Principles of Ambassador Animal Management

Participants will come away with a wide variety of information on all aspects of managing ambassador animal collection including:  

• Preparing for accreditation application and inspections, creating an Ambassador Animal Policy, and sharing Ambassador Animal Collection Planning

• Creating and utilizing Training Plans, Training Logs, Animal Training Progress Forms and Enrichment Forms

• Recording and tracking ambassador animal enrichment and experiences 

• Tracking and managing ambassador animal use hours  

• Interfacing between departments and department structures

• Interpretation and presentation styles 

• Managing and developing staff 

• Principles of operant conditioning

• Training staff and volunteers to handle animals 

• Volunteer management

• Ambassador animal health management 

• Animal transportation best practices 

Participants in the course will also:

• Discuss welfare and assessments of ambassador animals

• Discuss USDA standards

• Discuss current topics in the industry as applicable to ambassador animals

Please note that this is a hotel-based classroom course. 

Monday
 - Student name badge pick-up ~ 4:30-6:30 PM
 - Opening evening reception ~6:30-7:00 PM
 - Course meets for opening session/class ~7:00-8:30 PM 

Mid-Week
- Class meets all-day

Friday
-Class field trip 

Saturday
- Class meets until ~4:00 PM

Attendance is required for course participants for the duration of the course until the evening of the last day. As a result, individuals generally depart the following day. Attendees will receive a detailed schedule for their course after their registration is confirmed.

Nicki Boyd, Curator of Applied Behavior - San Diego Zoo
Beth Folta, Curator of Education - North Carolina Zoo
Meredith Hughes, Curator of Ambassador Animals & Outreach - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Jimmy Johnson, Senior Director of Animal Health - Denver Zoo
Jacqueline Menish, Curator of Behavioral Husbandry - Nashville Zoo, Inc.

This course is designed for ambassador animal coordinators and managers; education staff who utilize animal ambassadors within their programs; ambassador animal and interpretive keepers; and museum professionals who handle live animals.

Prerequisites
None. Priority will be given to individuals associated with AZA-accredited institutions. International applicants and those not affiliated with an AZA-accredited institution will be considered on a case-by-case basis; please submit a letter describing your intended benefit from taking this course.

Air Travel
Baltimore Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport is the closest airport. 

Hotel
Registered students have access to a room block at the Inn at the Colonnade/Double Tree by Hilton hotel, located at 4 West University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218. The room rate per night is $159 for a single room, $179 for a double room, and includes a complimentary breakfast. Students must use the booking link provided after they register and are accepted into the course in order to be included in the AZA room block and access the group rate. Non-local course participants must stay at the Inn at the Colonnade, and classes meet on-site.  

Please wait until you are admitted into the course before making your reservations. You will receive an email containing detailed information regarding your accommodations and transportation once you are admitted.

Registration for this course is now open!

The registration fees below cover tuition and lunches every day. Other expenses include hotel, travel, and other meals. Registration prices are subject to change each year. 

AZA Accredited / Certified Institutions*
Early Bird Rate: Closes July 1, 2024
$1200 with Individual AZA Membership 
$1400 without Individual AZA Membership

Regular Rate: Deadline 4 weeks prior to course start date
$1400 with Individual AZA Membership 
$1600 without Individual AZA Membership

*This pricing is for anyone currently employed at an AZA accredited/certified institution. Individual Membership must be Professional Affiliate or Professional Fellow to qualify. Not a member? Join first to receive the deepest discount. Once your membership is processed, you can then register at the lowest rate. Contact membership@aza.org for any questions.

Non-AZA Institutions
Early Bird Rate: Closes July 1, 2024
$1400 with Individual AZA Membership

Regular Rate: Deadline 4 weeks prior to course start date
$1600 with Individual AZA Membership

*This pricing is for anyone who is not currently employed at an AZA accredited/certified institution. Individual Membership must be Professional Associate to qualify. Not a member? Join first to receive the deepest discount. Once your membership is processed, you can then register at the lowest rate. Contact membership@aza.org for any questions.

Registration prices are subject to change.

For information regarding our registration and refund policies, please visit our Professional Development Course Policies page. Accepted forms of payment for registration are by credit card, check, or purchase order. 

To register with a credit card
You may now register and pay online with a credit card. After logging in, select "Online Store" and click on the dropdown menu next to "Browse Categories." Choose "Professional Development" from the dropdown list, and click the title of the event for which you would like to register. You will receive an acceptance email or waitlist email once the acceptance decisions are made, which is typically when the Early Bird deadline closes. 

To register with a check or purchase order
Please email your request to register, specifying the course and the name of whom you would like to register, to the Professional Development Coordinator.
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 email or a waitlist email once acceptance decisions are made. If you are not admitted into the course from the waitlist, a full refund will be promptly issued.

*Prices are subject to change