Tabetha S.
"Unity gave me the knowledge I needed to create enrichments for the different types of animals I worked with. They also helped me have the confidence to lead and educate both other volunteers and visitors."
Armed with coursework in animal enrichment from Unity, Tabetha S. spent nine weeks caring for wildlife at a sanctuary deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest.
Some classrooms have four walls. Tabetha’s had a rainforest canopy overhead.
For nine weeks, Tabetha volunteered at Amazoonico, a wildlife sanctuary in Ecuador dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of native Amazonian species. Her days were full and hands-on: preparing meals for the sanctuary’s permanent residents, designing and delivering enrichment activities to keep animals mentally stimulated, cleaning enclosures, and leading educational tours for visiting guests.
It was exactly the kind of experience that turns classroom knowledge into something real.
“If you want to experience the rainforest and the beautiful nature and animals, Amazoonico is a great place to do exactly that, along with learning more about yourself in the process.”
Unity’s coursework in enrichment gave Tabetha the foundation she needed to do the work thoughtfully rather than just going through the motions. Understanding why enrichment matters, how different species respond to different stimuli, and what it means to keep a wild animal cognitively engaged in a sanctuary setting all shaped the way she approached her time at Amazoonico.
“Unity gave me the knowledge I needed to create enrichments for the different types of animals I worked with,” she says.
That preparation showed up in the results. Tabetha introduced new enrichment activities for the sanctuary’s residents, adding variety that kept animals engaged and prevented the behavioral stagnation that comes from repetitive routines. Her tours did more than inform, too. They motivated visitors to return and get involved.
For Tabetha, the experience was as much about personal growth as it was about the animals. Nine weeks in a rainforest sanctuary, far from home, caring for wildlife has a way of revealing what someone is made of.
The foundation came from Unity. The rest she built herself, one enclosure and one tour at a time.
At Unity Environmental University, students have opportunities to connect what they study with the places and causes they care about.
