WHAT IS
WILD MIND?

Our Story

Previously known as Wildlife Associates, WILDMIND is home to over 50 non-releasable wild animals who have found sanctuary with us in Half Moon Bay for over 38 years. WILDMIND educational programs will bring science and environmental literacy alive in the classroom. Students will learn to think like scientists, appreciate our connectivity with animals, the environment and each other, while having fun learning science!

Our transformative at-risk youth programs offer our youth a place to heal and re-imagine their lives with programs that meet their important needs. They learn trust, empathy, and compassion for our wild animals, each other and themselves.

Our wild animals enter young people’s minds through their hearts, to teach them the fundamentals of science, the environment and how to become responsible stewards as young adults.

We are Wildmind Science Learning.

Our Mission

We provide lifelong, quality care for non-releasable wild animals and work with them to be teachers of innovative programs that engage, enrich, inspire and empower young and old alike to become conservation stewards and leaders.

Our Vision

Ensure a healthy and diverse planet by connecting people to the natural world and strengthening their respect for all living things.

Our History

Founded in 1980 by environmental educator Steve Karlin, Wildmind (formerly Wildlife Associates) was the product of two things—his long study of the evolution of human learning, and a strong belief that humans need to better perceive their relationship with the living world. He knew that these educational experiences needed to be transformative—and they needed to bridge the chasm between the human and wild worlds.

Believing that an interactive, whole-brain educational model would engage their creativity and empathy, Steve used children’s natural connection with animals to pioneer a unique methodology in which the animals themselves were the teachers.

Steve initially did his science assemblies with a few reptile companions, but teachers soon wanted more programs—with more animals. It didn’t take him too long to find more; sadly, there are many animals, of all varieties, in need of rescue and care.

Having educated over 8 million students since 1980, adding animal education programs for adults and at-risk teens, Wildmind has grown into one of the foremost organizations of its kind.

Steve Karlin, a former National Park Service ranger, renowned environmental educator and award-winning environmental reporter, has appeared on local and national news, PBS, CNN, Larry King Live, Discovery, Disney, Animal Planet, National Geographic Explorer and on his own nationally syndicated environmental news segment, Earth Journal.

MEET OUR
TEACHERS

These animals come to us because they can never survive in the wild. They were abused, abandoned, injured or born into captivity. The animals’ care is of utmost importance to us as they are with us for life. They become Wild Teachers in our educational programs as their stories are filled with a message of caring, empathy and hope.

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