Conferences & Trainings

American Humane offers a broad range of trainings and workshops designed by our humane education experts to meet your needs -- whether you are an animal welfare professional, a parent, a university or grade school teacher, a humane education professional, a student or someone interested in humane education topics.

Please follow the course links on this page to determine which sessions are best for you. If you do not see the humane education topic you're looking for, feel free to contact the director of American Humane's Humane Education Department, Jane Greco Deming, at humaneed@americanhumane.org.

Also, please note that tuition fees are per workshop (not per person), and include handouts and materials for up to 50 participants. Additional printing fees may apply for larger audiences. Other costs include travel expenses and accommodations for presenter(s), and host organizations are responsible for providing meals and refreshments to participants. Financial assistance may be available based on need.

Captivating Kids with Character Lessons
Learn how to incorporate animals and empathy into lessons about responsible pet care and kindness, to not only captivate students but also deliver a clear message about the pillars of character.

Empowering for Compassion
University-level students get a real-world look into animal sheltering and animal welfare in this 1 1/2 day workshop. Learn about the humane movement, humane education, and the issues that face shelters and the community regarding companion animals.

Fundamentals of Humane Education
Walk through the many steps of creating an effective, efficient humane education department. This full-day workshop covers everything from how to set up a calendar to how to track programs for reporting results.  

Grant Writing for the Novice
Walk through the steps every grant writer must take to complete a grant for submission. Topics include grant research, timing strategies, networking and collaborations.

Safe Handling of Cats and Dogs
Get the knowledge and skills to safely handle cats and dogs in highly stressful environments. Learn how to spot dangerous situations before they occur, read feline and canine communication, use tools of the trade and stay safe.

Rich With Enrichment: Easy Ways to Enrich the Lives of Animals in Shelters and Foster Care
Explore how stress impacts shelter animals, as well as shelter guests, staff and volunteers. Learn how animals’ sensory systems process stress and how enriching the environment can benefit animals’ health and well-being.

Teachable Moments for Shelter Staff and Volunteers
Often we don't realize how small things in our animal shelter operations influence the public's perception. Learn how everyone can take part in improving your organization's image.

Teachable Moments: Opening Windows of Opportunity (For Humane Educators)
In this course, humane educators will learn techniques for creating programs and lesson plans for kids and adults that are fun, affordable and interactive, and filled with age-appropriate information.

Scheduling Information

If you are interested in participating in or hosting one of our informative workshops, please contact us. Workshops are scheduled by request and can be custom-tailored to meet the needs of your organization and audience. Audience size can vary from a handful of your staff members, to a large group of professionals in your region.

We are here to provide leadership in and assistance with professional development. Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions or ideas, or for help with organizing a regional training. We will do as much as we can to assist you with hosting a workshop.

For more information, please email Jane Greco Deming, director of American Humane's Humane Education Department, at humaneed@americanhumane.org.

Meet the Instructors

Jane Greco Deming is the director of American Humane's Humane Education Department. She attended Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island and is a certified zoo manager by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums through North Carolina State University. She got her start in humane education as the curator of education for 11 years at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I., where she received awards for programs that focused on humane issues. She also worked as a zoo investigator and consultant for the Humane Society of the United States for five years. In 1994, Jane became the director of education for the Providence Animal Rescue League, where she designed, built and installed the nation's first childrenís museum exhibit focusing on responsibility and kindness toward animals. Known as Pets & People, it is still in use after 10 years and well over 1 million visitors. Jane is the co-founder of the new, nationally distributed Baby-Ready Pets program for expectant parents. She is the former director of the Rhode Island Disaster Animal Rescue Team, former vice president and current board member of the Association of Professional Humane Educators, and has been a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for nearly 30 years.

Katenna Jones is a humane educator, certified animal behaviorist and certified dog trainer. She brings to American Humane a masterís degree from Brown University in animal behavior, several years working as a cruelty investigator and nearly a decade of shelter experience. Katenna will lend her expertise from working with companion animal behavior problems, dog training, and temperament assessments to programs relating to bite prevention, pet responsibility and animal training. She also will be presenting workshops and creating humane education materials for nationwide distribution. Katenna was co-founder with Jane in creating the Baby-Ready Pets program.