SCI Foundation Sensory Safari To Visit The 2011 Annual Hunters Convention

Safari Club International Foundation Sensory Safari To Visit The 2011 Annual Hunters’ Convention



Tucson, AZ – Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) is bringing its Sensory Safari exhibit to students of the Washoe County School District, the Tahoe-Truckee School District, and other visitors in Reno Nevada throughout SCI’s 2011 Annual Hunters’ Convention. SCIF’s Sensory Safari trailer – it’s most interactive exhibition and one of its top education programs – is a hands-on mobile exhibition with specimens of the world’s most incredible animals for visitors to enjoy.

SCIF’s Sensory Safari exhibit will be stationed at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center’s north parking lot on Jan. 26-29, from 10am to 2pm, weather permitting. It will also be at the Sportsmen Against Hunger Feast on the evening of Jan. 25 at the Reno Events Center. All Tahoe-Truckee and Washoe County School District principals will be offered an invitation for teachers and students to view the spectacular specimens of wildlife on display.

The hands-on learning experience is delivered in a 45-foot Sensory Safari trailer provided by SCI’s Redding Regional Chapter (California). The van contains over 50 taxidermy exhibits, including a fully-mounted Grizzly Bear, shoulder mounts of various Springboks, Blesboks and Bushbucks along with Cape Buffalo, Kudu, and Sable. Visitors are encouraged to touch and feel the animals so that they can better understand these incredible animals. The Sensory Safari creates the opportunity to approach big game specimens and learn more about them through touch, particularly for individuals who are sight-impaired.

“Bringing wildlife to America’s youth is one of the most effective ways of encouraging children to get outside and enjoy nature,” said SCI President Larry Rudolph. “We need to begin outdoor education at a young age in order to pass down our hunting and conservation heritage to future generations.”
“The Sensory Safari Exhibit is one of SCIF’s most beloved wildlife education tools. It really is exciting to see how all visitors can experience this type of wildlife in such a real and up-close setting. We are eager to give the children of Reno this opportunity once again this year,” added Jim Frickert, SCIF’s Humanitarian Services Committee Chair.

If you are interested in learning more about the positive experiences had by youth around the country who have visited one of SCI’s Sensory Safari exhibits, please contact SCI Foundation’s Humanitarian Services Department, Safari Club Foundation or your local SCI chapter.

Contact: Nelson Freeman; media@safariclub.org

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The SCI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to sustainable science-based wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian services, including such programs as Sportsmen Against Hunger, Sensory Safari, Safari Care, Disabled Hunter, the American Wilderness Leadership School, Becoming an Outdoors Woman & More and Youth Education Seminars (YES) Outdoors. Visit Safari Club Foundation for more.

The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000 or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded the Seal.

I volunteered my time at the Sportsman against hunger in Reno at the convention. My wife came over and asked me to go up there and tell some of the people what the animals were, as no one was doing that at the time. It was a very nice display and I was glad to talk to the homeless & hungry people about these animals and the countries they are from. It was interesting watching their faces and seeing the smiles from looking at the awesome displays there!