Hey All - I'm organizing a combined event with another group for which I'm an assistant organizer - St. Peters Single Women. I am also going to invite members from a third group, although it won't be posted on their message board. My goal is to get a nice sized group for this event.

I realize this is a bit of a time commitment and quite a drive - but I took this tour with another group and it was by far one of the best things I’ve ever done. It was so awesome that I’m still raving about it - - two years later!

If you love tigers, or animals in general, then you'll love this wonderful opportunity to join us on a tour of the National Tiger Sanctuary! You will see some beautiful tigers, each with their own distinct personalities and rivalries.

We will be taking the feeding tour, & here's what they have to say about it:

Be on hand when the dinner bell rings! The Feeding Tour includes the Behind The Scenes tour with a unique experience. Guests watch from three feet away as the cats' receive their regular feedings and their different personalities emerge, their distinctive behavior is fascinating to see and hear. Being this close is a completely different experience than seeing them in a zoo.

The cost of the tour is $25 per person, but if we have a group of 15 or more, the cost is only $15! And kids up to 12 are $7.50. There's no RSVP limit and we definitely want to get a group of over 15 to go - invite your friends, bring your nieces and nephews, etc. This is an unbelievable experience for $15.

Now, for those of us that are a bit bolder (& perhaps wealthier), a very unique V.I.P. tour is available for $75. Check it out:

You become the caretaker as you call the tigers in, separate them into their individual stalls, prepare the food, and feed them through an USDA-approved delivery system. The VIP tour is completely safe. In fact, the reason that they are the only facility in the country that the government has approved for the public to feed the tigers is because they are the only ones who have developed a safe way to do it. The feeder can call the cats in and separate them, prepare their food and vitamins, feed them through a delivery system, and separate them again. They are still three feet away with fences in between because they are very dangerous animals. Those that choose to do it would probably be one of the only people they know who can say they got to feed a tiger (at least legally)! How cool is that???!

I don't know if anyone will be up for that, but I'm just throwing it out there as an option. For those that just want to take the feeding tour, you get the pleasure of watching the brave ones, if there are any, & that's pretty awesome, too.

All proceeds do go towards the care of the tigers. They are a non-profit organization, so everything is tax-deductible. They do not receive any outside funding other than tours & private donations. The tigers need all the help they can get, & I'm happy to be able to do something for them. Read more about them here.

For those that want to, we'll have a picnic on the viewing deck after the tour. They have catering available, but let's bring our own stuff. Just bring whatever you'd like to share, & as a special bonus, we are also allowed to bring in beer & wine. Anyway, I digress... we'll enjoy a nice, relaxing lunch with friends while enjoying the view from the deck. And the tigers are able to come right up on to the deck with us... safely contained in a USDA-approved enclosure, of course.

This is definitely one of those times that you won't want to forget your camera!

There is also a gift shop on the premises where you may buy water or soft drinks. And gifts, too!

The National Tiger Sanctuary is located just 30 minutes south of St. Louis County. The directions are very simple: Take I-55 South to Route Y (exit #157). Turn right onto Route Y (heading west). Continue on Route Y for 2 miles; the entrance will be on your right.

Please indicate on your positive RSVP if you are interested in the VIP tour - if you just want to do the feeding tour, there's no need to indicate that at all. The staff only needs to know the VIP headcount before we go - anyone else that goes will be on the feeding tour.

The tour starts at noon, so getting there a few minutes early is a good idea. As always, carpooling arrangements are up to you - discuss it at upcoming events &/or in the comments below.

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