2026 Classes at the Oddities and Curiosities Expo
Opossum Taxidermy Classes
Ratalope Taxidermy Classes
Opossum Taxidermy Classes
In this hands on workshop we will be making an opossum shoulder mount taxidermy project for you to take home and proudly display.
Class begins promptly at 10am and ends at 4pm with two 30-45 minute breaks, timing is dependent on class progress.
We provide each student with a skinned, cleaned, and tanned opossum hide plus all of the mater
In this hands on workshop we will be making an opossum shoulder mount taxidermy project for you to take home and proudly display.
Class begins promptly at 10am and ends at 4pm with two 30-45 minute breaks, timing is dependent on class progress.
We provide each student with a skinned, cleaned, and tanned opossum hide plus all of the materials needed to complete a full mount. We even include habitat (plaque) decorating supplies if you choose not to to bring your own!
The first half of class is focused on preparing your form, setting the eyes, and test fitting your hide to ensure a proper fit as well as grooming the fur.
After our first 30-minute break class shifts towards plaque preparation, redressing your hide on your form, and fine tuning detail work on your project.
Throughout the day we learn more than just the basics of taxidermy, we cover skinning, cleaning, tanning, anatomy, animal facts, and tons of references for you to continue your education.
The class runs for approximately 6 hours with two 30-minute breaks throughout the day.
* Class ends at 4pm (sometimes earlier dependent on your personal working pace) which will allow time to shop and enjoy the expo including your breaks.
* No previous taxidermy experience needed.
* Ages 13-15: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class.
* Ages 16-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Opossum class locations and dates:
LA 1/3, Charlotte 2/14, Atlanta 2/21, Milwaukee 4/4, Columbus 4/18, Indianapolis 4/25, Minneapolis5/23, Chicago 6/6, Pittsburgh 6/13, Detroit 7/11, Philly 8/15, Richmond 8/12, Dallas 9/26, Denver 10/3, Seattle 10/24 & 10/25, Portland 11/7
Raccoon Taxidermy Classes
Ratalope Taxidermy Classes
Opossum Taxidermy Classes
This year we continue our raccoon taxidermy classes at all of the locations that didn't get them last year! This means if your city had a jackalope in 2025, you will get to work with trash bandits in 2026!
Class begins promptly at 10am and ends at 4pm with two 30-45 minute breaks, timing is dependent on class progress.
We provide each st
This year we continue our raccoon taxidermy classes at all of the locations that didn't get them last year! This means if your city had a jackalope in 2025, you will get to work with trash bandits in 2026!
Class begins promptly at 10am and ends at 4pm with two 30-45 minute breaks, timing is dependent on class progress.
We provide each student with a skinned, cleaned, and tanned raccoon hide plus all of the materials needed to complete a full mount. We even include habitat (plaque) decorating supplies if you choose not to to bring your own!
The first half of class is focused on preparing your form, setting the eyes, and test fitting your hide to ensure a proper fit as well as grooming the fur.
After our first 30-minute break class shifts towards plaque preparation, redressing your hide on your form, and fine tuning detail work on your project.
Throughout the day we learn more than just the basics of taxidermy, we cover skinning, cleaning, tanning, anatomy, animal facts, and tons of references for you to continue your education.
The class runs for approximately 6 hours with two 30-minute breaks throughout the day.
* Class ends at 4pm (sometimes earlier dependent on your personal working pace) which will allow time to shop and enjoy the expo including your breaks.
* No previous taxidermy experience needed.
* Ages 13-15: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class.
* Ages 16-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Raccoon class locations and dates:
San Diego 1/10, El Paso 1/24, Louisville 2/7, Albuquerque 3/7, Houston 3/14, Phoenix 3/21, Boston 5/2, Tulsa 5/9, Toronto 5/9, St. Louis 5/16, Baltimore 6/20, New Orleans 6/20, Austin 6/27, San Jose 7/18, Grand Rapids 7/25, Omaha 7/25, Buffalo 8/1, San Antonio 8/1, Providence 8/8, Salt Lake City 9/12, Vegas 9/19, Vancouver 10/10 & 10/11, Sacramento 11/14, Tampa 11/21
Ratalope Taxidermy Classes
Ratalope Taxidermy Classes
This year we will be offering a shorter taxidermy class in the form of our Ratalope workshop! Think jackalope ~ but it's adorable rats instead!
This class is packaged into a very manageable 2.5 hours of learning and hands on taxidermy. It begins at 1:30pm.
The first half of class is focused on fixing your eyes, mounting your hide onto y
This year we will be offering a shorter taxidermy class in the form of our Ratalope workshop! Think jackalope ~ but it's adorable rats instead!
This class is packaged into a very manageable 2.5 hours of learning and hands on taxidermy. It begins at 1:30pm.
The first half of class is focused on fixing your eyes, mounting your hide onto your form, and grooming.
The final half of class is focused on preparing your coffin style plaque where your Ratalope will be mounted for display.
Whether you’re a budding artist, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about this unique craft, all of our taxidermy classes will equip you with the knowledge and skills to embark on your taxidermy journey.
Join us for an unforgettable experience that blends artistry, biology, and respect for nature!
*Rat sizes vary from 2.5-4 inches in total height from base of chest to top of head. this measurement is not including antlers OR coffin plaque. They are larger than our rats from the 2024 Rat Taxidermy Class year.
* No previous taxidermy experience needed.
* Ages 12-15: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class.
* Ages 16-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Ratalope class locations and dates:
LA 1/4, San Diego 1/11, El Paso 1/25, Charlotte 2/15, Atlanta 2/22, Houston 3/15, Phoenix 3/22, Milwaukee 4/5, Columbus 4/19, Indianapolis 4/26, Boston 5/3, Toronto 5/10, Minneapolis 5/24, Chicago 6/7, Pittsburgh 6/14, Baltimore 6/21, Austin 6/28, San Jose 7/19, San Antonio 8/2, Providence 8/9, Philly 8/16, Richmond 8/23, Salt Lake City 9/13, Dallas 9/27, Denver 10/4, Vancouver 10/11, Seattle 10/25, Portland 11/8, Sacramento11/15
Madagascan Sunset Moth Class
You asked and we delivered! It took us several years to ethically and sustainably collect Madagascan sunset moths for the 2026 year!
The AM moth class will begin promptly at 10am and last approximately 2 hours.
You will learn the foundational skills of bug pinning, including safe collection methods, proper handling, and the step-by-step pr
You asked and we delivered! It took us several years to ethically and sustainably collect Madagascan sunset moths for the 2026 year!
The AM moth class will begin promptly at 10am and last approximately 2 hours.
You will learn the foundational skills of bug pinning, including safe collection methods, proper handling, and the step-by-step process of pinning and mounting your specimen.
Your FIRST specimen will be a random moth or butterfly that will be used to practice your newly learned pinning technique. Once you’ve completed this step we will move on to creating your unique frame and placing your SECOND spread specimen, the Sunset Moth, in its display case.
You get to take home TWO specimens from this class, one pinned ready to dry, and of course your mounted and displayed Madagascan sunset moth in its shadowbox frame.
This class is a great way to dive into the fascinating world of oddities and conservation.
*No prior pinning experience required.
* Ages 10-14: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class.
* Ages 15-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Scorpion class locations and dates:
Hosted at ALL O&C Expo Locations
Scorpion Habitat Class
Scorpion Habitat Class
Scorpion class this year will be different from any other entomology class we've offered in the past!
The PM scorpion classes will begin promptly at 1:30pm and last approximately 2 hours.
You will learn the foundational skills of bug pinning, including safe collection methods, proper handling, and the step-by-step process of pinning and mo
Scorpion class this year will be different from any other entomology class we've offered in the past!
The PM scorpion classes will begin promptly at 1:30pm and last approximately 2 hours.
You will learn the foundational skills of bug pinning, including safe collection methods, proper handling, and the step-by-step process of pinning and mounting your specimen.
During this time we will be building a habitat for your scorpions to be displayed on, allowing you to create a more dynamic pose for your specimen. Think more of a terrarium style display versus a frame. You will be provided a rehydrated scorpion specimen to pin into its position. In addition to your specimen we will provide you with a base and habitat decor (moss, flowers, elements from nature) to build out the display for your scorpion.
Also if you would like to create a fighting scene between scorpions we will have additional scorpion specimens available for purchase.
Due to the nature of our traveling show schedule we will not be able to provide any cloches, domes, globes, or glass covers (they always shatter on us during travel). However your display will be suitable for any of these options and we will go over sourcing these items together. You are also welcome to bring a glass display case/cloche/dome/globe to class.
This class is an excellent way to dive deeper into dynamic posing for a dimensional 360 degree display and will translate to multiple other specimens.
*No prior pinning experience required.
* Ages 10-14: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class.
* Ages 15-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Scorpion class locations and dates:
Hosted at ALL O&C Expo Locations
Wet Specimen Workshop
Scorpion Habitat Class
Did someone say octopus? WE DID, That's right, our wet specimen workshop this year is a marine focus around a whole octopus that you will inject AND an already preserved tentacle specimen that you will get to take home in a globe. Another class with TWO take- home specimens on our roster.
The AM Wet Specimen class will begin promptly at 1
Did someone say octopus? WE DID, That's right, our wet specimen workshop this year is a marine focus around a whole octopus that you will inject AND an already preserved tentacle specimen that you will get to take home in a globe. Another class with TWO take- home specimens on our roster.
The AM Wet Specimen class will begin promptly at 10am. and lasts approximately 2 hours.
The first half of class will be hands on after a short injection demonstration. While you are working on properly injecting your specimens we will verbally cover chemical fixing versus chemical dehydration.
Once we're all done with injections and you have proper homework information we will move on to your globe assembly with the SECOND class specimen, a fully curled and preserved octopus tentacle.
Yes you totally get to take home BOTH specimens. The full octopus you'll be injecting are palm to hand sized, and the tentacle will vary from 2- 3 inches wide.
You will learn a variety of wet preservation methods in this class including references for furthering your preservation education.
Proper PPE will be provided.
* Ages 10-16: Parents are required to purchase an additional ticket and accompany your student in class. They will not be permitted to physically make injections as they will be done with needles.
*Ages 17-18 prior notice and approval is required via email or contact chat below.
Octopus class locations and dates:
LA 1/4, San Diego 1/11, El Paso 1/25, Charlotte 2/15, Atlanta 2/22, Houston 3/15, Phoenix 3/22, Milwaukee 4/5, Columbus 4/19, Indianapolis 4/26, Boston 5/3, Toronto 5/10, Minneapolis 5/24, Chicago 6/7, Pittsburgh 6/14, Baltimore 6/21, Austin 6/28, San Jose 7/19, San Antonio 8/2, Providence 8/9, Philly 8/16, Richmond 8/23, Salt Lake City 9/13, Dallas 9/27, Denver 10/4, Vancouver 10/11, Seattle 10/25, Portland 11/8, Sacramento11/15