EcoVivarium

EcoVivarium was formed in 2009 as a nonprofit mobile education service featuring rescued and donated reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. We traveled throughout Southern California, introducing schools, field study groups, scouts, and communities to our Ambassador Animals. The animals provide a contextual link to the subject matter and spark a real excitement for learning! As word spread, we received numerous inquiries for students to come in as interns and begin offering field trips for schools, scouts, and the general public. 

In 2015, we secured our first public venue in downtown Escondido. We launched the EcoVivarium Living Museum with regular public hours, field trips, STEAM Lab programs, and hands-on learning opportunities for private groups, volunteers, and interns.

Interest in the museum has grown rapidly.  In our second year of a five-year lease, we realized that we would need a lot more space to accommodate the large field trip and lab experiences, parties, and crowds.  Additionally, the number of animals coming in more than doubled through our partnerships with municipalities and other state and local rescue agencies.

June 1, 2020, we moved into a new 10,200 sq. ft. facility. Our plan has always been to provide our ambassador animals with spacious naturalistic living environments to call home, both on and off exhibit. While the cost of these habitats will be higher than standard housing, the benefits for the animals and the educational impact will be far greater. 

EcoVivarium is one of the largest reptile, amphibian, and arthropod rescues in the United States.  Each year over 100 animals in need come through our doors. Some become education ambassadors, others are adopted into private homes, and others become sanctuary animals here at the museum. EcoVivarium is home to several sanctuary animals. Sanctuary animals have nowhere else to go if we can’t take them. We need your continued support to care for the animals of EcoVivarium. While COVID had us shut down for fifteen months, we are once again open to the public. We have great plans for the museum. With your financial support, EcoVivarium will improve the exhibits, create a large education center and party facilities, and by 2023 open the first Bio-STEAM Lab to enhance further learning opportunities for the public and K-12 school groups. New cultural and art exhibits will be incorporated into the design to connect the dots between the animals, history, indigenous cultures from around the world, and the natural environment. We can do it all with your partnership and ongoing support.

EcoVivarium provides contextual hands-on educational programs for schools, homeschoolers, scouts, and small groups. Our staff has over 65 years of experience in teaching differently abled individuals. No one gets left behind. The number of rescued and surrendered reptiles have tripled since the pandemic began. Many people lost jobs and the ability to care for their pets. Other reptiles were abandoned or thrown away like garbage. 75% of our animals come in with serious medical challenges. Our average discounted veterinary treatment is $3,600/month. Food costs have nearly doubled to $730/month and continue to rise. Electricity needs have soared to $5,000/month to meet the special lighting and heat requirements of 300+ animals. 

No donation is too small. Every donation is greatly needed. Every donation positively changes lives!