for Students

Leaders for Ethics, Animals, and the Planet

• Students will gather with their local LEAP chapter for monthly classroom lessons and will learn from experts in various animal and environmentally related fields. Each year of the program, we will focus on certain topics, such as the ethics of eating, climate change and eco anxiety, farmed animal welfare, and the challenges and solutions related to these topics.

• Students attend hands-on workshops at local sanctuaries or other participating organizations to participate in activities such as animal care, rewilding projects, habitat clean-up, veterinary demonstrations, community gardening, vegan cooking classes, and more.

• LEAPers participate in service hours each month ranging from assisting with sanctuary tours and events, helping with public outreach and education, serving at community wellness clinics, cleaning habitats and caring for animals, assisting with local rewilding projects and wildlife habitat clean-up,  gardening, and helping with other projects of interest to them at their local sanctuary or in their communities.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEAPER?

• Candidates for the LEAP program understand the social responsibility they have as the next generation of leaders, and want to make a difference in their communities. They are ready and eager for leadership training and have a desire to change the current system for animals, human health, and the planet.

• They might be students who are already enrolled in or interested in joining an agricultural learning program like 4H or FFA but do not feel that the end goals of that program are aligned with their values.

• They are interested in animal welfare, the outdoors, hands-on learning, community involvement, connecting with animals, service projects, exploring plant-based eating eating, understanding the connection between human and animal rights, food systems, and caring for our environment.

• Are flexible, positive, and have a desire to become even better versions of themselves through critical thinking, collaboration, and new experiences.

NO PARTICIPATING SANCTUARY NEAR YOU?

• Not to worry! Students in Kindergarten through college can now create their own student-led LEAP Club and do fun service projects together that benefit animals and the planet! Think a beach clean-up, a plant-based food drive, a pet adoption social media campaign for a local shelter and more!

• Email andrea@leapforanimals.org to start a LEAP Club! and get age-appropriate project ideas!

LEAP is currently up and running at a variety of sanctuaries around the U.S. If you are interested in participating, see our sanctuaries below