Upcoming Professional Development

Avian Management, Biology, and Conservation - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Avian Management, Biology and Conservation will enhance your effectiveness as a bird keeper and avian program leader. Students will be given a variety of tools, techniques and best practices to provide a foundation for understanding and meeting current challenges in avian management.

Conservation Education: Effective Program Design - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
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.

Institutional Records Keeping - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
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 not only within the institution but also in regional and global cooperative species management programs.

Managing for Success: Career Development - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
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.

Managing for Success: Organizational Development - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
Location: Oglebay Resort & Conference Center
Description: Managing for Success: Organizational Development prepares new leaders to meet the specific challenges of a leadership role within a zoo or aquarium and the duality of meeting both mission and bottom line. The course addresses ethical, animal welfare and collection issues as well as the techniques and strategies required to lead these unique organizations successfully.

Principles of Elephant Management I - 2020
Date: February 10 — 15, 2020
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 - 2020
Date: February 22 — 27, 2020
Location: Disney's Animal Kingdom
Description: The purpose of this course is to provide 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.

Best Practices in Animal Keeping - 2020
Date: February 29 — March 5, 2020
Location: ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Description: Best Practices in Animal Keeping covers the essentials of animal keeping across all taxa. The course focuses on the very highest standards in animal husbandry, in combination with problem solving, team building and interpersonal skills. You will engage with professional colleagues and apply what you learn back at your home institution.

Crocodilian Biology and Professional Management - 2020
Date: April 17 — 24, 2020
Location: St. Augustine Alligator Farm
Description: Crocodilian Biology and Professional Management concentrates on the captive maintenance techniques, husbandry, breeding, and special requirements for the care of crocodiles, caiman, gharials, and alligators in zoos and aquariums.