Critters & Cabernet is a casual learning experience for adults (21+)

"Reptiles and wine — what could go wrong?"

Each Critters & Cabernet session lasts for 2 hours, and includes lessons mixed with live animal demonstrations and handling (if desired). There is, of course, no obligation to hold animals if you do not wish. The sessions occur in our glorious Amphibious AF Meeting Room, on the second floor of the Amphibian Foundation. Each month, a new group of amphibians or reptiles will be explored. First Friday of every month.

Registration is $30 and includes wine.

We are pleased to offer a Venomous Handling and Certification Program at the Amphibian Foundation in partnership with the Rattlesnake Conservancy.

The 2-day workshops are offered on the first weekend of every other month, and registration is $325.

If you are a land manager, environmental consultant, first responder, zoo professional, herpetology enthusiast, photographer, or private citizen looking to learn how to safely handle and relocate venomous reptiles, this course is for you!

This workshop is a comprehensive training to prepare yourself for working with venomous snakes, or encountering them in the field safely. Using the techniques and protocols laid out by TRC, not a single person (TRC, AF staff or students) has ever been bitten by a venomous serpent.

This training sets the standard for safety, husbandry, and protocol for working with venomous reptiles. Our Level 1 Program is the leading venomous training program in the United States and has been taught to over 100 students. If you are a land manager, environmental consultant, first responder, zoo professional, herpetology enthusiast, photographer, or private citizen looking to learn how to safely handle and relocate venomous reptiles, this course is for you! Topics covered in the course include:

Hands on individual training, guided by one of our professional instructors.
Handling methods for non-venomous and venomous snakes.
Learn about the life history, toxinology, and ecology of native venomous reptiles.
Emergency field care for envenomation.
Methods of relocation.

Registration is now open for the FALL semester of the Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts Sept 6 and ends Dec 13, 2023

Join us for a dynamic course in Herpetology, featuring a global team of instructors and researchers. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: masterherpetologist.org

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is offered as an 16 week in-person class, hosted at the Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta, GA USA. It is based on our acclaimed Master Herpetologist Program (for adults) and adapted for a younger audience.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is perfect for young learners, aged 12-17 interested in amphibians and reptiles as well as those interested in exploring the field of herpetology.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is led by AF Education Coordinator and Master Herpetologist, Amanda Dahlgren and multiple AF Master Herpetologist Educators.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is rooted in hands-on learning, and covers the major amphibian and reptile groups: Frogs, Salamanders, Caecilians, Tuatara, Lizards, Snakes, Turtles, and Crocs, including Georgia animals too. By the end of the course, students will have a foundation of herpetological knowledge upon which they can build. The online Junior Master Herpetologist Program has been a world-wide success and we are very excited to offer it at our headquarters in Atlanta, where we have hundreds of amphibian and reptile ambassadors available to help along the journey. Each class starts with a lesson, then a short break, followed by handling time for the group of animals discussed that day. Limited to 20 students.

A delightfully casual family experience for our youngest critter enthusiasts, including ones too young for Critter Camp! Our amazing educators lead critter discovery sessions for young children and their parents. A different group is explored each time, such as: frogs, salamanders, GA native species, turtles, lizards, and snakes. All animals are friendly and can be handled if desired.

A delightfully casual family experience for our youngest critter enthusiasts. Our amazing educators lead critter discovery sessions for young children and their parents. A different group is explored each time, such as: frogs, salamanders, GA native species, turtles, lizards, and snakes. All animals are friendly and can be handled if desired.

Critter Class is for students only, and has more structured learning than the earlier Critter Café events. Critter Class includes a lesson, followed by hands-on learning and animal handling with our amazing AF Educators. Critter Class can be enjoyed as a series, or if someone would simply like to drop in for a certain topic. A different group is discussed each time.

2nd Sunday, 1:00-2:30 pm. Ages 6-11. $30 each session, $175 for the 6 session series

Critter Class Schedule
Sept 10. Salamanders
Oct 14. Frogs
Nov 12. Turtles
Dec 10. Lizards
Jan 14. Snakes
Feb 11. Backyard Animals of Georgia

Critter Class is not wheelchair accessible

Registration is now open for the WINTER semester of the Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts Nov 1 and ends Feb 14, 2024

This is the first time the course will be offered from and for the Eastern Hemisphere, with a Lead Instructor (Boris) based in the Netherlands.

Join us for a dynamic course in Herpetology, featuring a global team of instructors and researchers. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: masterherpetologist.org

Registration is now open for the Winter semester of the Southeastern Master Herpetologist Program 100% ONLINE. Starts Nov 2 and ends Feb 15, 2023

Join us for a dynamic course in Southeastern Herpetology, featuring a diverse team and some of the biggest names in southeastern herpetology. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: se.masterherpetologist.org

Registration is Open for the Winter 2023 -24 Semester!

Interested in keeping and breeding reptiles & amphibians?

Learn from the professionals! There is a lot of material out there on the internet, and sadly, most of it is confusing, not helpful, or just outright wrong. This class provides an opportunity to learn about the successes and failures from professionals.

This intensive class provides a husbandry foundation as we learn from zoo professionals, nonprofit keepers, conservation managers, professional breeders, and others about the best practices and proven techniques for keeping and breeding reptiles & amphibians in captivity. Methods for growing healthy live food, ensuring proper water quality, light and heat sources, and more will be provided by professionals, as well as details of successful captive projects with species and groups of salamanders, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, and more.

The course fee ($275) includes ~ 60 lectures, handouts & additional readings, and optional live Zoom discussions with the Lead Instructor + other Instructors.

The class is intended for adults. Please contact us before registering someone under the age of 18

The course is asynchronous (on your own schedule) and divided into seven 2-week sections. A topic (e.g. Snakes) is introduced, related lectures are made available, and optional Zoom and forum discussions on the topic begin. Lectures remain available for the duration of the course, so students can always return to the material.

Our award-winning camp — Critter Camp!

Our goal is to introduce children to the exciting biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles, using these animals to illustrate aspects of biology and ecology.

The camps are small (maximum of 12 campers per session) and will be focused on tropical animals, as well as native species.

Campers will be encouraged to ask questions about the animals and discover their own answers through hands-on observation. Safe animal handling, including biosecurity will be taught and implemented at the beginning of the camp, and maintained vigilantly throughout. Over one hundred animals from around the world will be available for this camp. This includes (most of) the major amphibian groups: frogs, toads, salamanders and newts as well as the reptile groups: turtles, tortoises, lizards and snakes. Campers will learn 'fun facts' about each group: their life cycles, where and how they live, how they reproduce, and their defense strategies. Campers will learn things like what makes a frog a toad, and what makes a turtle a tortoise. Campers will also learn how to identify frog species by their call and tadpole!

Learn more and register at: critter-camp.org

Registration is now open for the SPRING semester of the Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts Jan 3 and ends April 10, 2024

Join us for a dynamic 16-week course in Herpetology, featuring a global team of instructors and researchers. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: masterherpetologist.org

Registration is now open for the Summer semester of the Junior Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts January 6, 2024

For an older group, ages 15-17 | $195

Join us for a dynamic introductory course in Herpetology, featuring expert instruction. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

There are optional weekly live sessions on Saturdays with the Instructor (at 12 am AND 12 pm, to try to engage students worldwide), so students can ask questions, see live animals, and show off their critters!

For more information, see: junior.masterherpetologist.org

Registration is now open for the Summer semester of the Junior Master Herpetologist Program ONLINE. Starts January 6, 2024

Ages 12-14 | $195

Join us for a dynamic introductory course in Herpetology, featuring expert instruction. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

There are optional weekly live sessions on Saturdays with the Instructor (at 1 am AND 1pm, to try to engage students worldwide), so students can ask questions, see live animals, and show off their critters!

For more information, see: junior.masterherpetologist.org

We are pleased to offer a Venomous Handling and Certification Program at the Amphibian Foundation in partnership with the Rattlesnake Conservancy.

If you are a land manager, environmental consultant, first responder, zoo professional, herpetology enthusiast, photographer, or private citizen looking to learn how to safely handle and relocate venomous reptiles, this course is for you!

This 2-day workshop is a comprehensive training to prepare yourself for working with venomous snakes, or encountering them in the field safely. Using the techniques and protocols laid out by TRC, not a single person (TRC, AF staff or students) has ever been bitten by a venomous serpent.

This training sets the standard for safety, husbandry, and protocol for working with venomous reptiles. Our Level 1 Program is the leading venomous training program in the United States and has been taught to over 100 students. If you are a land manager, environmental consultant, first responder, zoo professional, herpetology enthusiast, photographer, or private citizen looking to learn how to safely handle and relocate venomous reptiles, this course is for you! Topics covered in the course include:

Hands on individual training, guided by one of our professional instructors.
Handling methods for non-venomous and venomous snakes.
Learn about the life history, toxinology, and ecology of native venomous reptiles.
Emergency field care for envenomation.
Methods of relocation.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is offered as an 16 week in-person class, hosted at the Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta, GA USA. It is based on our acclaimed Master Herpetologist Program (for adults) and adapted for a younger audience, and organized by age group (12-14 + 15-17).

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is perfect for young learners, aged 12-17 interested in amphibians and reptiles as well as those interested in exploring the field of herpetology.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is led by AF Education Coordinator and Master Herpetologist, Amanda Dahlgren and multiple AF Master Herpetologist Educators.

The Junior Master Herpetologist Program is rooted in hands-on learning, and covers the major amphibian and reptile groups: Frogs, Salamanders, Caecilians, Tuatara, Lizards, Snakes, Turtles, and Crocs, including Georgia animals too. By the end of the course, students will have a foundation of herpetological knowledge upon which they can build. The online Junior Master Herpetologist Program has been a world-wide success and we are very excited to offer it at our headquarters in Atlanta, where we have hundreds of amphibian and reptile ambassadors available to help along the journey. Each class starts with a lesson, then a short break, followed by handling time for the group of animals discussed that day. Limited to 20 students.

Registration is Open for the Spring 2024 Semester!

Interested in keeping and breeding reptiles & amphibians?

Learn from the professionals! There is a lot of material out there on the internet, and sadly, most of it is confusing, not helpful, or just outright wrong. This class provides an opportunity to learn about the successes and failures from professionals.

This intensive class provides a husbandry foundation as we learn from zoo professionals, nonprofit keepers, conservation managers, professional breeders, and others about the best practices and proven techniques for keeping and breeding reptiles & amphibians in captivity. Methods for growing healthy live food, ensuring proper water quality, light and heat sources, and more will be provided by professionals, as well as details of successful captive projects with species and groups of salamanders, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, and more.

The course fee ($275) includes ~ 60 lectures, handouts & additional readings, and optional live Zoom discussions with the Lead Instructor + other Instructors.

The class is intended for adults. Please contact us before registering someone under the age of 18

The course is asynchronous (on your own schedule) and divided into seven 2-week sections. A topic (e.g. Snakes) is introduced, related lectures are made available, and optional Zoom and forum discussions on the topic begin. Lectures remain available for the duration of the course, so students can always return to the material.

Registration is now open for the Spring semester of the Southeastern Master Herpetologist Program 100% ONLINE. Starts March 7 and ends Jun 13, 2024

Join us for a dynamic course in Southeastern Herpetology, featuring a diverse team and some of the biggest names in southeastern herpetology. Become certified, and take a deep dive with us! The class is 100% online and asynchronous so students can take the class on their own time.

For more information, see: se.masterherpetologist.org

Our award-winning camp — Critter Camp!

Our goal is to introduce children to the exciting biodiversity of amphibians and reptiles, using these animals to illustrate aspects of biology and ecology.

The camps are small (maximum of 12 campers per session) and will be focused on tropical animals, as well as native species.

Campers will be encouraged to ask questions about the animals and discover their own answers through hands-on observation. Safe animal handling, including biosecurity will be taught and implemented at the beginning of the camp, and maintained vigilantly throughout. Over one hundred animals from around the world will be available for this camp. This includes (most of) the major amphibian groups: frogs, toads, salamanders and newts as well as the reptile groups: turtles, tortoises, lizards and snakes. Campers will learn 'fun facts' about each group: their life cycles, where and how they live, how they reproduce, and their defense strategies. Campers will learn things like what makes a frog a toad, and what makes a turtle a tortoise. Campers will also learn how to identify frog species by their call and tadpole!

Learn more and register at: critter-camp.org