November 15-20, 2010
Oglebay Resort
Wheeling, WV
The Managing Animal Enrichment and Training Programs professional training course provides students with the skills to develop/enhance their institution's enrichment and training programs. Specifically, the goal of the course is to provide the leadership skills and structural framework needed to create and maintain successful enrichment and training programs, to understand the importance of an animal's natural and individual history in developing enrichment and training plans, and to examine the history of enrichment, training and animal welfare, as well as to provide critical terms and skills that will aid in communication about enrichment and training. Each student will be guided through the development of their own action plan aimed at moving their zoo or aquarium's enrichment and training programs forward.
Course Tuition
$850 for AZA Individual Members
$950 for Non-members
Course Registration
Download the Registration Form. Please note that you can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to type your responses directly into this form, print, and return by mail or fax. You may also print the form, write in your information and return by mail or fax. Each course has a registration form specific for that course.
Checks sent for course payment will be cashed immediately upon receipt as per standard business practices. Cashing your check does not indicate that you have been accepted into a course. You will receive an acceptance letter or wait list letter once acceptance decisions are made.
If you have any questions about your acceptance status, or for additional details please contact the AZA Professional Training Department or call (301) 562-0777.
Travel and Accommodations
Please wait until you are admitted into the course before making your reservations. You will receive a confirmation letter containing detailed information regarding your accommodations and transportation once you are admitted. For general information on travel and lodging, please see the Professional Training in Wheeling page.
Curious about the costs associated with this course?
The Managing Animal Enrichment and Training Programs Cost and Logistics page will help you estimate the total cost of attending, including registration, hotel, and ground transportation.
Course Scholarships
The following scholarship opportunities are currently available to aquarium and zoo professionals for the Managing Animal Enrichment and Training Programs.
Types of credit available
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Graduate Credit
Objective
The 2005 AZA Accreditation Standards state that "a formal written enrichment program is recommended which promotes species-appropriate behavior opportunities for appropriate taxa–based on current information in behavioral biology and should include setting goals, planning/approval process, implementation, documentation, evaluation, and readjustment. It is recommended that a specific staff member or committee be assigned for program oversight." [AC-39, AC-40]
Target Audience
Curators, line managers, and directors. This course is appropriate for education managers as well, especially those that utilize animals in demonstrations/shows. Keepers will find this course useful, but as designed, the course provides tools (e.g., a framework or process) for managers to create and sustain successful animal training and enrichment programs. Class size is limited to 25 participants.
Course Topics
- Animal Enrichment and Training: History, Philosophy, and Theory
Participants will be introduced to a brief history of enrichment and training; critical terms that aid in communication about training and enrichment will be presented. The importance of understanding an animal's natural and individual history and how they relate to motivating behavior will be discussed. Enrichment and training (shaping) methods will be reviewed.
- Framework or Process: Key to Developing Successful Programs, Not Sporadic Events
The concept of a framework or process used to develop and sustain successful enrichment and training programs will be presented and discussed. Components of framework include goal-setting, planning, implementing, documenting, evaluating, and re-adjusting.
- Animal Enrichment
Given the above framework, students will work through an example, developing an enrichment program for a specific group of animals housed in an AZA institution. A set of tools will be presented that will assist students in developing their own enrichment plans at their home institutions. Students will implement and assess some of the enrichment initiatives proposed during this exercise.
- Animal Training
Given the above framework, students will work through an example, developing a training program for a specific group of animals housed in an AZA institution. A set of tools will be presented that will assist students in developing their own training plans at their home institutions. Students will observe implementation and assess some of the training initiatives proposed during this exercise.
- Problem Solving and Action Planning
Most animal husbandry problems (e.g., animal won't shift) represent complex issues. Solutions to these problems may be complex (the animal may not shift because it's fearful of some aspect of the barn, may "prefer" to stay on exhibit because it's more interesting, may be coming into estrus, etc.). Students will learn about and practice problem-solving/ action planning techniques that can be used at their home institutions with their staff to solve and develop action plans for these and other husbandry issues.
- Leadership Skills
Many zoo and aquarium managers experience a mixed response from their staff in response to proposals for implementing enrichment and training (as well as a multitude of other issues). Students will discuss and practice team-building, conflict resolution, coaching, and facilitation skills. Students will discuss building relationships with their staff and how to get "buy-in" for their programs.
- Train the Trainer
The "trainer" here is the student. Students will learn how to teach these concepts to a cross-section of staff at their home institutions including dealing with curmudgeons (resistance to change).
Course Schedule
Download the course schedule (subject to change)
Course includes day classes and evening discussions and workshops until 9 p.m.
Course Instructors
Cindy Anderson
Manager Operations Learning & Development
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Jill Mellen, Ph.D.
Science and Education Director
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Don Moore, Ph.D.
Director
Prospect Park Zoo
David Shepherdson, Ph.D.
Conservation and Science Coordinator
Oregon Zoo
For additional details please contact theAZA Professional Training Department or call (301) 562-0777.