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COGNITIVE & BEHAVORIAL
MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH: |
Course Information
Cognitive & Behavioral Marine Mammal Research is part of our focused career series DolphinLab programs. The course is a seven-day program that provides an in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine
mammal science. Cognitive & Behavioral Marine Mammal Research surveys a wide-range of knowledge, theories and ongoing
research concerning dolphins. |

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By working with staff on actual DRC
research studies, students gain a greater understanding of the cognitive abilities and social behavior of these amazing animals, as well as deeper insight into research concepts and methodology. As they are introduced to DRC and its resident dolphin population, students learn to respect each dolphin as an individual through observation of their unique behavioral and physical characteristics.
The course includes a unique blend of seminars, observation time and hands-on activities and proves that learning about research is not only fascinating, but also fun! Class sizes average six to fourteen students to ensure individualized instruction.
Seminar Topics & Focused Activities
Include:
Marine Mammal Training Techniques,
Physiological Research,
Research Project Design,
DRC’s Current Research,
Marine Mammal Cognition,
Marine Mammal Research Law Requirements,
Behavior & Ecology,
Acoustics & Communication,
Career Pathways & Requirements. |

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Hands-On Activities Include: Assist research staff in conducting current research sessions, learn to conduct independent observation sessions, participate in additional research activities, one Dolphin Encounter, one Play with a Dolphin session, and a dock side signal session.
Additional Activities Include: Daily informal discussions with Research staff
and informal observational time with the dolphins.
Cost
The cost of Cognitive & Behavioral Marine
Mammal Research is $1700.00 ( US). Tuition includes
all seminars, activities, meals, lodging, and a CD
of photographs of your dolphin interactions throughout
the week. The cost of course also includes transportation
to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels
at pre-established times that will be provided after
you are a confirmed student.
College Credit
Students may elect to receive college credit for attending
this course. Credit is available through the Florida
Keys Community College for an additional fee. In order
to receive credit, students must successfully complete
all course activities and pass an end of course exam.
For more information, click here.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete Basic DolphinLab
before attending Cognitive and Behavioral Marine Mammal
Research. Applicants are expected to have
a strong interest in marine mammal science, careers
in the field and be able to participate in an academically
and physically rigorous schedule. The course is available
to all students ages 18 and up.
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MARINE
MAMMAL CARE AND BASIC TRAINING: |
Course Information
Marine
Mammal Care and Basic
Training is part of our focused career series DolphinLab programs. Working closely with our Education and Animal Care and Training staff, students take a hands-on approach to learning about basic training methods and husbandry care practices with DRC’s
dolphin family.
Students participate in a number
of interactive activities, including a meet and
greet wade-in session, a swim session as well as
multiple sessions down on the docks gaining training
experience with the dolphins throughout the week.
As a part of their introduction into marine mammal
care and behavior, students will experience hands
on learning opportunities in dolphin husbandry and
training, including diet preparation; and how to
feed, reinforce, and maintain established behaviors. |

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Students will also observe and assist
in a number of medical demonstrations with the animals.
At the conclusion of the course, students will show off
their animal handling skills by conducting a public dolphin
session narrated by DRC’s animal care and training
staff for the center’s visitors.
Students learn
to respect each dolphin as an individual with his or
her own “dolphinality” through observation
of their unique behavioral and physical characteristics.
The course includes a unique blend of seminars, observation
time, and hands-on activities aimed at giving students
an in depth understanding of careers in marine mammal
care and training.
Marine Mammal
Care and Basic Training is an academically intensive, physically rigorous,
seven-day program specifically designed for students
seriously interested in pursuing a career in marine mammal
care and training. This course offers students a unique
opportunity to gain career oriented hands-on experience
under the guidance of our accomplished trainers.
Primarily focused on the Atlantic
bottlenose dolphin, the course also
delves lightly into the care of sea
lions and DRC’s rescue efforts
with the Florida manatee.
Seminars
include:
Marine Mammal Husbandry
Introduction to Marine Mammal Training Techniques
Principles of Dolphin
Handling
Medical Care and Pathology of Marine Mammals
Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation
Habitat Design & Maintenance
Pinniped Life History/Physiology
Manatee Life History/Physiology
Other Activities Include: Training
Demonstration, Training Workshop, Husbandry tour,
Reinforcement Techniques Workshop, Pinniped demonstration,
Medical behavior demonstrations, Observation Time.
Q&A panel discussion with senior trainers on
the differences in caring for various marine mammals.
Hands-On Activities Include: One Dolphin Dip, one Dolphin Encounter, daily dolphin handling dock sessions beginning mid-week, record keeping, diet preparation & assisting in husbandry care.
Class sizes average ten to fourteen students to ensure
individualized instruction. |


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Cost
The cost of Marine Mammal Care and Basic Training is $1700.00 (US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals, and lodging. Also included in the tuition is a CD of a photograph of your swim session and video montage documenting dock sessions from throughout the week. The cost of the course also includes transportation to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels at pre-established times that will be provided to you after you are a confirmed student.
College Credit
Students may elect to receive
college credit for attending this course. Credit is available
through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional
fee. In order to receive credit, students must successfully
complete all course activities and pass an end of course
exam. For more
information, click here.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete Basic DolphinLab
before attending Marine Mammal Care and Basic Training. Applicants
are expected to have a strong interest in marine mammal
science, careers in the field and be able to participate
in an academically and physically rigorous schedule.
The course is available to all students ages 18 and
up.
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ADVANCED MARINE MAMMAL TRAINING & ENRICHMENT: |
Course Information
After completing Marine Mammal Care and
Basic Training, students may apply for
our Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment program.
Building on the knowledge
they acquired during the Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training,
students take an active role in daily dolphin
training sessions. They begin focusing on training
new behaviors to DRC’s dolphins while exploring
animal enrichment and contemplating more complex
issues surrounding marine mammal care.
During these sessions, students will implement
a training plan they have developed to train
a new behavior to a dolphin. Public speaking
skills will also be developed as students learn
how to present dolphins and their training experiences
to the public.
Advanced Marine
Mammal Training & Enrichment is
part of our DolphinLab career series and is an
academically intensive seven-day program that
delves more deeply into the fields of behavioral
science, animal care and training.
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At the conclusion of the course, students will showcase
the new behaviors they have trained for Dolphin Research
Center guests in a formal, narrated presentation. Students
will also explore animal enrichment through directed
activities implemented with our dolphins and sea lions.
Under the guidance of our staff, students will create
enrichment toys and activities for the animals and present
these activities and toys to the animals throughout the
week and observe the animals' reactions.
In order to better understand training differences between species and the
need for flexibility in advanced training techniques, students will also apply
their knowledge of training principles by teaching a new behavior to a canine
DolphinLab participant! Each student will individually develop a training plan
for the behavior to be trained, participate daily in regularly scheduled sessions
with his/her canine partner, and demonstrate progress to DRC staff at the end
of the week.
This course offers students a unique opportunity to gain
hands-on career experience in the application of training
principles under the guidance of our accomplished trainers.
Class sizes average ten to fourteen students to ensure
individualized instruction .
Seminars
Include:
Operant Conditioning & Reinforcement Techniques Review Advanced Principles
of Marine Mammal Training & Behavior Shaping
Behavior Chain Development
Marine Mammal Enrichment
Medical Behavior Training
Dolphin Maternity Care
Population Management
Principles of Dog Training
Service Dog Training.
Pursuing a Career in Marine Mammal Training.
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Hands-On Activities Include: Daily dock time (informal observation and interaction from the training docks), multiple daily dolphin training sessions from the docks, marine mammal enrichment sessions, daily canine training sessions, one Dolphin Encounter session, record keeping, diet preparation, assisting in husbandry care as well as creating and implementing a formal public educational presentation.
Other Activities Include: Daily
dolphin & sea
lion advanced training demonstrations facilitated by
senior staff, daily discussions with trainers about the
progress of behaviors being trained by students, marine
mammal enrichment workshops, a panel discussion with
senior members of our Animal Care and Training department
on interspecies differences in training.
Cost
The cost of Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment is $1700.00 (US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals, and lodging. Also included in the tuition is a CD that contains a photograph of your swim session and video montage documenting class dock sessions from throughout the week. The cost of the course also includes transportation to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels at pre-established times.
College Credit
Students may elect to receive
college credit for attending this course. Credit is available
through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional
fee. In order to receive credit, students must successfully
complete all course activities and pass an end of course
exam. For more
information, click here.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete Basic
DolphinLab and Marine Mammal Care & Basic
Training before participating in Advanced
Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment.
Applicants are expected to have a strong interest
in marine mammal science, careers in the field and
be able to participate in an academically and physically
rigorous schedule. The course is available to all
students ages 18 and up.
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MARINE
MARINE MAMMAL INTERPRETATION: |
Course
Information
Marine Mammal Interpretation
focuses on improving student understanding
and appreciation of the ocean environment and
how they may facilitate the education of others
on the topic.
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Students participate in a number
of interactive activities, including a meet and greet
wade-in session, a swim session and several sessions
down on the docks with the dolphins throughout the week.
Primarily focused on the Atlantic
bottlenose dolphin, the course also delves lightly into
the care of sea lions and DRC’s rescue efforts
with the Florida manatee.
By working with DRC staff, students will demonstrate
an understanding of experiential education through
the design of an interactive signage exhibit for
public visitors, an understanding and ability to create
and deliver Power Point presentations that are
effective, polished and professional, an understanding
and ability to implement
live animal interpretation skills through
participating in a dolphin session narration for public
visitors, and skills in synthesizing new information
and experiences with prior conceptions of dolphins and
the marine environment to clearly refine their opinions
and knowledge base.
Seminar Topics & Focused
Activities Include:
Overview of Marine Mammal
Taxonomy, Anatomy & Reproduction,
Introduction to Experiential Education, Public Animal
Interpretation, Marine Mammals in the Military, Marine
Mammals in the Media, Culture in Dolphin and Whale Populations,
Whaling, Endangered Marine Mammals, Dolphin Acoustics,
Marine Mammal Conservation, and Marine Mammal Law.
Other Activities Include:
Tour
of DRC and Introduction to the Dolphins, Boardwalk and
Dolphin Etiquette, Dolphin Training & Medical
Behavior Demonstrations, Sea Lion Demonstration, Signals
Workshop, and informal observation time with the dolphins.
Hands-On Activities
Include: One Dolphin Dip, two Dolphin Encounters, and a dock side signal session.
Cost
The cost of Marine Mammal Interpretation is $1500.00 (US). Tuition includes
all seminars, activities, meals, lodging, and a CD of photographs of your
dolphin interactions throughout the week. The cost of course also includes
transportation to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels at pre-established
times that will be provided after you are a confirmed student.
College Credit
Students may elect to receive college credit for attending this course. Credit
is available through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional
fee. In order to receive credit, students must successfully complete all
course activities and pass an end of course exam. For more information, click here.
Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete Basic
DolphinLab before attending Marine Mammal
Interpretation. Applicants are expected
to have a strong interest in marine mammal science,
careers in the field and be able to participate in
an academically and physically rigorous schedule.
The course is available to all students ages 18 and
up.
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