Saturday, December 12, 2015

Gifts That Give, Part 1: WIldlife

If you know someone who feels strongly about a cause, consider giving a gift that is put out by a charitable organization. You could just make a donation in their name, or you could buy something tangible that will remind the person of the organization or cause. Here are a few ideas for people who care about wild animals and nature. I would love to get these, and I bet any other animal lover would too! (You may want to do your own research to choose an organization you think is particularly worthy of your donation. )
Bat House Kit - For the person who loves bats and wants to have them in his yard, here is a kit that has everything you need to make your own bat house. It is designed to be easy enough for children as young as 6 to do. Proceeds go towards Wildlife Forever, an organization dedicated to conservation efforts and the education of children about conservation. $32.95.

Bluebird House Kit - This simple kit allows you to put together a blue bird house. (By the way, bluebirds are different from blue jays. And they don't kill other birds.) It is designed to be easy enough for children as young as 6 to do. Proceeds go towards Wildlife Forever, an organization dedicated to conservation efforts and the education of children about conservation. $32.95.

Born Free - This program allows you to adopt either a species of animal, or a specific animal living in one of their sanctuaries. This is a monthly payment program for 2.50 pounds (or $3.79 US dollars) per month. You get a stuffed animal, photo, adoption certificate, the animal's story, a magazine subscription, and a window decal.

Defenders Of Wildlife Species Adoption - This site has 32 animals to choose from. The adoption fees vary by animals, but for $30 to $50 you get a stuffed animal, animal fact sheet, photo, and adoption certificate. 

International Animal Rescue - This site is a little more expensive... you can pay $6 monthly or $72 for a year. For this site you are helping to sponsor a specific animal that is living in a sanctuary... animals that have been injured (often by humans) and cannot take care of themselves in the wild. You get a stuffed animal, adoption certificate, framed photo, and animal fact sheet. You also get to log onto the site whenever you want to view members-only information about the animal you are sponsoring, such as updates on his welfare. Your choices for adoption are orangutan, sloth bear, or slow loris.

National Wildlife Federation Species Adoption - This is another site with a ton of choices of animals to adopt. For $30 you get a stuffed animal, an 11X14 color poster of the animal, and an adoption certificate. For the same amount, you can adopt a wild animal baby, and get a stuffed animal, adoption certificate, and story card with information about the animal.

National Wildlife Federation Gift Store - The store has toys and gamesclothes and accessories for kids, clothes and accessories for adults, home decorations, and gardening and birding gifts. These are for all different prices. They also have magazine subscriptions, including Ranger Rick and Ranger Rick Jr.

One Special Rhino - This is a children's book, actually written and illustrated by fifth graders, about the true story of a rhino born in captivity, how the species is in danger, and how children can help to save the rhinos. Proceeds from the $13.00 book go to the International Rhino Foundation. 

Silver Rhino Pendant - A sterling silver rhino pendant handmade in Indonesia. It is only $25, and the money goes to support the International Rhino Foundation.

Sierra Club Species Adoption - This adoption program has 17 choices of animal species that you can adopt. For $39 you get a stuffed animal, a sticker of the animal, an adoption certificate, and a booklet with animal facts. For $79 you also get a backpack.

Sierra Club Membership - It looks like you can join the Sierra Club for as little as a one time $15 donation. You become a member of your local chapter, and can participate in member-only outdoor adventures. These include worldwide trips, and local day trips such as hikes. You also get a magazine subscription and a messenger bag.

Snow Leopard Trust - All sorts of gifts... clothes, toys. home decor, books, accessories, pet products and more... that support this organization that is dedicated to protecting snow leopards. 

Tigers Forever -  "National Geographic photographer Steve Winter spent a decade in search of wild tigers, devoted to capturing their magnificence and telling their story. Tigers are in trouble, and his quest for photographs became his way to address the plight of this magnificent cat. His goal: to reinvigorate global concern--while there’s still time." This book is full of both information, and beautiful photographs of tigers. 10% of the proceeds go towards Panthera's Tigers Forever program.

Wolf.org - A gift shop with clothes, jewelry, toys, books, and more. Proceeds support International Wolf Center, which works to educate humans about wolves and to dispel the myths that often cause people to hate and fear these beautiful animals.

World Wildlife Species Adoption - Symbolically adopt or "sponsor" an entire species! For  $55 you get a plush animal, an adoption certificate, a photo, a "species card" with information about the animal, and a gift bag to put it all in. They have a ton of choices of animals, from elephants to butterflies to aye aye aye lemurs. You can even adopt a "sniffer dog," a dog whose job it is to sniff out illegal animal products such as bones and tusks in airports.

World Wildlife Games, Clothes, Etc. The gift shop includes a cool tiger puzzle, a couple of kids' games, T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more. The price of each of these is a $55 donation.

Zoo Animal Adoption - Your local zoo (or the zoo that is local to the person receiving the gift) most likely has an animal sponsorship program, with added bonuses that other sponsorship programs can't offer. For instance, Brookfield Zoo's Share The Care Program gives you, for $50, a stuffed animal, photograph, window decal, animal fact sheet, and an invitation to a special event... plus, you actually get to see "your" animal in person when you go to the zoo! If your local zoo doesn't have such a thing, or if you don't live near a zoo at all, you could try the Audubon Institute's adoption program. For $50 you get an adoption certificate, photo, fun facts sheet, and stuffed animal. The Smithsonian National Zoo offers a similar package for $65.


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