Education

Educational Programs

Live bird presentations are effective educational tools that make lasting impressions on any audience. SOAR maintains all necessary US Fish & Wildlife Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources permits for educational programming.

SOAR's goal is to return all birds to the wild. Unfortunately, that is not always possible because of the severity of the illness or injury. These birds may become part of the 'educational ambassador team' here at SOAR. The SOAR Ambassador Team includes species of owls, hawks, falcons, and bald eagles.

SOAR programs stress our mission of raptor rehabilitation, education, and research and are adaptable to any age audience indoors or out. SOAR can provide educational programming throughout Iowa thanks to our network of experienced environmental educators.

Topics of programs include:

• Raptor biology,
• Predator and prey relationships,
• Habitat conservation,
• Endangered species,
• Pesticides in the environment, and
• Natural resource issues

Scheduling a Program

For all program locations, please email Linette to check for availability and requested program donation.

All program donations are used to support the rehabilitation of patients and care of our education birds. Our requested program donation is dependent on the number of birds and length of program. Round-trip mileage charges will be added for any distance beyond 80 miles one-way from SOAR.

You are encouraged to look to your local service organizations and businesses to help sponsor your program. If you are still having difficulty with the requested program donation, please contact us to discuss other options.

Requested donation can be negotiated if your request does not fall into one of these options.

Program Fees

Public events, fairs, and festivals with a booth / walk-by setting
One (1) raptor, no eagle, 3-4 hours	$225
2-3 raptors, no eagle, 3-4 hours	$375
One (1) eagle, 3-4 hours	$475
For each hour beyond 4, add	$125
Programs for your group, organization, or business
One (1) owl, hawk, or falcon, 1-2 hours	$225
2-3 raptors (hawk, owl, and/or falcon), no eagle, 1-2 hours	$275
One (1) eagle, 1-2 hours **Travel of more than two hours with a bald eagle is considered a special request. Please email Linette for any special request.	$375
School environmental education programs -- at school or field trip
1 presentation with 1-2 raptors, no eagle	$275
2-6 presentations with 1-2 raptors	$375
Presentation(s) with one (1) eagle	$375
Virtual Program
1-2 raptors for up to 45 minutes	$60

Please note: Round trip mileage charge will be added to our invoice, at the rate set by the IRS, for those program locations that are more than 80 miles one-way from SOAR. That rate is set by the IRS late in the prior calendar year. 2023 IRS standard mileage rate is 0.655 cents per mile.

**This rate will be applied to all programs scheduled on or after May 9, 2022. This mileage rate has not increased from 0.45 cents per mile since set in 2015.

Ex: Program location is 100 miles from SOAR. Mileage charge would be, 100 - 80 = 20 x 2 = 40 round-trip miles, 40 x 0.655 = $26.20.