What Is Reptile Educator's Alliance (REA)?

Founded in 2011 HOPE was a not-for-profit organization whose mission was to work side by side with fellow herpetological professionals, wildlife rehabilitators, and avian specialists to provide the public with a constant source of updated information on captive care practices. HOPE provided the public with free animal displays at a variety of themed events, school programming, and offered volunteer opportunity. In the years 2017-2021 HOPE provided the Northwest Florida Panhandle with over 250 public displays, presentations, and facility tours discussing the plethora of wildlife HOPE had the pleasure of working with.

Due to severe law changes and species bans that took place in Florida, HOPE closed its doors officially in late 2021 after countless attempts to overturn such legislation (for more information please visit www.usarkFL.org). Founder Brittany Kay shortly after moved back to New York and began brainstorming her new passion project that would later be named: 

Reptile Educator's Alliance

Founded in 2023 and officially launched for operation in 2025 Reptile Educator's Alliance started slowly by vending local Reptile Shows in the WNY and Hudson Valley areas alongside other wildlife educators and reptile breeders. After talking to a variety of vendors and fellow educators at these events about what our local hobby could be doing to improve; one mass conclusion was made -- there is a severe lack of internal community support. 

Reptile Educator's Alliance mission is to be more than just another Wildlife Outreach Program, it's hope is to truly promote the unity found in community.