Upcoming Professional Development

Animal Welfare: Evidence-Based Management - 2022
Date: December 5 — 10, 2022
Location: San Diego Zoo
Description: Animal Welfare: Evidence-Based Management is a facility-based course that includes hands-on experience learning about the science of animal welfare and the application of skills and knowledge for an evidence-based animal welfare management program. This course helps participants builds the skills necessary to implement an evidence-based management program to ensure high levels of animal welfare.

Principles of Ambassador Animal Management - 2022
Date: December 5 — 10, 2022
Location: San Diego Zoo
Description: This course exposes students to the range of opportunities for program animal use and provides students with the knowledge to effectively develop and manage formalized programs utilizing animal ambassadors. By focusing on a range of methods, rather a single "recommended" approach, students will be better prepared to develop an approach that fits their institution's mission and philosophy.

Avian Management, Biology & Conservation - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: AMBC is designed to meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s avian managers. The class teaches critical thinking techniques that lead to informed decisions regarding all aspects of managing avian collections. Students will be given a variety of tools, methods and best practices to provide a foundation for understanding and meeting current challenges in avian management.

Effective Leadership: Foundation & Development - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Managing for Success: Career Development examines management disciplines with emphasis on their application to zoos and aquariums. Participants will receive practical tools and skills to take back to their institutions to apply at their level, including an increased network of resources and heightened leadership skills.

Foundations of Conservation Learning - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Conservation Education: Effective Program Design provides zoo and aquarium educators with a comprehensive overview of how to design, develop, implement and evaluate education programs and exhibit interpretive elements. Course materials include the latest research and trends in informal science education.

Institutional Records Keeping - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Institutional Records Keeping offers students the theory and mechanics of animal records-keeping and identifies the important role accurate records play in successful animal management. This course offers students training that will integrate best practices for accurate data entry and standardization of data along with technical instruction in Species360 and ZIMS.

Leadership in Conservation Learning - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Conservation Education: Effective Program Design provides zoo and aquarium educators with a comprehensive overview of how to design, develop, implement and evaluate education programs and exhibit interpretive elements. Course materials include the latest research and trends in informal science education.

Population Management I - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: PM I students will receive training in science-based aspects of population management as well as the methods to best understand and manage an AZA Animal Program using software required to maintain such databases. Students are expected to utilize the skills learned to successfully manage an accurate, documented studbook and provide expertise on the population/species in our care.

Principles of Elephant Management I - 2023
Date: February 13 — 18, 2023
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Principles in Elephant Management I focuses on the foundation necessary for developing comprehensive and proactive elephant management programs. Students will take away skills for creating self-sustaining elephant management programs. AZA accreditation standards require that all elephant care professionals (keepers, managers, and directors) at institutions keeping elephants attend this course.

Environmental Enrichment in Zoos and Aquariums - 2023
Date: February 25 — March 2, 2023
Location: Disney's Animal Kingdom
Description: EEZA provides zoo and aquarium staff involved in the daily care of animals with a background and skills necessary to enrich animal environments and to continue to advance enrichment in zoos and aquariums. This will include classroom time that provides a historical perspective of environmental enrichment as well as an overview of enrichment concepts, focusing on aspects of the SPIDER framework.