About
Amphibian Foundation Educational Programs include hands-on experiences such as Critter Café and the Conservation Research Bridge Program. The Conservation Research Bridge Program is a year-long gap-year immersive training program. The Amphibian Foundation is not open to the public outside of regularly scheduled events.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Year-long gap-year immersive training program
In 2016, the Amphibian Foundation was founded with the single purpose of stopping the extinction of the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander. AF is dedicated to connecting individuals, communities, and organizations in order to create and implement lasting solutions to the global amphibian extinction crisis. Its programs are described as globally acclaimed and award-winning programs that fund conservation.
The organization’s work includes critical work for Flatwoods Salamanders, fighting for under-appreciated species, urban ecology and conservation, emergent infectious disease biology, community science engagement, and captive survival-assurance colonies for Frosted and Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders. At the time described, the Amphibian Foundation held the only ex situ population of Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders in the world. Its educational programs are described as comprehensive and dynamic, starting with 0–5 year olds at Critter Café and extending to the year-long gap-year immersive Conservation Research Bridge Program.
AF is fiscally sponsored by Southern Conservation Partners, a registered 501(c)(3) organization. The leadership and staff team includes Founder and Executive Director Mark Mandica, who is a life-long amphibian conservationist, biologist, scientific illustrator, instructor, and musician, and Founder and Director of Education Crystal Mandica, along with coordinators, educators, biologists, photographers, and support staff in roles such as Research Coordinator, Conservation Collections Coordinator, Urban Ecologist, Amphibian Disease Biologist, Venomous Programs Coordinator, Bridge Program Coordinator, Field Biologist, Consulting Biologist, Education Coordinator, Educational Programs Coordinator, Virtual Education Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Special Educator, Critter Transportation Specialist, Laboratory Manager & Invertebraculturist, Facilities Manager, Inventory Specialist, Collections Assistants, Communications Lead, Social Media Coordinator, content and magazine staff, web developer, venom instructors, and Copperhead Hotline staff.
Last updated April 24, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Year-long gap-year immersive training program
In 2016, the Amphibian Foundation was founded with the single purpose of stopping the extinction of the Frosted Flatwoods Salamander. AF is dedicated to connecting individuals, communities, and organizations in order to create and implement lasting solutions to the global amphibian extinction crisis. Its programs are described as globally acclaimed and award-winning programs that fund conservation.
The organization’s work includes critical work for Flatwoods Salamanders, fighting for under-appreciated species, urban ecology and conservation, emergent infectious disease biology, community science engagement, and captive survival-assurance colonies for Frosted and Reticulated Flatwoods Salamanders. At the time described, the Amphibian Foundation held the only ex situ population of Frosted Flatwoods Salamanders in the world. Its educational programs are described as comprehensive and dynamic, starting with 0–5 year olds at Critter Café and extending to the year-long gap-year immersive Conservation Research Bridge Program.
AF is fiscally sponsored by Southern Conservation Partners, a registered 501(c)(3) organization. The leadership and staff team includes Founder and Executive Director Mark Mandica, who is a life-long amphibian conservationist, biologist, scientific illustrator, instructor, and musician, and Founder and Director of Education Crystal Mandica, along with coordinators, educators, biologists, photographers, and support staff in roles such as Research Coordinator, Conservation Collections Coordinator, Urban Ecologist, Amphibian Disease Biologist, Venomous Programs Coordinator, Bridge Program Coordinator, Field Biologist, Consulting Biologist, Education Coordinator, Educational Programs Coordinator, Virtual Education Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Special Educator, Critter Transportation Specialist, Laboratory Manager & Invertebraculturist, Facilities Manager, Inventory Specialist, Collections Assistants, Communications Lead, Social Media Coordinator, content and magazine staff, web developer, venom instructors, and Copperhead Hotline staff.
Last updated April 24, 2026.
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