Live Bat Programs


Bats of the World: Featuring Live Flying Fox Bats
Nocturnal Animals: Featuring Live Owls, Bats and More

Basically Bats: Featuring Live Micro Bats

Professional Programs by the Directors

Read what teachers are saying about our programs

Booking and travel prices in Michigan

Booking your program outside of Michigan

See a slide show of some of the bats used in OBC's programs

Funding ideas from DonorsChoose.org

OBC offers award-winning live bat programs throughout the United States






A group of students enjoy a close look at Congo, OBC's straw-colored flying fox.

Where else can you see LIVE bats up-close and personal? The Organization for Bat Conservation presents educational programs throughout the United States featuring LIVE bats.

All bats used in programs are either permanently injured animals or zoo animals and therefore are unreleasable.

Our programs are one of the most unique in the world, exhibiting such bats as endangered Rodrigues flying foxes, beautiful dog-faced bats, and many more. Plus, our facility, the Bat Zone, is a sanctuary for our animals. All bats live in large flight cages (even if they can't fly, as most of them have come to us because of wing injuries), have a full time keeper whom is dedicated to their welfare (environmental enrichment, foods they enjoy, and trees and branches rotated in their cage). We love our bats and care deeply for them, each bat is worked with individually for many months before we can determine whether he or she enjoys programs. In return, our bats are non-threatened and enjoy coming out in front of people. We at OBC are extremely proud of our programs and our bats!

OBC's live bat programs have won many awards and are truly unique experience! You can expect an hour long program with face-to-face contact with LIVE bats.

If you would like to book a program and you are outside the state of Michigan, no problem. Please go to Special Live Bat Programs by the Director. These programs are wonderful and include the largest bat in the world, an endangered bat, and more. If you would like an estimate please call the number below or email Rob Mies.

If you are interested in scheduling a program, call 248-645-3232 ext. 9.

Bats of the World
Featuring live large flying foxes and more
!
Presenter shows a group of students a straw-colored flying fox's wingspan (bats are trained to stretch their wings easily, and receive fruit treats after every stretch).



Step into the world of bats with this exciting multimedia presentation with ethnic music and a cultural geographic perspective. Topics include sound waves, ecosystems, food webs, and conservation. See live U.S. bats, South American bats, and rare African bats with 4-foot wingspans!

Intended grades: can be modified for any grade level and adult groups

Activity time: roughly 1 hour

Types of bats shown: a wide variety including large fruit bats from around the world (one with a 4 foot wingspan), and smaller micro bats from North America.

Price:
$175, plus travel, for groups of up to 60
$275, plus travel, for groups of 61-150
$500, plus travel, for groups of 151-300

Please note that programs scheduled in October require an additional $25 fee due to overwhelming demand and presenter overtime.

Nocturnal Animals
Featuring owls, bats, and more!
A beautiful fruit bat takes a look at
the kids.



Discover the most fascinating features and adaptations of many nocturnal animals including bats, flying squirrels, owls, and more. Hearing, sight, smell, and ecosystems will be investigated. Live animals will be shown including bats, owls, and a few surprises.

Intended grades: Second through adult

Activity time: one hour

Price:
$175, plus travel, for groups of up to 60
$275, plus travel, for groups of 61-150
$500, plus travel, for groups of 151-300

Please note that programs scheduled in October require an additional $25 fee due to overwhelming demand and presenter overtime.

Basically Bats
Featuring LIVE fruit and insect-eating bats!
A student takes a close look at a native big brown bat.



This creative program uses a variety of props to intrigue and educate while teaching children not to be afraid of bats and to understand the beneficial things they do. Live bats are shown including small bats and a large fruit bat.

Intended grades: preschool-kindergarten

Activity time: 30 to 45 minutes

Intended learning outcome: gain a greater appreciation for bats, discovering the benefits of bats.

Price:
$175, plus travel, for groups of up to 60

Please note that programs scheduled in October require an additional $25 fee due to overwhelming demand and presenter overtime.

Professional Programs by OBC
directors Kim Williams and Rob Mies

Featuring the largest bat in the world
(the Malayan fly fox with a 6-foot wingspan),
an endangered Rodrigues flying fox, and more!
Director Rob Mies shows the group at the American Museum of Natural History, a Malayan flying fox.

 

What educators are saying about OBC's Live Bat Programs

 






The directors of the Organization for Bat Conservation are available to present professional programs nationwide.

More information on OBC's directors and their unique programs

Rob Mies and Kim Williams started working with bats in 1990 during their biology graduate work at Eastern Michigan University studying the endangered Indiana bat in the swamps of Michigan. Their research has also taken them to other parts of the Midwest, Costa Rica, and Australia. Mies and Williams founded the Organization for Bat Conservation to educate people about the uniqueness and importance of bats.








"The Power Point presentation was fantastic! A great addition! Thanks for another great program." Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve

"The program was excellent and Dale was wonderful with the children. I would definitely recommend this program!" Green Elementary

"Great program-numerous positive comments-we could have filled at least 2 more programs." Rum Village Nature Center

"Great program! The live bats were a big hit!" Elkhart Environmental Center

"The program was excellent. The Power Pint presentation and photographs were great!" Ritter Elementary

 

Travel Prices in Michigan

 

 

 

 

 


Programs out of the state of Michigan

$50: Macomb, Oakland, Wayne County
$75: Genessee, Lapeer, Livingston, Washtenaw
$100: Ingham, Monroe, St. Clair, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Tuscola
$125: Bay, Clinton, Eaton, Jackson, Lenawee
$150: Calhoun, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ionia, Midland
$175: Arenac, Barry, Branch, Clare, Isabella, Kalamazoo, Kent
The following counties need a two program minimum plus travel:
$200: Allegan, Gladwin, Iosco, Montcalm, Mescosta, Ogeman, Osceola, St. Joseph, Van Buren
$225: Berrien, Cass, Crawford, Muskegan, Newago, Ottawa, Roscommon
Please call if your county is not listed or if the program is to be in a state other than Michigan. We will be happy to provide you with travel fees. OBC does travel throughout the U.S. with our live bat programs!

 

Rob Mies, director of the OBC presents hundreds of programs each year throughout the United States. Please see Special Live Bat Programs by the director for information about the shows Rob as appeared on and the many books he has written. Programs range from $500 (plus travel) for a single program, $900 (plus travel) for two programs back to back, and $1000 (plus travel) for keynote addresses.

The focus of his live animal programs is to educate people about the importance of bats in our ecosystem. He also dispels myths about bats, details the benefits of bats to the world, and encourages conservation efforts.

Each program last about 60 minutes. Programs are educational, interactive, and include live bats. The OBC director will bring at least 3 bats from 3 different areas of the world, including North America, South America, and Africa. You don't want to miss the big fruit bats with wingspans of 6 feet!

Programs that are further than 3 hours from our headquarters at the Bat Zone in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan are best scheduled with a group of locations. The most effective way to do this is to request a dozen or more full-color program brochures that you can distribute to interested parties. Most trips are a collection of libraries, nature centers, nature stores, science centers, and/or schools. Each location pays for the amount of programs they schedule and a portion of the travel price.

Please feel free to contact Rob Mies with any questions, we will calculate the price out for you.

Video-conferencing programs are also available. Thank you for supporting bat conservation, we look forward to presenting for your group!

Funding Ideas

Attention Teachers: Program Funding Website

DonorsChoose.org is a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. At this not-for-profit web site, teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund.

Teachers can request money for live bat programs if they wish!

Please contact us at obcbats@aol.com if you know of any other funding ideas for other teachers.

Home    ::   Our bats   ::   Sponsor-A-Bat    ::   About OBC     ::    Festivals    ::    Donate    ::    Links    ::  FAQ    ::   Contact



                                          Copyright 2005-2006 © The Organization for Bat Conservation. All rights reserved.

                                                                              Bat Zone at Cranbrook Institute of Science
                                                                                  39221 Woodward Ave. P.O. Box 801
                                                                                         Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
                                                                                                   (248) 645-3232
                                                                                                obcbats@aol.com