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GCF Donor Meet & Greet with K9s Odin & Kesa

May 17 @ 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Free – $15

May 17, 2026 | Event Hall & Front Courtyard | United Methodist Church Vista 

Event Tickets: FREE

Round of Mini Golf: $10 per person (comes with rentals and balls)

Lunch Special: $15 Hot dog or Burger, chips, drink, Hawaiian shave ice

Click HERE | Reserve your spot!

Global Conservation Force invites you, your family, and friends to join us for a special GCF Donor Meet & Greet featuring two of our working conservation K9s, Odin and Kesa. This is a unique opportunity to reconnect with Kesa—many of our supporters last met her when she was just 3 months old, preparing to depart for South Africa in 2019. Now, you’ll have the chance to see how far she has come and witness the incredible work she and Odin perform in support of wildlife conservation efforts.

PLEASE RSVP – so we can properly gauge setup, food, and seating arrangements.

This family-friendly event combines hands-on fun, behind-the-scenes insight into GCF’s K9 conservation programs, and engaging demonstrations that showcase the real-world capabilities of working dogs used in conservation and anti-poaching efforts.

Guests will enjoy food available for purchase as part of the day’s fundraising efforts, including burgers, hot dogs, chili, chips, and refreshing shaved ice. We’re also excited to welcome Parrs Mobile Mini Golf, offering a short, fun, family-friendly round of putt-putt golf for a small donation—perfect for kids and adults alike.

During the event, GCF will present an exclusive video and PowerPoint presentation highlighting our K9 conservation work. Attendees will see behind-the-scenes updates, including photos and videos that have never been shared publicly. The day will also feature two live working dog demonstrations. One demonstration will showcase how a GCF K9 tracks and locates a targeted individual within a crowded urban-style environment. The second will highlight scent detection capabilities, demonstrating how these highly trained dogs can locate even the smallest hidden items when tasked to find them.

There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the day to meet Odin and Kesa, take photos, speak directly with GCF team members, and learn more about how conservation K9 teams support wildlife protection around the world.

GCF merchandise will be available for purchase, including apparel and select GCF K9 gear, such as collars, harnesses, and lightweight collapsible bowls. Every purchase directly supports ongoing conservation and K9 operations.

Event Schedule

11:30 AM — Doors Open

  • Guest reception begins
  • Food counter opens (burgers, hot dogs, chili, chips, shaved ice)
  • Mini golf registration and play begins
  • Merchandise table opens
  • Meet and greet with the GCF team
  • Photo opportunities and meet-and-greet with GCF K9s Odin and Kesa

1:00 PM — GCF K9 Presentation

  • Video and PowerPoint presentation featuring behind-the-scenes footage and updates from GCF K9 operations

1:20 PM — Presentation Concludes

  • Event hall presentation ends
  • Last call for food, drinks, and snacks

1:30 PM — Working Dog Demonstration

  • Live scent detection demonstration
  • “Suspect” tracking scenario showcasing operational tracking capabilities used in conservation and anti-poaching environments

2:00 PM — Event Concludes

Join Us

This event is a chance to connect directly with the dogs and people behind GCF’s conservation work, enjoy a relaxed and fun afternoon with your family, and support wildlife protection efforts through participation and fundraising.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this special day with our GCF community.

Organizer

  • Global Conservation Force
  • Email N.Frolander@globalconservationforce.org

Venue

  • United Methodist Church of Vista