Petstravaganza
Exhibitors
- What is Petstravaganza about?
- When and where is Petstravaganza?
- How can I get involved?
- What kinds of exhibits should be developed?
- Where can we get ideas for exhibits?
- What does interactive mean?
- Must exhibits be approved in advance?
- Who's in charge of Petstravaganza?
- May graduate students participate in Petstravaganza?
- May faculty and staff participate in Petstravaganza?
- So I want to participate. Now what do I do?
What is Petstravaganza about?
The purpose of Petstravaganza is to provide humane education to children and their families; to assist children in developing compassion, a sense of justice and responsibility, and a respect for the value of all living creatures, and in particular, animal companions (pets).
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When and where is Petstravaganza?
It will be held Saturday, April 25, 2009, 9:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. in the University of Illinois Stock Pavilion, 1402 W. Pennsylvania, Urbana, IL.
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How can I get involved?
Lots of ways! Individual students, student organizations and classroom teams may develop exhibits for Petstravaganza. As April approaches, we will also be looking for students who are willing to spend a few hours staffing exhibits and greeting visitors.
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What kinds of exhibits should be developed?
Exhibits should be interactive and geared toward children ages 7-11. In addition, each exhibit should include materials (posters, displays, handouts) geared towards older children and adults. These may contain educational materials parents may take away with them and use with their children at a later time to expand upon the exhibit subject. Because interactivity is key, exhibitors should plan to staff their displays while visitors are present.
Suggestions for exhibits include:
Selecting the Right Pet for Your Family. This exhibit should include the needs of different animals (i.e. time, housing, expense, etc.) so the commitment is understood, as well as highlight the expected life span of different species.
How to Care For Your Dog (or cat, horse, gerbil, guinea pig, mouse, ferret, bird, etc.—choose one only per exhibit). Include health and nutrition issues.
Dog Bite Prevention. This exhibit should provide a clever mechanism which can be taught to children so that they will remember how to prevent dog bites. A poster and brochure for completion by children are available for use.
Tricks we can teach our (dog, cat, horse, etc.) Should include tricks that pets would enjoy learning and doing. How Dogs/Cats Play. What natural instincts do they have that leads them to play? (Such as, cats stalking toys mimics them stalking prey.) Highlight those natural behaviors so that people understand how to play with their pet. Give ideas for fun, safe toys. Demonstrate toys that we can make.
Where do all these animals come from?? This exhibit should highlight the source of companion animals, i.e. hobby breeders, professional breeders, puppy mills, irresponsible pet owners.
How to live with the wildlife around us. This exhibit should highlight the wild animals which live amongst us, how we should treat them, and what to do if we find an injured animal or baby animal.
Careers with animals. What kinds of jobs are available for people who love animals, how do we prepare for them, and how do we get them?
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Where can we get ideas for exhibits?
Dumb Friends League has lesson plans available which, with some imagination, you might be able to convert to an interactive display. They are here, towards the bottom of the page. Or, take a look at the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education, or NAHEE’s website for ideas. ASPCA also has worksheets and lessons plans available here.
Additionally, the planning committee may have materials on your chosen topic that they would be happy to share with you.
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What does interactive mean?
It means that the exhibit contains two- or three-dimensional elements that respond to user activity. Things move, spin, turn, flip, pop up – any movement to spark interest in a child! It could mean a person interacting with the children - telling a story or demonstrating something. An exhibit could engage children interactively by having them make something to take home with them.
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Must exhibits be approved in advance?
Yes, all exhibits must be approved in advance by the Petstravaganza planning committee. Space must be reserved in advance, and health and safety codes must be met. Application forms are available online. The application deadline is March 1, 2007.
Who’s in charge of Petstravaganza?
This year, the chair of the Petstravaganza planning committee is Dr. Amy Fischer, Teaching Associate and Extension Specialist in Companion Animal Biology and Humane Education, Department of Animal Sciences, afischer@illinois.edu or 217-333-6462.
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May graduate students participate in Petstravaganza?
By all means! ACES grad students may participate by:
- Serving as mentors to individual undergrads, teams or clubs who are developing exhibits.
- Developing and hosting their own exhibits on their original research if it involves companion animals. (Remember: Think interactive! And remember that the audience will be made up largely of families)
- Doing or supervising demonstrations that illustrate important and interesting humane education principles for children and their families.
- Offering to help with career-oriented displays.
- Doing other things that are consistent with the Petstravaganza goal of showcasing humane education.
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May faculty and staff participate in Petstravaganza?
Absolutely! If you have students who will be preparing exhibits for Petstravaganza, we ask you to provide all of the encouragement, assistance and support you can.
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So I want to participate. Now what do I do?
Fill out the on-line application and submit. Once you receive confirmation from either of the co-chairs, get to work on planning and constructing your exhibit!
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