What is Humane Education?

A Legacy of Hope

Humane education nurtures compassion and respect for living things with its traditional focus on the protection of animals, PLUS its relationship to the environment, the compassionate treatment of people, and the interconnectedness of all things. It casts a broad net of biodiversity and its interdependence. Saving one species saves many.

The Heart of Animal Protection

In this section of our website you'll find facts, stories, animal- and conservation-centered learning activities, presentations, videos, and a wealth of resources for your personal interest or to create stimulating multi-disciplinary learning environments.

Through our humane education programs, New England Primate Conservancy is committed to leaving a legacy of hope, and tools to create a better tomorrow for all of the Earth's citizens. What we do in our daily lives impacts the future. Every small change in the right direction carries hope.

The goal is responsible stewardship of our planet and her creatures because...education is the heart of animal protection. ​

Here's Some of what you'll find

Lessons and Activities

THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING HABITAT: THE CANDY CULPRIT

Do you love a good detective story? Check out this project-based lesson for understanding how one's daily choices ​impact rainforests thousands of miles away. It's a great way to captivate kids' imaginations while they learn at home or in the classroom. Fun and engaging film noir style detective videos introduce and explain each lesson.

Students embark on a detective story in which each lesson builds upon the one before it. The students are the detectives who uncover how the ingredients in their candy may be harmful to the rainforests and those who live in them. They learn about sustainable practices and companies that follow them or don’t. And they are charged with very clear and specific Action Items in each of 5 project steps that walk them through how to accomplish each task. Good Detective Strategies and Helpful Hints are included. ​The lessons target grades 4-8, but may be easily adapted for younger or older grades.

The Case of the Disappearing Habitat: The Candy Culprit-Starts Here!

PRIMATES AT-A-GLANCE

View and Learn! Primates At-a-Glance is a media gallery of beautiful graphics that give you glimpses into the worlds of a variety of primate species -- apes, monkeys, and prosimians. ​​Species are listed in alphabetical order by common name. Click on any photo for the full species profile. ​​

• African Apes At-a-Glance
• African Monkeys At-a-Glance
• African Prosimians At-a-Glance
• Asian Apes At-a-Glance
• Asian Monkeys At-a-Glance
• Asian Prosimians At-a-Glance
• Latin American Monkeys At-a-Glance

CYBER FLASHCARDS

Cyber FlashCards are here!

They’re a fun and educational resource and activity with so much to discover
​

• 10 of the most well-known primate species
• 10 of the weirdest primate species
• 10 of primate species you've probably never heard of
• 10 of the most Endangered primate species

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Plus find out why each species may have multiple common names, but only one scientific name. Find out where in the world they live. And so much more. Best of all, have fun while learning!

(September 1, 2019)

THE ALPHABET SOUP OF CONSERVATION

NEW VIDEO!

The study of conservation is filled with acronyms. From the organizations that make determinations about threats to species (IUCN, to those that regulate trade agreements (CITES), to the many scientific teams that the provide critical data (SSCs), to the Conservation Statuses assigned to each species, it is a veritable alphabet soup of wordplay and abbreviated shortcuts. In this lesson, we focus primarily on the Conservation Statuses, the "codes" that tell us health of about species and their habitats, and the threats that they face. 

​More than 28,000 species are threatened with extinction, including 70% of primate species. Why? Conservation Status categories help us to understand how and why they are at risk. They also help us to understand that there is hope for most species if we all take action, even in small ways, starting today. 

In the accompanying lesson, you'll learn more about the primate species featured throughout the video, and what each person can do to protect and preserve endangered species. Dive into the Alphabet Soup of Conservation.

WHERE PRIMATES LIVE

NEW VIDEO!

​The Where Primates Live learning activity takes its inspiration from a short video that we created to take you on a tour of the world's continents and learn where nonhuman primate habitats naturally occur and which species live there. Human primates, of course, inhabit every continent. What happens when our world collide?

With 5 distinct Lessons and Activities, learning goals and objectives are clearly outlined. This is a lesson and activity for understanding the need to preserve and protect natural habitats.

PRIMATES AND THEIR HABITATS

Primates and Their Habitats includes card games and activities that introduce the diversity of primate species and the habitats in which they live. Fun ways to occupy your kids without phones and tablets. You’ve never seen a card deck like this before! 36 beautiful printable cards represent 27 primate species and 7 habitats. Select from 4 game options based on players’ ages, interests, or just for fun. Want to learn more about “Who’s in the Cards?” Go back to the tablet, visit the website below, and one click or tap reveals each species’ profile. You might find a species you’ve never seen before. You might be surprised by their habitats. Best of all, IT’S FREE!

Looking for fun ways to occupy your kids without phones and tablets? Try Primates and Their Habitats, card games and activities that introduce the diversity of primate species and the habitats in which they live. 

Who doesn’t love monkeys and apes? Learn where your favorites live as you enjoy playing fun card games. 

You’ve never seen a card deck like this before! 36 beautiful printable cards represent 27 primate species and 7 habitats. Select from 4 game options based on players’ ages, interests, or just for fun. There’s even a solitaire game to enjoy alone. Illustrated game instructions are included. Just print the cards and you’re ready to play! 

Want to learn more about “Who’s in the Cards?” Go back to the tablet, visit the website below, and one click or tap reveals each species’ profile. You might find a species you’ve never seen before. You might be surprised by their habitats. Best of all, IT’S FREE!

LIFE IN THE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS

Life in the World's Tropical Rainforest includes five activities based on the lessons in our self-guided slideshow of the same name. It incorporates great photos, rainforest sounds, and Fun Facts interspersed throughout.

​Most importantly, you'll learn about why the world's rainforests must be preserved and how we all, from thousands of miles away, can protect them in our daily lives.

Play our Levels of the Rainforest matching game to learn more about who lives in what levels of the rainforest. Other activities guide you to learn why those levels are important to biodiversity.

Each of the five unique learning activities allow you to have fun while learning about the world's tropical rainforests and the creatures that live in them. 

Our Book

People and Other Primates
​Thoughts and conversations about how we share the world with our fellow primates

In an easy storytelling format, fictional events among young people reveal what happens when human and nonhuman primates live with or near each other. The stories reveal that, even when they are not native to where we live, our choices and actions can impact the futures of all species. Each chapter includes an About section with facts about the primate species featured in the story. Rich with full-color illustrations, photos, maps, and more, the book's target audience is pre-teens, teens, and young adults, although it will surely be equally enjoyed by an older audience.

"People and Other Primates" provokes thoughts about conservation topics that may not otherwise be on your mind and illuminates the power that each of us has to positively impact serious conservation issues. It empowers the reader to help our fellow primates whose futures today’s youths hold in their hands. It seeks to stir thoughts about conservation, habitat preservation, the ethics behind how we treat our fellow primates, and the importance of allowing wild animals to fulfill their natural roles in their native habitats. New England Primate Conservancy’s quest is toward responsible stewardship of the Earth and her creatures.