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Get ready for the ultimate
experience -- Trainer for a Day! Whether you're
interested in pursuing
a training career, or simply want
to know what it's like to walk in a trainer's sandals,
this all-day intensive interactive adventure is a dolphin
lover's dream come true. |
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In Trainer for a Day, one of our experienced
Animal Care and Training staff members teaches you about
animal training techniques and how we use them with the
DRC pod. You'll be paired with a trainer throughout the
day-long journey. See how we prepare meals in the Fish House
and assist during various behavioral sessions.
Your day includes opportunities to build a relationship with
the dolphins, just like the trainers. You will participate
in a Deep Water Dolphin Encounter with your new friends, experiencing
them in their own element. All of the DRC trainers begin by learning how
to play with the dolphins, and your day also includes playtime, where
you learn what kinds of games different dolphins enjoy. You and the dolphins
will even work together to create a work of art while they paint you a
one-of-a-kind Dolphin
Art T-shirt.
What is it like to communicate with another species?
As you spend the day with your dolphin
trainer friends you
will hear first hand tips of how to read and understand
dolphin behavior. Learn how DRC uses positive
reinforcement to share new behaviors with the dolphins
and sea lions. Then, the explanation comes alive as you
join the trainer on the dock and experience the joy of
communicating with the dolphins yourself. You may help
the trainer shape new behaviors. You will learn and use
hand cues (like sign language) to ask for specific
behaviors. You be the judge. Was the dive high enough?
Blow your whistle to reinforce that the dolphin did an A+
job. The real excitement comes when the dolphins race
back to you at the dock, pumped up with the thrill of
their accomplishment! Then you lavish love and praise on
them as a reward and thank you.
Lunch brings more informal time with your trainer. Ask
all the questions you've always wanted answered. Hear
personal anecdotes of their own experiences with their
dolfriends and sea lion friends. Be prepared to eat and
run, because a trainer's life is always busy. Go behind
the scenes of our sea lion habitat and learn some of the
differences and similarities in training the two
different species. Ascend our research tower and learn
how to observe dolphin behavior from the perspective of
our research team. The dolphins teach us so much, and we
want to share in the knowledge.
By the end of your visit, we guarantee you'll know
what a true day-in-the-life of a dolphin trainer is all
about. Your trainer whistle, painted T-shirt, and color
photographs of you and your new dolphin friends are yours
to remind you of your day. Most importantly, you'll have
gained treasured friendships and vibrant memories to
ensure that Trainer for a Day is an experience you'll
never forget!
This unique training adventure is available daily by
advance reservation for only $650 per person. For more
information, or to make a reservation, please call 305-289-0002,
seven days a week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern
Standard Time. To provide the fullest experience possible
for each participant, DRC prefers to limit each day's
adventure to no more than four people. However, a family
or group of six can be accommodated by special
arrangements. Participants must be able to speak and understand English. The program is open for individuals age 5
and up. Although the program is not geared for younger
children, they are welcome to participate to the level of
their ability. A participating adult must accompany
children 12 and under. For reservation policies and more
information about the program, click
here.
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Researcher for a Day:
Delve into the fascinating world of marine mammal science
with Dolphin Research Center's exciting new Researcher
for a Day program. Spend the day as part of the
research team, getting an inside look at current research
studies. |
A Researcher For a Day
watches Talon
make his selection in one of our Numbers studies |
Picture yourself taking part in projects to explore
the intelligence of our dolphins
and sea lions. Learn how
the dolphins are trained to understand the tasks. Help
collect valuable data that adds to our knowledge base
about these amazing animals.
When you arrive, research staff members, who will
serve as your teammates and teachers, meet you to begin
the experience. A researcher's day is never boring and
always busy, so come prepared to get to work right away! Throughout the day, you'll
participate in a variety of sessions, with personalized
instruction and hands-on responsibilities. Go behind the
scenes to learn how to schedule sessions, compile data
and prepare the test questions. Get inside information,
depending on the stage of a particular study.
Lunch is included, and this provides even more time
with the researchers to learn, ask questions and talk
about current projects and research history before it's
time to get busy again with more activities.
Since no day at Dolphin Research Center is all work
and no play for humans or marine mammals, you'll go down
on the dock to enjoy a playtime session with the dolphins
and slip into a lagoon for DolphinDip -
our very popular wade-in interactive program!
By the end of your visit, we guarantee you'll know
what it's like to be a marine
mammal research scientist. Beautiful color photographs of you and your new
dolphin friends are yours to remind you of your day. Most
importantly, you'll have gained greater insight into
these fantastic, fascinating marine mammals.
This unique research experience is available, on a limited basis, weekdays only by advance reservation for $500 per person. For more information, or to make a reservation, please call 305-289-0002, seven days a week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. To provide the fullest experience possible for each participant, DRC limits each day's adventure to no more than three people. However, other groups can be accommodated by special arrangements. Participants must be at least age 5, but the program is not geared to younger children. A participating adult must accompany children under the age of 13. Participants must be able to speak and understand English. For reservation policies and more information about the program,
click
here.
Program participants hold objects in a match-to-sample game with
Tanner and
Emily Guarino, Research Coordinator. |
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Always
a favorite, our Dolphin Encounter program
now offers two options! Enter the exciting world
of the dolphins, participating in a playful, structured,
interactive program. During a workshop, the trainer
will explain what to expect and also show you basic
hand signals so that YOU can ask the dolphins for
a variety of interactive behaviors during your
session.
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The Deep Water Dolphin Encounter includes
the energetic dorsal pull. Not a swimmer, or uncomfortable
in deep water? Choose the Shallow Water
Dolphin Encounter for a great time while
remaining on the submerged platform.
Ask about private Dolphin
Encounters!
Dolphin
Encounter is an educational program that includes about 20 minutes of structured time in the water, so please plan accordingly. You are invited to spend as much time as you like watching sessions before and after your program. To participate in the Deep
Water program, guests must be at least 5 years old, and children ages 5 through 7 must be accompanied in the water by a paid adult participant. Guests must also be able to speak and understand English.
The Shallow Water Encounter is open to all ages with no language requirement. A participating adult must accompany children younger than 8.
Cost for either Dolphin
Encounter program is $180 per person and includes a full day admission, educational materials and a certificate upon completion of your program. For an additional fee you can purchase high quality photographs taken of you during the encounter. Advance
reservations are required since program availability is limited.
Call the reservation line at (305) 289-0002. For reservation
policies and more information about the program, click
here.
To see the next four weeks' availability, click here.
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Plunge into fun with the new Dolphin Dip program. Step down onto the submerged platform and greet your new gray-faced friend with a backrub and a flippershake. Dance, spin, splash – then watch the dolphin imitate you! Learn to give signals like a trainer and applaud the dolphin’s amazing athletic behavior. Fun for the entire family, Dolphin
Dip is a group activity that includes approximately 20-25 minutes of in-water time and is only $100.00 for ages 4 and up. Free for children under the age of 4, who must be held by a parent or guardian. Group size is limited to no more than 6 people. A professional photographer will take pictures of your experience that will be available for purchase. Dolphin
Dip is available by reservation and on a walk-in basis.
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We're
serious about having fun!
During this terrific interactive
program:
- Participate in a short
orientation with your trainer about dolphin
behavior and the importance of play in a dolphin's
daily life.
- Go down on the dock to
meet a dolphin face to face
- Pick a toy and participate
in one of the dolphin's playtime sessions!
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It's a toss-up who'll enjoy the
experience more -- you or the dolphins!
Play with the Dolphins is
offered Monday through Sunday afternoons. The cost of
this program is $50.00 plus admission for visitors ages
5 to adult. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied
by a participating adult. Available on a walk-in basis
only, space is limited to 6 participants, and is offered
daily, so visit DRC early and sign-up!
For more information, call 305-289-1121.
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If you've craved the chance to touch a dolphin, this is for you! After one of our fun-filled, sessions, join the trainer on the dock to shake flippers and say hello to a new dolphin friend! Let them glide under your hand for a backrub. Ages 3 and up. A participating adult must accompany children under the age of 8. The cost for this program is $25 per person plus the cost of your admission to DRC. Offered on a walk-in basis only.
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Degas, Monet or Turner? Not quite, but a Delphi, Merina or Tursi-created DolphinArt T-shirt is still a classic! T-shirts painted by our dolphins are among the most popular items among visitors, staff and members! Now, you can help while a dolphin paints a shirt just for you!
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After watching an exciting behavior session, you’ll join the trainers on the dock for an up close introduction to the dolphins. Then kneel and hold the T-shirt over the water while the dolphins use the colors you chose and paint! We'll take a commemorative photograph. The cost for Paint with a Dolphin is only $55 in addition to your admission price and the shirt is yours forever to wear or display. The program is open to ages 3 and up. A participating adult must accompany children younger than age 8. If the adult does not wish to participate fully in the program, then a nominal $10 fee will be charged.
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A college-accredited program which allows participants to
spend a week immersed in the world of dolphins. Imagine
playing a rousing, wet game of seaweed toss, using a hand
signal to communicate a request, touching a sleek gray
fin offered in trust, and attending seminars outlining
what is known about dolphins, as well as the vast realm
of the unknown. Upon completing the Basic course,
participants may wish to extend their knowledge and
experience by pursuing the Intermediate and Advanced
DolphinLab courses. Modified versions of the Basic course
are also offered for schools or special interest groups. To learn more about our DolphinLab and Dolphin Camp programs, please click here.
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All reservations must be made by phone to the reservation number (305) 289–0002. This line is open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. eastern time. ALL RESERVATIONS ARE MADE THROUGH THIS NUMBER. NO OTHER PHONE NUMBERS AT DRC CAN TAKE RESERVATIONS. Absolutely no reservations will be accepted by mail, fax or electronic mail.
Payments must be made at the time of making your reservation using a VISA, MasterCard or Discover card. Paid reservations are not refundable, not transferable and cannot be changed to another time or day.
All persons participating in either Trainer for a Day, Researcher for a Day or Dolphin Encounter must have a good command of the English language. If an individual is not able to understand commands given in English, they will not be allowed to swim and no refund will be given. A good command of the English language is not needed for DolphinSplash.
A Trainer for a Day, Researcher for a Day, Dolphin Encounter or DolphinSplash reservation requires advance notice of at least 72 hours for individuals with special needs to ensure their personal safety and to accommodate their special need.
During busy vacation times, such as the Holidays or Spring Break, the reservation line will be extremely busy. Thousands of other people are also trying to make a reservation for a limited number of spaces available. The number of Dolphin Encounter swims and DolphinSplashes is so limited because DRC strives to ensure the dolphins’ enjoyment of these sessions. Not all of the dolphins who live at DRC participate in the programs. Only those dolphins who choose to and like to participate do so. Our number one priority is the happiness and well being of the animals who call DRC home.
NOTE: DRC is closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
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