Please help- Environmentalist Elementary school

[Chameleons Northwest]

Requesting a cage for a midwest elementary school. We are donating the chameleon, and are asking here to see if anyone would be willing to donate a cage. This is not a donation drive, it's just one request for helping a really cool school.

We don't know these people personally, they saw our ad in Reptiles mag and called us out of the blue.

The school is part of a public school district, and is sort of a magnate school, covering kindergarten through 4th grade. Its role in the school district is to focus on environmental studies and sciences. The kids learn to work in their own greenhouses, they recycle, they maintain a saltwater habitat, and their science projects are designed to directly link the classroom to the current real world. They are hands-on oriented, and so use exciting physical displays in their building. They already have a large Iguana habitat with 1 iguana, and asked if we would be interested in donating a chameleon. We said yes. The representative said the children will not really be handling the Chameleon, it is more for observation. Their website is very impressive.

This will be their first chameleon. After both my husband and I talked (on the phone) to several people at the school we believe they have the mental where-with-all to learn to properly care for a chameleon. Plus, we will be coaching them along the way.

Can anyone help out with a nice cage? Their rep said they could make their own cage, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone would like to donate one.

Of course, they want to move forward on this very quickly, since there are only about 4 months left to this school year. A staff member will care for the cham during the summer months, and it will return to school with the children next year.

Hope this is OK here. Thanks. Sandy

 

[Chamero]

I hate to b the one to say this, but Id b very cautious about giving a cham away to an elementary school. We have had teachers and others on this site before asking about chams in the classroom and we have continuously advised against it. Im not saying I dont think the whole idea is a good one, but it is a chameleon and is fragile.

If anything, Id advise them to custom build the cage (if they dont get one donated) and have it complete and running by the end of the year...temps and all. As we all know, learning about chams after you get them is not the best way to go. You said the teacher would be taking care of it over the summer. Maybe this teacher can get a cage and perfect the environment by summer so that over the summer he/she can adjust anything needed. By the next school year he/ she should then be ready to care for your cham properly.

Like I said, I am all for the idea, but am reluctant myself to give up a cage to a school, especially before Id just give up one for free here.... Id advise them to first learn about the care, get the environment going, and then tell them that you'll be holding the cham for when they're ready... Best of Luck.

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

Thank you for the advice, and it is well taken. We won't be sending the cham until they have things completely set up. They spent $3,000 on their Iguana enclosure. They can hopefully afford a nice set up for a chameleon. They probably will end up making their own cage, to specifications my husband is giving them. We will be able to prescribe specific lighting set up, too. I appreciate the programs they are running, and the fact that they work hard to stimulate the children's minds.

 

[Chamero]

I dont know...I do like the idea...but knowing schools and there low funding, I just cant see them providing what the cham needs. I have no doubt the teacher can learn enough, I just dont think they could inform everyone else enough. I mean, kids at recess, kids on bathroom breaks ect.... thye jsut cant all be monitored at all times. Basically, I just dont trust little kids.. but I dont know... I do wish my school did something like this...