Critter Camp—going into its 5th year of operation—is a week long dynamic exploration into the world of amphibians and reptiles. Engaging campers ages 4-14, we encourage everyone to ask questions and seek their own answers through guided observation time, and safe hands-on learning.

Monday is Salamanders, Tuesday is Frogs, Wednesday is Turtles, then lizards and snakes, but there are plenty of all groups around each day. Each camp has their own collection of animals for feeding, animal care and observation.

This year, the Amphibian Foundation is offering 'Critter Camp previews' which are a 2-hour sample of what the Critter Camp experience is all about. We love interacting with people about these important animals, and wanted to provide a unique opportunity to experience Critter Camp first hand before deciding whether or not to register.

Participants will learn a little about our acitivities, and get to handle some of our most popular animals. No one is ever required to handle anything, and although there is no requirement to register for Critter Camp, we will be providing discounts for our summer camps at the preview events.



FAQs



What are my parking options for getting to and from the event?

There is free parking on site

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Contact the Amphibian Foundation education director at info@amphibianfoundation.org

The Coca-Cola Company and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra present the world premiere of Jump, a cultural symphony.

Jump pays homage to former Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Composer-in-Residence Stephen Paulus. Brand New World Studios' Joey Reiman and composer Robert Elhai, with permission of the Paulus family, has crafted a wholly new work drawing on the entire catalog of Paulus' music. Their collaboration asks us to "jump."

Paulus and Reiman's symphony tells the fable of the princess and the frog, and welcomes back to the Atlanta Symphony Hall stage, Lauri Stallings and glo. For nine years, glo has been creating powerful, award-winning social performances. Now, they're collaborating again with ASO Music Director Robert Spano and 100 young children from across Atlanta. The work unfolds as a succession of scenes: children playing games, sharing experiences and moving artists re-enacting moments from adult life. The music is presented through a re-imagined stage featuring poetry, contemporary dance, video projection, and classical and contemporary music. The performance includes elements of jazz improvisation and ballet, as well as hip-hop spoken word provided by Atlanta's Soul Food Cypher.

The evening opens with Maurice Ravel's ballet Mother Goose, which was first created as a set of pieces for child pianists. In the wizard-like hands of Ravel, this orchestrated version shimmers, transporting you into the magical realms of the innocent and the fantastic. This multidisciplinary, two-part program speaks to the individual path of rapture and the real value of collaboration, deep listening and children's optimism.

Join us in the galleria before the concert to learn how to jump from the experts. The Amphibian Foundation, dedicated to creating educational opportunities for all ages to learn about amphibians and inspire conservation, will be on-site with a unique opportunity to learn more about our amphibian friends.

Atlanta is home to a unique nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and research of amphibians amidst a global population decline. In 2016, the Amphibian Foundation formed to focus on conserving two of Georgia’s most imperiled species (Gopher Frog and Flatwoods Salamander), and since then has begun working on other native and globally endangered amphibians. Closed to the public, this is a chance to see the conservation collections and meet Foundation staff working hard to save these vital and sensitive animals from extinction.
Free parking is available on site.
Note: Parents, please register for yourself in addition to your child.

The snapping turtle is one of Atlanta's most despised vertebrates. Join us for a discussion and (completely safe) live exhibit exploring the biology, myths and legends of our largest and most notorious native turtle — the snapping turtle. See them up close and personal while learning about their ecology and the role they play in our urban ecosystem. Learn about the Amphibian Foundation’s urban turtle conservation programs which benefit our community as well as the turtles in our neighborhoods.

Part 2 of the 'Biology of the Despised' series

Amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, efts, olms and caecilians) are an incredibly diverse and interesting group. This course explores the taxonomy of the major types of amphibians; defining each group and the characters that unite them before examining their biodiversity and adaptations.

This course is a deep dive into the biology, morphology, physiology, biogeography, and evolution of amphibians. Topics such as reproduction, metamorphosis, functional morphology, freeze tolerance and phenotypic plasticity will be covered in splendid detail, while examining questions like ‘Is that frog or a toad?’, ‘a salamander or a newt?’ and ‘What do amphibians do in the winter?’

Special emphasis will be placed on the amphibians native to the metro Atlanta region.

The course is intended for adults and assumes a basic understanding of Biology and Comparative Anatomy, but are not requirements. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia (Jensen, et al) is suggested reading. All required course materials are available for free download to students.

The class takes place over 8 Saturday afternoons; each Saturday class is 3 hours long (2:30-5:30PM); basically 3 regular classes in succession each Saturday.

This event is SOLD OUT. More tickets will be released on February 25th at 9 am

Come on out to Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve in Decatur and witness wildlife with regional experts from The Amphibian Foundation. Become ‘citizen scientists’ and perform an amphibian ‘bioblitz’ inventory of the preserve documenting salamanders and frogs in one of the last strongholds for amphibians inside of the perimeter!

Everyone and their families are encouraged to attend and bring your cell phones to upload images of what we find to iNaturalist.

Note: Parents, please register for yourself in addition to your child.

To celebrate our production of "Galapagos George, the Little Tortoise That Could" we have invited The Amphibian Foundation to bring some friends from their Critter Camp program, where kids can touch, hold and interact with live animals, like our friendly tortoises, and learn more about them!

This activity is free with paid entry to Galapagos George or the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.

Reptiles and Wine?! What could go wrong? Join us for an extremely hands-on approach to learning about this fascinating group of animals. Heck, we'll even get to know some amphibians too! Frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes will be present to explore.

This was a lot of fun last year and we look forward to doing it again!!

Your $10 ticket includes access to the event and one drink. Additional drinks may be purchased on site.

Free parking is available on site.

Reptiles and Wine?! What could go wrong? Join us for an extremely hands-on approach to learning about this fascinating group of animals. Heck, we'll even get to know some amphibians too! Frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes will be present to explore. Critters & Cabernet meets the first Friday of every month at the Amphibian Foundation.

Your ticket includes access to the event and one drink. Additional drinks may be purchased on site. Discount available when purchasing the full 6 month series. AF members receive additional discounts.

Free parking is available on site.

Join Keep Roswell Beautiful at Riverside Park on April 27, 2019 for our first Earth Month celebration! We hope this free event will be educational, inspiring, and inclusive as we celebrate the natural world.

6:00-7:00pm Family friendly educational activities from the Chattahoochee Nature Center, Atlanta Audubon Society,Georgia Mineral Society, The Amphibian Foundation, Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, and National Park Service. Learn what concrete steps you can take to protect our species and our earth.

7:00-7:30pm Speakers from Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North, Roswell Presbyterian Church, and Roswell Community Masjid will share how their faith values stewardship of the environment and lead us in giving thanks to the land, air, and water that sustain us.

7:30-8:30pm Walk with us in our twilight lantern parade! Everyone is welcome to participate; we just ask that you bring something that glows, twinkles, or shines! (Please, no fire or flames!). The parade route runs from Riverside Park to Don White Park and back (about a mile round trip).

We encourage you to create your lantern out of natural or reused/recycled materials. Or, join us at one of our Spring lantern building workshops and bring your creation with you to the parade!
https://www.keeproswellbeautiful.org/earth-day/

For more information about this event, contact info@keeproswellbeautiful.org or 770-641-3742.

The Master Herpetologist Program is offered at the Amphibian Foundation and instructed jointly between the Foundation, Zoo Atlanta's Herpetology Department, GA DNR and the Orianne Society.

This intensive class provides an introduction to herpetology and equips participants with amphibian and reptile identification skills and general knowledge of frogs, salamanders, turtles, lizards and snakes — their life histories, habitat requirements and biodiversity.

Instructors: Mark Mandica, Executive Director, Amphibian Foundation; Robert Hill, Assistant Curator of Herpetology, Zoo Atlanta; Joe Mendelson, Director of Research, Zoo Atlanta and Adjunct Associate Professor at GA Tech; Chris Jenkins, CEO of the Orianne Society; Grover Brown, University of Southern Mississippi; and John Jensen, State Herpetologist for Georgia DNR and editor of our course text book.

Course content includes classification and identification of amphibians and reptiles, 'herping' equipment, frog calls, attracting amphibians/reptiles and backyard wildlife habitat, anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, breeding migration, and conservation. This course is a deep dive into the world of amphibians and reptiles, with special focus placed on the critters of the southeast.

The course fee includes lectures and 2 field trips, a copy of Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia (Jensen, et al), a certificate, and a graduation luncheon. Throughout the year, Master Herpers may be offered early bird or discounted registration for workshops and other reptile and amphibian events in and around Georgia.

The course meets every Saturday from 10 am until 3pm (with an hour break for lunch). The class is intended for adults, but there is no age limit. Please contact us before registering someone under the age of 18.