Some kids just can't get enough of animals. They'll play with them, walk them and if they're lucky, they can snuggle up to any kind of critter that will let them.

So it's no wonder that the Santa Fe Animal Shelter's annual summer Critter Camp is so popular that there's often repeat "campers." Kelly Feldman is one of those kids. The 11-year-old Santa Fe resident said she loves being around animals. "It makes me feel happy," she said.

Last year, she attended the shelter's first-ever camp, so when it came around this year, it was all she could talk about, said her mother, Katrina.

"It was the most important thing she wanted to do this summer," Katrina said. "And from a parent's perspective, I was so impressed with how organized and fresh it was for the kids. When they come home, they have so much to tell you. I even learned a lot about the shelter."

This year's Critter Camp expanded to three weeklong camps for 38 children ages 9-12, said Tom Alexander, the shelter's humane-education coordinator. Campers were treated to guests who spoke on a number on a number of animal-welfare issues, including those concerning rabbits, greyhounds, service dogs and therapy horses.

The children also got hands-on experience working with animals in the adoptions facility and at the shelter's off-site clinic. But most importantly, the children had fun through art projects, photography, story telling, games and one-on-one with animals. Alexander said his guiding principles were that the children had fun, learned something every day and experienced what it was to work with animals.

"I tried to involve the parents," Alexander said. "After all, they were at the shelter twice a day, dropping off their kids and picking them up. They had the agenda about what we were doing every day."

This year's addition of visiting Challenge New Mexico, the therapeutic horse-riding program for differently abled children, was an eye-opener for many, Alexander said. The children saw that even though some people might not be able to walk, they can ride horses just like anyone else.

"Riding horses does magical things for them," Alexander said. "It empowers them. The motion of riding a horse is identical to a person walking. It sends signals to the brain that are good for the person."

Alice Lee, who has mobility issues because of a genetic neurological problem, was one of the featured guests with her service dog, Austin. Lee also brought along her retired service dog, Morgan, as a "prop."

"I talked about how each dog is an individual and about the law that protects people with disabilities of all kinds and allows them to take their furry friend into any public place," Lee said. "Morgan and Austin know how to brace, counterbalance and get the phone for me if there's an emergency. They work hard, but give me so much love and make me laugh with their goofy antics."

The hands-on experience is important, said Alexander. "It's one thing to talk to kids about it, but it's another to see a dog pick up a set of car keys because she can't."

The shelter's second camp almost didn't happen because of the Las Conchas Fire. But Alexander worked with shelter staff and all agreed to continue with the group despite the evacuation. The shelter found temporary homes for the homeless dogs to make room for the evacuated animals, so there were few animals for interaction, and no animals for the pet parade that marks the end of the camp.

But organizers adjusted to the new reality, adding a talk with a firefighter and using stuffed animals for the parade. "We took advantage of a unique opportunity in history of New Mexico," Alexander said. "Everyone was understanding and it worked out well."

While the educational components of camp are important, direct work with animals makes a huge impression, Katrina, Kelly's mother, said. Many of the children were impressed with the shelter's satellite clinic and the time they spent helping critters come out of anesthesia.

They also enjoyed learning about bunnies with the help of volunteers Iris Klimczuk and Vivian Nelson. Klimczuk, a relatively new presenter, said the children were sharp and keen to learn about bunnies, creatures that are often misunderstood.

"I think the smiles on the kids' faces spoke volumes," she said. "If we can dispel misconceptions about bunnies and other kinds of animals now, we've made the world a better place for all sentient beings."

While the camp is great for kids, it's also wonderful for the animals and their socialization, Katrina said. "It's a perfect combination."

The camp helps kids understand how important shelter programs are, Kelly said, adding she hopes to volunteer when she is old enough.

"What's so amazing and special about this camp is working with living things," Katrina said. "They see that these animals are helpless, but they also see so many ways that these animals help us so much. They get so excited about it and it makes all the difference in the world."

For now, Katrina said Kelly has been watching adoptions closely on the shelter website. While felines don't fit well right now with a household for four dogs, Kelly fell in love with a kitten she worked with during camp.

Katrina said she worried that Kelly would be heartbroken if the kitten got adopted. But when the kitten did get adopted, Katrina said Kelly was happy.

"She was excited about it," Katrina said. "She said, 'I really want a cat, and I know as soon as I grow up and have my own place, I'm going to get one.' It's a hard thing not to walk away with a pet, but they learn so much about the shelter, that they do have that perspective that they know animals need a safe and happy home."