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Raven Ridge Wildlife Center is a nonprofit dedicated to rehabilitating injured, orphaned and displaced birds of prey, mammals and waterfowl. Its mission is to give animals a second chance and, when possible, release them back into the wild.
Alongside rehabilitation, Raven Ridge emphasizes education. Although the organization must obtain state and federal licenses to work with wildlife, it receives no funding from these agencies. Instead, it relies on donations and offers educational programs for all ages in Lancaster and nearby counties.
These programs feature animal ambassadors, often former wildlife patients that cannot be released due to permanent injuries or human imprinting. These animals are given a second chance while providing the public with a unique opportunity to see them up close.
Molly Snavely ‘17, a Millersville alumna and education coordinator at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, serves as a connector between people and animals, promoting a life of environmental stewardship. Alongside the center’s director and wildlife rehabilitator, Tracie Young, Snavely’s role includes facilitating and scheduling educational programs, as well as attending community events to form connections and spread Raven Ridge’s mission.
“I rely heavily on the teaching skills I’ve acquired at Millersville,” said Snavely. “Learning to deliver content, manage student behavior and write lesson plans has significantly helped me adapt to the fast-paced, often overwhelming environment of this field. My formal teaching background has also enabled me to add value to my positions by editing and writing curriculum guides, developing new lessons or classes and training fellow educators.”
When she discovered environmental education, Snavely was presented with a path that would blend her passions for raising awareness about environmental issues and being an educator.
In her youth, Snavely was an active Girl Scout and attended summer camp for 10 years, later working at summer camps throughout college. “I often joked about wanting to find a way to work at a summer camp year-round. During my senior year at Millersville, I realized I wasn’t ready to jump into a traditional teaching position immediately,” shared Snavely.
After graduation, Snavely came across a listing from the American Camp Association for an environmental educator position at a summer camp in South Carolina.
“That job turned out to be an incredible experience; I was able to teach and work with kids while also spending time outside and learning new skills,” said Snavely. “It was the perfect blend of everything I loved, and I knew I wanted to continue working in this field. That was the first place I ever got to work with ambassador animals, and I sought out more opportunities to do so in the future.”
Through her educator role at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center, Snavely has promoted collaborative efforts to educate the public on wildlife rehabilitation and reinforce environmental awareness. Her endeavors addressing environmental challenges, understanding human impact, connecting the community with wildlife and promoting animal safety.
Reflecting on her career, Snavely addresses the lack of awareness about her profession and argues that educational facilities should provide support to students exploring the environmental education field.
“If more people knew these careers were available and if there were more jobs in this area, I believe we could significantly contribute to creating a more environmentally focused society,” concluded Snavely.
Learn more about Raven Ridge Wildlife Center.
