June 17–28, 2024
Gainesville, FL
Conducted in Hybrid Format
Facility Tours
St. Augustine, FL
Marineland of Florida
Marineland was the world’s first oceanarium; conceived as a project to provide a window to the ocean. Today it continues to serve as a link between the public and the marine world, promoting awareness of our fragile marine and coastal environments and inspiring a commitment to protection of these precious resources. Marineland's Dolphin Conservation Center opened in 2006 to educate and entertain guests through interactive dolphin encounters. The dolphins reside in a 1.3 million gallon habitat. It is located across the road from The Whitney Lab.
Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
After a tour of Clearwater Marine aquarium we will cover the basics of animal husbandry including training animal care, and animal handling. Also covered include the basics of animal training and environmental enrichment programs. Round table discussions will include sea turtle case studies, handling and clinical treatments.
In 1972, a group of dedicated volunteers decided it was time to establish a permanent marine biology learning center in our area. The Sea-Orama, a mounted fish exhibit at Clearwater Marina, had been in storage for several years. Hoping for a larger exhibit, perhaps with live animals to observe, we were incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the name Clearwater Marine Science Center (CMSC). In 1978, the city of Clearwater agreed to donate our current facility, an abandoned water treatment plant, to CMSC.
The first exhibit room, featuring fish from the original Sea-Orama, was opened to the public in 1981. Over the next few years, thanks to individual and corporate donations and immense volunteer efforts, CMSC continued to grow. In the 1990's, as renovations continued to provide more public area and education programs, our name was changed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) to reflect the increasing level of community interaction. Today, Clearwater Marine Aquarium is an internationally respected center for animal care, public education and marine research.
Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
We will travel to the manatee rehabilitation area and view the current patients being treated at the hospital. You will experience manatee handling, monitoring, morphometric and diagnostics. We will also discuss current manatee rescue, rehabilitation and pathology issues.
Escape to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens for the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. Discover the earth’s wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. A true family adventure, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is growing and changing daily and is dedicated to consistently improving. Beginning in 2004 with Range of the Jaguar and continuing with Giraffe Overlook and Savanna Blooms garden, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is quickly becoming a world-class establishment. The Zoo has something for everyone with more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 varieties of plants. Whether you are a visitor to Florida’s First Coast or a lifetime resident, we invite you to experience the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens through interactions with people, wildlife and the environment.
Orlando, FL
SeaWorld Orlando
Attendees will get a behind the scenes tour of their facilities to learn about how they care for their animals in the collection. Marine mammals and penguins will be covered. Topics of discussion may include rescue and rehabilition, medical and behavioral husbandry techniques, and medical concerns found in each species.
For more than 50 years, animal rescue and rehabilitation have been the heart of SeaWorld. From habitat protection and supporting ocean health initiatives to our many rescue and rehabilitation efforts, SeaWorld is part of conservation projects across the globe. This is our mission, and we want to inspire others to take action and join us in the efforts to save wild animals and wild places.
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Attendees will get a behind the scenes tour of their facilities to learn about how they care for their animals in the collection. Topics covered will be aquarium habitat manangement, fish medicine, and fish husbandry.
Here at SEA LIFE we care deeply about our oceans, the creatures that live above and beneath the surface and those we are lucky enough to have in our care. Under our ethos BREED, RESCUE, PROTECT we have established breeding programs to better understand species, from Undulate Rays to Coral Propagation. We help home aquarium owners buy fish responsibly and educating our visitors on the issues surrounding the purchase of certain species of fish for a home aquarium.
Our registered charity, The SEA LIFE Trust, was set up in 2013 to support projects and campaigns that make a measurable difference to the protection of marine wildlife and habitats. We also work with a number of conservation partners all over the world, include marine specialists like Bite-Back Shark and Marine Conservation, The Big Fish Campaign and The Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide.
