ScaleWise Education provides educational programs featuring live reptiles and other animals. Programs may take place in private homes, schools, libraries, community organizations, public events, and other approved locations.

Our programs are designed around staff-controlled animal presentations and education. ScaleWise Education staff determine how, when, and where animals are presented based on the animal's health, temperament, behavior, welfare, and the circumstances of the program.

These policies are intended to establish reasonable safety expectations for ScaleWise Education programs.

Animal Handling

ScaleWise Education staff are responsible for handling and controlling animals during presentations.

Guests and participants must not:

• Pick up an animal without permission from ScaleWise Education staff.
• Chase, grab, restrain, squeeze, or intentionally disturb an animal.
• Feed an animal without permission.
• Place an animal near their face or around their neck.
• Put their hands near an animal's mouth.
• Interfere with an animal while it is being handled by ScaleWise Education staff.
• Attempt to remove an animal from its enclosure or transport container.

Any interaction with an animal is permitted only when specifically authorized by ScaleWise Education staff.

ScaleWise Education may restrict, modify, or discontinue animal interaction at any time.

An animal may be removed from a presentation at any time if ScaleWise Education staff determine that continued participation could create unnecessary stress, health concerns, or safety concerns.

Not every animal will participate in every program.

Participant Safety

Participants are expected to:

• Follow all instructions provided by ScaleWise Education staff.
• Remain calm around animals.
• Avoid sudden movements when instructed to do so.
• Maintain a safe distance from animals when requested.
• Immediately notify ScaleWise Education staff of any bite, scratch, injury, allergic reaction, or other concern.
• Keep unauthorized pets away from the presentation area.
• Avoid interfering with animals, equipment, enclosures, or transportation containers.

ScaleWise Education staff may stop a presentation or activity whenever they determine that continued participation could create a safety concern.

Children & Supervision

Parents, guardians, teachers, group leaders, and event hosts remain responsible for supervising children in their care.

ScaleWise Education provides educational instruction and manages the animals. ScaleWise Education staff are not childcare providers and do not replace the supervision responsibilities of parents, guardians, teachers, or event hosts.

Children must remain under the supervision of their responsible adult during programs unless a separate arrangement has been established in advance.

In-Home Programs

ScaleWise Education may provide programs inside private residences.

Before beginning an in-home program, the host should provide ScaleWise Education with a reasonably suitable area for the presentation.

For the safety of participants and animals:

• Household pets should be secured away from the presentation area.
• Children and guests should remain in the designated presentation area unless otherwise instructed.
• Animals, enclosures, transportation containers, and equipment may only be moved or handled by ScaleWise Education staff unless permission is given.
• Participants should not interfere with doors, gates, windows, or other areas that could affect the containment of an animal.
• ScaleWise Education may decline to begin or may discontinue a program if the environment is determined to be unsuitable or unsafe.

The host is responsible for providing accurate information about conditions at the location that could reasonably affect the safety of participants, staff, or animals.

Animal Welfare Policy

Animal welfare comes before the educational program.

ScaleWise Education will not require an animal to participate when participation could create unnecessary stress, illness, injury, or other welfare concerns.

Animals may be removed from a presentation at any time.

Animals participating in programs will be provided with appropriate housing, food, water, environmental conditions, rest, and veterinary care when needed.

The educational value of a program will never take priority over an animal's welfare.

Hygiene

Participants should:

• Wash their hands with soap and water after interacting with animals or animal-related equipment.
• Avoid touching their face or mouth while interacting with animals.
• Keep food and drinks away from animals and animal-handling areas.

Additional hygiene procedures may be used depending on the species and circumstances of the program.

Program Cancellation

ScaleWise Education may cancel, postpone, reschedule, or modify a program when necessary because of:

• Animal illness or welfare concerns.
• Unsafe environmental conditions.
• Extreme weather.
• Emergencies.
• Transportation problems.
• Unsafe conditions at the program location.
• Other circumstances that could reasonably affect the safety of participants, staff, or animals.

When reasonably possible, ScaleWise Education will provide notice of cancellations or changes and work with the host to determine an appropriate alternative.

Client-requested cancellations and refunds are subject to the terms provided when the program is booked.

Weather

Outdoor programs may be moved indoors, postponed, or cancelled when weather conditions could create an unsafe environment.

This may include extreme heat or cold, lightning, storms, high winds, flooding, or other hazardous conditions.

ScaleWise Education staff will determine whether conditions are appropriate for the animals and the program.

Photography & Video

Photography and video recording may take place during ScaleWise Education programs for educational, documentation, or promotional purposes.

ScaleWise Education will obtain appropriate permission before using identifiable photographs or recordings of participants for promotional purposes.

Parents, guardians, schools, organizations, and event hosts may request reasonable restrictions regarding photography or recording.

Photography and recording must never interfere with participant safety, animal welfare, or the operation of the program.

Emergency Procedures

If an emergency occurs, ScaleWise Education staff will prioritize the safety of participants, staff, and animals.

Depending on the situation, staff may:

• Stop the program.
• Secure or remove animals.
• Move participants to a safer location.
• Provide basic first aid within the limits of their training.
• Contact emergency services.
• Notify the responsible parent, guardian, teacher, or event host.
• Follow emergency procedures established by the hosting location.

Any bite, scratch, injury, allergic reaction, escape, or other significant incident should be reported to ScaleWise Education staff immediately.

Emergency medical services will be contacted when appropriate.

Participant Acknowledgment

By participating in a ScaleWise Education program, participants and their responsible adults are expected to follow the safety instructions provided by ScaleWise Education staff.

Participants understand that live animals can behave unpredictably and that animal-related activities may involve inherent risks, including but not limited to bites, scratches, allergic reactions, accidental contact, and other injuries.

Participants are expected to exercise reasonable care and follow all instructions provided during the program.

Additional written agreements, acknowledgments, or waivers may be required for particular programs when appropriate.

Animal Damage or Injury

Intentional, reckless, or unauthorized actions involving a ScaleWise Education animal may result in responsibility for reasonable, documented costs associated with resulting animal injury or property damage, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

ScaleWise Education will address any such situation based on the circumstances of the incident.

Right to Refuse or End Participation

ScaleWise Education reserves the right to refuse participation, discontinue an activity, remove an animal, or end a program when staff determine that continuing would create an unreasonable safety, welfare, or operational concern.

This decision may be made at any time during a program.

Policy Updates

These policies may be updated as ScaleWise Education programs, animals, locations, and operating procedures develop.

The most current version of this policy will be maintained on the ScaleWise Education website.