More secondary Schools in Melbourne and Victoria see Snakebusters than anyone else in the mobile reptile game.
Why?
Because we're the best, it's that simple!
Snakebusters have:
Most expertise
The ONLY hands on reptile show in Australia
World's Deadliest Snakes (Devenomized) - Zero Risk! (see below)
Most reptiles
Best education
Best "extras"
Most fun!
Live reptile shows are always popular with secondary school-age children and none more so than Raymond Hoser's snakebusters shows.
No one else has the expertise and ability to impart information like Raymond Hoser and his team. Audiences are captivated and teachers will be stunned at how he can have the undivided attention of a full class of students for the hour or so his interactive show goes on. This is especially the case for secondary age students, such as year 7 biology classes and the like.
At this age, many children have had some exposure to reptiles, usually in the form of Bluetongue lizards, pythons and the like. If they get a reptile show with just the harmless varieties they may yawn away having seen it all before. Hence for most secondary groups, we start off with the deadly snakes including (as a snakebusters exclusive) the world's top five deadliest (shown held at once on the images on our webpages), and all the varieties in your home state as well as the biggest and most spectacular Australian snakes. Raymond Hoser and his helpers can handle these snakes like no one else (see below for details as to why) and everyone finds the show gripping, which is always a plus as this allows for the best education of all for the audience. In most cases the deadly snake talk is followed by the harmless species which are brought out for the children to hold, inspect and learn from.
Only Snakebusters have the widest diversity of reptiles of all, including snakes of all sizes, a huge number and variety of lizards, tortoises, crocodiles, etc. Put simply, no other outfit has critters to match ours.
Typically for secondary students the preferred presentation runs for a school period of just under an hour to double this, depending on timetables and other school constraints. The best option is actually about 90 minutes as we have the kids enthralled and learning througout. Schools that have had snakebusters in once wouldn't consider using any other reptile show outfit again.
Several basic lecture plans (different to that just given) are also used and others can be formulated to suit the special needs of the group, their study curriculum or whatever.
For example groups in regional areas can be given a dangerous snakes/snake safety or snake awareness talk with specific emphasis on what they are likely to encounter in areas they live.
Science students can be given a talk with hands-on emphasis on the physiology and biology of the reptiles themselves or alternatively one highlighting the classification levels (species/genus/family/order/class) as done in the years 7 to 8 curriculum. Arts students can be shown some of the amazing variation and diversity in reptiles, often meaning that some schools prefer to simply get snakebusters in for a whole year level (or sometimes a whole school).
Students are encouraged to touch and handle innocuous reptiles (of which we have plenty) and for some this is a first time experience.
As for other lectures and shows, other (non-teaching) teachers, parents and adults are also recommended to attend and while our preferred group size is about 30, there is plenty of latitude here. Some schools double up classes to get each group at 50-60 students so as to save costs and if using the fundraising options, often actually make a profit on the entire snakebusters experience. Even to 60 kids, we can usually operate easily in a single normal sized classroom.
Printed class study sheets are sometimes available on demand (including the examples linked here) and all school and scout groups receive free a copy of the "Hoser Wildlife Collection" CD-Rom which is valued at $55 and is the reference of choice in terms of Australian Reptiles and frogs and Endangered Animals of Australia.
The information on this CD-rom is vast and it enables a continuation of the reptile experience long after Raymond Hoser and his show have left.
In terms of safety, no one beats snakebusters. We are the only people in Australia with venomoid snakes. These are snakes with their venom glands surgically removed, making them totally harmless. They look and act no different to their fully venomous peers, but the difference is that they can be handled by Raymond Hoser and his team like no one else can. There is also no advese bite risk for either the handler or anyone else if thinking of the worst case scenario.
While our shows are totally safe, we have public liability insurance of $20 million to cover education department and RTO requirements as well.
While Snakebusters have long been regarded as the market leader in terms of live reptiles, people are always surprised that it rarely costs more to get the best. Pricing is from $260 per session (2009 rates) and less per session if several are booked at once, making the average per student cost of about $5-$7 in most cases.
Note: Recently staff from Worksafe Victoria made a ruling that it is now illegal to demonstrate venomous snakes that have not been surgically devenomized (see Sect 32 of the OH and S Act 2004), due to the obvious risks. As a result, a number of outfits formerly using venomous snakes have desisted. Only Snakebusters have devenomized snakes that have been certified, microchipped and approved by a registered, practicing veterinary surgeon. Only Snakebusters can guarantee a risk-free deadly snake show!
Further details -
Phone (within Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)
0412 777 211 or (03) 9812-3322.
Warning: Students exposed to snakebusters snake/reptile shows may badger their parents for a pet python or lizard!

Recently visited schools.

Print out a one page flyer for Snakebusters in schools.

Print out a B/W one page leaflet for Snakebusters in secondary schools.

Schools recently visited.

Testimonials (pdf file).

Snakebusters, consistently rated as Australia's best "hands-on" reptile incursions.
Further links