Seventeen-year-old Sariah loves spending her free time with animals at a zoological center in Decatur, Georgia. As an intern, she particularly enjoys talking to the birds she cares for.  

“I’ll say good morning to them, because they’ll get mad and yell at me if I don’t,” Sariah said, referring to three birds she helps care for: a sun conure, a green-cheeked conure, and an eclectus parrot.  

“I love working with them, because they have their own personalities,” she said. “They are very animated.”

Freya, the sun conure

Alongside the animal caretaker at the center, Sariah brainstorms creative ideas for animal training. 

“We have a bird named Olivia who will make a kiss sound whenever you say the word 'kiss',” she said, explaining how each bird knows different tricks. “It took Olivia only a few days for Tamara to teach her how to hang from a finger with only one foot!”   

The Enchanted Immersive Zoological Center, a hands-on animal learning center founded by homeschool graduate Tamara Henderson, is home to a wide variety of creatures, including marsupials, arthropods, equines and reptiles from around the world. 

“Our reticulated python, Caspian, loves to whisper in your ear,” Sariah said.  

Sariah and Caspian, a reticulated python

A safari experience 

Sariah’s flexibility as a homeschooled teen enables her to pursue her passion for animals—a passion she’s had for as long as she can remember. Through homeschooling, Sariah’s parents, Simone and Sidney Champagne, have been able to personalize her curriculum to focus on zoology. 

"Homeschooling has allowed us the freedom and open-mindedness for us to help nurture her passion for animals and pursue any activity that she is interested in,” Simone said. “It has opened many doors that we wouldn't have even thought of if it weren't for the homeschooling community."  

Sariah’s internship at Tamara’s zoological center is one of her favorite things that her parents support.   

“Our biggest draw is that we’re immersive and educational,” Tamara said, explaining the philosophy behind the Enchanted Immersive Zoological Center. “We combine exotic animals and interactive storytelling to transport guests into a magical realm of wonder and wildlife.”  

Their zoological center hosts birthday parties, school events, library programs, movie and video shoots, and more. They follow a curriculum, but use storytelling and creative play to keep kids engaged. 

“The kids are on a quest,” Tamara explained. “In a magical world where animals speak and nature is filled with ancient secrets, their mission is to uncover the legendary lost treasure. To find it, they’ll journey through four special locations and meet four incredible animal guardians, each holding the key to the treasure.”

The zoological center caters to students from pre-K through high school and warmly welcomes homeschool families. “I have a special place in my heart for homeschoolers,” Tamara shared. “I want to ensure they have access to everything I offer.”

With hopes of reaching out to more homeschool students, Tamara and her team attended the 2025 Flourish Family Homeschool Conference, where Sariah was able to teach other homeschool students about animals.  

Tamara giving a flight demonstration with Arlo the eclectus parrot at the 2025 Flourish Family Homeschool Conference

Sariah has always found animals fascinating, although at one point she had a fear of them. She recalls being afraid to touch a tarantula as a child, as well as feeling empowered when she was able to conquer that fear. Today, one of her favorite parts of interning is helping other kids overcome their fears of animals, just as she once did. 

The story behind Tamara’s zoological center 

Tamara's passion for animals started at a young age. “As a ‘90s child, I grew up on a multitude of amazing educational television shows,” she said. “I learned an assortment of facts about animals, both domesticated and exotic. I loved to collect caterpillars, lizards, frogs, and worms, and would make custom habitat enclosures for them.” 

Being a hands-on learner, Tamara knew that college wasn’t the right fit for her. Instead, she chose to gain job experience. However, when she applied for positions or internships with animals, she was rejected for not having a degree in biology or an animal-related field. 

“I started my business because I was fed up with the constant rejection and being told that college was the only way to work with animals,” Tamara said. “As a homeschooler, I was taught how to create my own path, and that’s exactly what I was determined to do.” 

Now, Tamara’s goal is to make animal education accessible for everyone, with no prior experience or college hours needed. Interns at her center range in age from 6 to 66 years old. 

“Tamara is a very accomplished person, and she’s very inspiring,” said Sariah. “It’s fun showing people that this is actually a job you can do.” 

Sariah and Tamara (third and fourth from left) with the rest of the Enchanted team showcasing Freya (sun conure) and Mustache (boa constrictor imperator) at the 2025 Flourish Family Homeschool Conference

Building her business took Tamara over a decade. Despite facing financial struggles, juggling multiple jobs, and dealing with the physical and mental demands of caring for more than 25 animals, she never gave up.  

The center wouldn’t be where it is today without the unwavering support of her husband, BJ Henderson, who not only cared for the animals, but also drove long distances to get animal-related supplies; and her animal caretaker, Alyssa, who's helped with animal care by boarding the animals and taking them for grooming. 

"When people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say I wanted to be the next Steve Irwin and travel the world like Eliza from The Wild Thornberrys," Tamara said. "Adults would laugh, but 15 years later, I have a thriving animal business. As homeschoolers, you can achieve anything, as long as you have a plan to support your passion." 

Tamara also credits her mom and program coordinator, Jeri Austin, and her homeschooling community for helping her stay resilient. “As homeschoolers, you’re accustomed to having a strong support system,” she said. “My support system constantly telling me to not give up is what saved my business when I wanted to quit.” 

Tamara and her dedicated team are working on opening a new facility in Fayetteville, Georgia, set to launch by early fall of this year. In addition to reptiles, marsupials, birds and arthropods, this new facility will feature horses, farm animals, and marine creatures. 

Wildlife rescue and beyond 

As for Sariah, she dreams of becoming a wildlife rehabilitator—someone who helps rescue and heal wild animals. She plans to attend college and major in animal science or wildlife biology. 

“I’ll have to learn about their enclosures, how they live, how they reproduce, and their anatomy,” she said. Her ideal goal is to become a wildlife surgeon.  

She’s currently considering programs at Colorado State University and Yale University. Yale offers a specific program focused on sharks, one of her more recent interests.   

“I want to work on more exotic or endangered animals,” she said. “Helping bats, big cats, animals that you would see in a zoo or an aquarium.”  

As she looks to the future, she remembers a piece of advice from her mom: Don’t let fear hold you back. She also reflects on her dad’s example and how he has inspired her to pursue her dreams. "My dad never stopped going after his dream job, even in his 40s," she said.

Sariah is clearly taking her parents' advice and example to heart. And with a homeschool education tailored to her passions, she’s well on her way to making a difference in the animal world. 

Image credit: All photos courtesy of Tamara Henderson