First of all I'd like to commend you on your efforts. You are doing what I feel is the most important part of our hobby, to educate others. I also do presentations, and displays. I teach the boyscout reptile and amphibians merit badge classes at merit badge faires. I feel your pain when you ask about keeping their attention. A few things I've learned to keep their attention is 1. the most important thing that I struggle with the most is don't go over their head. When you are talking about the different compositions cytotoxic and myotoxic venoms to a 10 year old you lose their attention quite quickly. 2. Don't be too nice. If you see someone disrupting your class don't be afriad to call them out. Make them be quiet or leave. You'll be surprised who will actually support your decision when it's warrented. 3. Keep it interactive instead of telling them everything keep them guessing. Instead of saying "This is a cornsnake" say "can anyone tell me what this kind of snake is?". But attempt to keep their own "herp tales" to a minimum. While one kid is telling their ten minute story about the snake their uncle got chased by last summer you'll lose the rest of the kids.



The liability is something that's always concerned me too. I have been meaning to discuss it with a lawyer and see what I can do to help prevent any law suits but so far I just be totally honest. I never tell anyone that anything don't bite. I tell them at the start and beginning that EVERYTHING I have has a mouth and can bite. I feel the forewarning should help some. I very well doubt you'd have much worry about a law suit about your honduran biting some little girls arm and leaving a few teeth holes. But you could be faced with something serious if someone got salmonella. Or if you have a nile monitor rip some kids finger off.



Like I said I commend you and would like to be the first to thank you for your help to try to educate the next generation. Fear of these animals is a learned response it's not born into them. If I can ever offer any assistance feel free to drop me an email. Alabamaherpsociety@yahoo.com.

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