DolphinLab: CAREER FOCUSED SERIES
	COGNITIVE & BEHAVIORAL MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCH
	MARINE MAMMAL CARE & BASIC TRAINING
	ADVANCED MARINE MAMMAL TRAINING & ENRICHMENT
	APPLICATIONS
	COLLEGE ACCREDITATION
	COURSE DATES
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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.

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: Dolphin Anatomy & Physiology, 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.

Hands-On Activities Include: Assist research staff in conducting current research sessions, learn to conduct independent observation sessions, participate in additional research activities, one Deep Water Dolphin Encounter, one Play with a Dolphin session, and a dock side signal session.

Additional Activities Include: Dolphin Anatomy & Physiology,
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.

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. Interested students will receive complete instructions upon arrival at Dolphin Research Center.  For more information, click here.

Prerequisites
Although there are no prerequisites for attending Cognitive & 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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Course Information Marine Mammal Care and Basic Training is part of our focused career series DolphinLab programs. Marine Mammal Care and Basic Training is an academically intensive seven-day program that focuses on the husbandry care practices and basic training methods associated with marine mammals in human care. This scholastically rigorous and physically active hands-on course is specifically designed for those 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.

Students are introduced to DRC and its resident dolphin population, learning 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 aimed at giving students an in depth understanding of careers in marine mammal care and training.

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 with the dolphins throughout the week. Students will be given hands on experience in dolphin husbandry and training, including diet preparation; how to feed, reinforce, and maintain established behaviors. At the conclusion of the course, students will show off their animal handling skills by participating in a public session narrated by DRC’s animal care and training staff for public visitors.

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: Bottlenose Dolphin Life History/Physiology 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 Deep Water Dolphin Encounter session, 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.

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. Interested students will receive complete instructions upon arrival at Dolphin Research Center.  For more information, click here.

Prerequisites
Although there are no prerequisites for attending Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training, applicants are expected to have a strong interest in marine mammal careers and be able to participate in an academically and physically rigorous schedule. Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training is available to all students ages 18 and up.

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Course Information After completing Marine Mammal Care and Basic Training, students may apply for our Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment program. 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. The course allows students to build on the knowledge they acquired during the Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training and begin focusing on training new behaviors, exploring animal enrichment and contemplating more complex issues surrounding marine mammal care. Every day, students will participate in daily sessions down on the docks with the dolphins. 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.

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 understanding 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.

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 Deep Water 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. Interested students will receive complete instructions upon arrival at Dolphin Research Center.  For more information, click here.

Prerequisites
Students must successfully complete Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training before participating in Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment. Applicants are expected to have a strong interest in marine mammal careers and be able to participate in an academically and physically rigorous schedule. Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment is available to all students ages 18 and up.

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