16805 Mountain Road Montpelier VA 23192
Community Partnership supporting Animals Unlimited and our educational programming.
Community partners.we need you Connect with us
Animals Unlimited 501(c)(3)
16805 Mountain Road
Montpelier VA 23192
804-647-1066 email hello@animalsunlimited.org
We need you! Connect with us and become part of a community partnership. We believe that our goals align and that a collaborative relationship with you will be mutually beneficial.
Our mission is to build strong communities by leading through example, educating on the purpose of helping and uniting, and promoting individual contributions and sustainability. We're focused on fostering a sense of stewardship within our communities and the shared world around us.
The story of Animals Unlimited began in 1997 when Jana Strickland launched a business featuring zoo and farm animals. What started as a small venture quickly became something magical. The vision has always been to teach others about the diverse world of animals and the importance of their relationships within their social groups—herds, flocks, and colonies—all contributing to their ecological values and sustainability in collaboration with their community systems.
Today, inspired by Jana Strickland, Animals Unlimited continues its mission to offer life science educational programs featuring our zoo animals and barnyard buddies. We cater to a wide audience, including private and public schools from preschool to 7th grade, providing instructional support aligned with life science curriculum. Additionally, we serve preschools, daycares, churches, and organizations dedicated to helping individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as camps and community members.
Our hands-on, interactive approach emphasizes the importance of stewardship and compassion towards all living things. In 2025, we reached approximately 20,160 community members of all ages and backgrounds, thanks to our mobile unit. As of 2026, we are excited to expand our services by opening our facility to the public. If you're interested in joining our community partnership, we encourage you to connect with us.
Life science studies span six years, starting at PreK and continuing through 7th grade. It's crucial for everyone to understand our interconnectedness and our ability to make a difference each day. Through these environmental educational programs, we emphasize ecological values of plants and animals and the interdependence between all living and non-living elements of our world. We highlight our collective responsibility for stewardship—doing our part for conservation, protecting habitats, and embracing the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Our mission is to inspire connections that develop unity, individual purpose, sustainability, and a profound love for all living things through an interactive learning experience.
Through Project Connect, we firmly believe that individuals of all ages should have the opportunity to learn from and interact with animals. This unforgettable experience plants the seed for lifelong learning, one person at a time.
When you join us as a community partner or volunteer, we will proudly showcase our appreciation on our website's community page and display a permanent plaque at our farm facility upon opening.
Together, we can build strong communities.
Our Community Partners include Special Olympics of Virginia, Soar 365, Better2GetherRVA, Friends Association for Children, City of Charlottesville Public Schools, Albemarle County Public Schools, and Richmond Public Schools, among others.
