The following formal education programs should be booked at least one month in advance. Visitors are also welcome from 9am-5pm daily for free self-guided tours.
Guided Tours
This is a guided tour of AWC’s facility at Oak Mountain State Park. Learn about the work that happens every day at the wildlife center and the center’s role in the larger picture of wildlife conservation. Your group will also get to meet one of our four glove-trained raptors up close and personal at the end of your tour.
Recommended for all ages/grade levels
Treetop Nature Trail & Hike
Begin your guided tour on the Treetop Nature Trail Boardwalk where your group will meet non-releasable raptors and learn the basics of raptor biology. From TNT your group will hike up to the Alabama Wildlife Center where you will meet one of our four glove-trained raptors up close and personal. During your hike your group will stop several times along the way to learn about forest ecology and the various inhabitants of the forest ecosystem.
Recommended for all ages/grade levels
Auditorium/Classroom Programs -- Your class can experience these new programs at AWC or we can come to your school.
Raptors 101: Intro to Birds of Prey
An introduction to birds of prey where students will learn how to recognize raptors based on the adaptations that all raptors share. Students will review the basics of raptor biology as well as learn about behavior and training. Additionally, students will learn many other interesting facts about these amazing animals and will also get to meet three or four glove-trained raptors up close and personal.
Recommended for grades 1-5
Raptors 202: Beyond the Basics of Birds of Prey
An in-depth look at raptor biology, ecology, and conservation. Learn about special adaptations for hunting and flight. This program can easily be adapted for aerospace engineering students to learn how raptor flight has influenced our approach to modern aircraft design. Students will also get to meet three or four glove-trained raptors up close and personal.
(“Raptors 101” is not a required prerequisite)
Recommended for grades 6-12
For details on how our educational programs support the Alabama Courses of Study curriculum, please see this alignment table. (If your browser fails to open this document, please right-click the link and use "Save link as..." to save the file to your computer so you can open it from there.)
Chaperones:
The Alabama Wildlife Center is a functioning rehabilitation center. To ensure the well-being of our sensitive wild bird patients, we request that groups provide adequate chaperones to ensure that tours are conducted in a quiet and orderly manner.
Suggested student/chaperone ratios:
- Elementary School — 1 chaperone for every 5 students
- Middle and High School — 1 chaperone for every 10 students
Program prices do not include entrance fees for Oak Mountain State Park, which are paid separately upon arrival: adults $5, seniors $2, children 4-11 $2, and children three years and younger free.
To Book:
Bookings are subject to the availability of a trained program presenter. Programs should be scheduled at least one month in advance. Complete the form below to request that someone contact you, or call 205-663-7930, ext. 4.Payment Terms for Educational Programs:
- Cancellations should be made as soon as possible. Refunds will be given if cancellations are made at least 24 hours in advance.
- AWC is not an entity of Oak Mountain State Park. Payment for entrance fees must be paid to the park gate upon entrance unless otherwise arranged through the Park Office at (205) 620-2520.
Please request a program via the form below:
