shelter team alongside our animals.
Teen Service Saturdays
Are you looking to earn community service hours while making a real difference for animals? Join our Teen Service Saturdays and get hands-on experience behind the scenes at the Santa Cruz SPCA!
Earn community service hours one Saturday a month — helping with real shelter projects and connecting with the animals who need it most.
Santa Cruz SPCA Volunteer
The pathway leads here: teens 16 and up can join our full volunteer program and work directly alongside our animals and staff.
Explore Our Programs
From weekly programs to summer camps and classroom visits, there's a place for every young animal lover — no prior experience needed, just curiosity and compassion.
Ages 7–10
Afterschool Program
PAWS Afterschool Program
Each week, children enjoy one hour of fun animal-themed education and activities, followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals. They'll learn about animal behavior, responsible pet care, shelter life, and safe animal handling before putting their new knowledge into practice by spending quality time helping our cats and dogs feel loved and confident.
Children begin with PAWS Foundations, a three-week introductory program. After graduating, they become PAWS Ambassadors, returning for additional sessions to build new skills, spend more time with the animals, and take on greater responsibilities as they progress toward becoming future Santa Cruz SPCA volunteers.
Enroll in PAWS
Ages 11+
Hands-On Care
Junior Animal Care Team
Real, behind-the-scenes experience. Start with a three-week training program where you'll learn how to safely support shelter animals and prepare for your role on the team. Each session includes one hour of hands-on animal care projects—creating enrichment, preparing supplies, and helping support the shelter team—followed by one hour socializing with our shelter animals..
After graduating, you'll become a Junior Animal Care Team Member, returning for ongoing sessions to build your skills, take on more responsibility, and make a real difference for animals in need.
A progressive step before becoming an SPCA volunteer—perfect for future animal care professionals and passionate animal advocates!
Ages 13–15
Community Service
Teen Service Saturdays
Earn community service hours while making a real difference. During this three-hour program, teens will learn about shelter life, help with important projects like gardening, cleaning, organizing, and creating animal enrichment, then spend time socializing and connecting with our shelter animals.
Come for a one-time volunteer experience or return every month to continue building your skills, gain valuable experience, and support animals in need.
A great step for teens interested in animal care, volunteering, and making an impact in their community!
Learn more
School Breaks
Camp
SPCA Camp
A place where kids can play, create, explore, learn, and make a difference for animals!
Every camp is built around a unique and exciting theme, from Wildlife and Arts & Crafts to Superhero Animals and Animal Olympics. No matter the theme, campers can look forward to days filled with hands-on activities, creative projects, interactive games, fascinating animal learning, and plenty of time with our shelter animals.
Our camps give kids the opportunity to learn through doing — whether they're creating enrichment for an animal, solving an animal-themed challenge, playing a team game, or discovering something new about the creatures they share the world with.
Learn more
Free · Schools
In the Classroom
Classroom Presentations
Bring Humane Education to Your Classroom!
Inspire kindness. Spark curiosity. Create animal advocates.
Our Humane Education classroom presentations bring animal welfare, compassion, and real-world learning to life! Our engaging programs are designed to help students understand animals, make thoughtful choices, and become compassionate stewards of the animals and world around them.
Best of all, our classroom presentations are completely FREE! Schools and educators can book as many presentations or assemblies as they would like throughout the year.
Request a visit
Reading age +
Read & Relax
Rescue Readers
Read, Relax & Make a Difference!
What could be better than curling up with a good book and an animal who needs a little extra love?
Rescue Readers is a special opportunity to read bedtime stories to our shelter animals while helping them feel calm, comfortable, and cared for as they settle in for the night.
Kids can choose to read to dogs or cats and enjoy a cozy 30-minute session filled with stories, quiet companionship, and plenty of animal love. It's also a wonderful way for young readers to build confidence and practice their reading skills with a completely non-judgmental audience, our animals are happy to listen to every story!
Learn more2601 Chanticleer Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(P) 831-465-5000 (F) 831-479-8530
Monday - CLOSED
Animal Browsing Tuesday to Sunday 11am - 5pm
PET FOOD PANTRY - Sundays 1:00pm - 3:00pm
The Santa Cruz SPCA is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends. Our organization is not affiliated with any other SPCA or Humane Society.
Tax ID: 94-6171565
© 2026 Santa Cruz SPCA
