What animals will come to my event?
The animals attending each event may vary. Our animal ambassadors are living animals, so their health, comfort, and well-being always come first. While you’re welcome to tell us about a favorite animal, specific animals cannot be guaranteed.
Will children get to touch or hold the animals?
When appropriate, children will have opportunities for supervised hands-on interaction with select animals. The type of interaction depends on the animal, the size and age of the group, and the animal’s comfort that day. Some animals may be observation-only.
Are the animals safe around children?
Our programs are designed with children in mind, and all animal interactions are closely supervised. Children will learn how to interact respectfully and safely with each animal before any hands-on experience. Because animals can behave unpredictably, instructions from the presenter must be followed at all times.
What ages are your programs appropriate for?
Our experiences can be adapted for a wide range of ages. As an elementary educator, I adjust the information, questions, and activities to make the experience engaging and age-appropriate for the children in each group.
Do you offer both reptile and invertebrate experiences?
Yes! Depending on the experience you select and animal availability, programs can feature reptiles or invertebrates. If your child or group has a particular interest, let us know when submitting your request.
How much space do you need?
We don’t need a huge amount of room, but we do need a safe area where children can gather and animals can be presented away from heavy foot traffic and other pets. We’ll discuss any specific setup needs with you before your event.
Can you do events outdoors?
Possibly. Florida weather can be tough on both people and animals! Outdoor events depend on temperature, weather conditions, shade, and the needs of the animals. An indoor or climate-controlled backup location may be required when conditions aren’t appropriate for the animal ambassadors.
Can my pets be present during the animal presentation?
For everyone's safety, household pets should be secured in a separate area during animal presentations and interactions. Even friendly pets can become excited or stressed around unfamiliar animals.
Do you provide decorations, food, tables, or chairs for birthday parties?
No. Scales & Stitches focuses on the animal experience, hosted activities, and the included crafts or favors for your selected package. Food, cake, decorations, tables, chairs, and general party setup and cleanup are the responsibility of the host.
How many children can participate?
Party packages include up to 10 children. Additional children can be added to parties for an additional per-child fee. For larger groups, school programs, camps, libraries, or community events, contact us with your group size so we can determine the best setup.
Where do you travel?
Travel within 20 miles of our Lakeland-area base is included. Locations beyond 20 miles are charged $2 per additional mile, calculated one way. Events more than 50 miles away are subject to availability and require a custom quote.
Does submitting the request form reserve my date?
No. The request form is the first step in the booking process. We’ll review your event information and contact you by email to discuss availability and next steps. Your date is not reserved until the booking requirements are completed.
What happens if an animal becomes unavailable after I book?
Animal welfare always comes first. If an animal cannot safely participate on the day of your event, we may substitute another appropriate animal or adjust that portion of the experience. This is one reason we cannot guarantee the attendance of a particular animal.
What if a child is afraid of one of the animals?
That’s completely okay! No child will ever be required to touch or hold an animal. Children are welcome to observe from whatever distance feels comfortable, and we encourage curiosity without forcing interaction.
Can you accommodate children who need a different way to participate?
Please tell us about any accommodations that may help your child or group when you submit your request. We’ll do our best to adapt the experience so children can participate comfortably and meaningfully.
Do you offer private lessons or classes?
Yes! Scales & Stitches offers group classes as well as private and parent/child lessons. Topics may include reptiles, invertebrates, animal science, and beginner crochet. Visit the Classes page for more information.