Our entry-level course prepares you for the Career Focused Series DolphinLab courses. For those who just want to learn more about these amazing marine mammals, it’s a great vacation and the ultimate dolphin experience. It is a prerequisite to successfully complete this course before taking the Career Focused Series DolphinLab courses.
Basic DolphinLab is a seven-day program that introduces students to DRC and our resident dolphin family. Students must successfully complete this course as a prerequisite for taking any of the other DolphinLab courses.
The course includes a unique blend of hands-on and in-water interactive experiences, as well as interesting seminars, observation time, and other activities. Learning can be fun!
Students get to know and respect each dolphin as an individual with his or her own “dolphinality” through observation of their unique behavioral and physical characteristics.
Basic DolphinLab also surveys a wide range of knowledge, theories and ongoing research concerning dolphins, the marine environment and related issues.
Basic DolphinLab provides an excellent, comprehensive base of knowledge for the dolphin lover, as well as anyone considering pursuing a career in the marine mammal field.
Class sizes average twelve to fourteen students to ensure individualized instruction. Arrive as a dolphin enthusiast; Leave as a member of the DRC family!
Acoustics & Communication, Marine Mammal Conservation, Coral Reef Ecology, Dolphin Cognition, Dolphin Physiology, Dolphin Husbandry, Dolphin Training, Dolphin Maternity, Marine Mammal Law, Marine Mammal Strandings, and Research at DRC.
Hands-On Activities Include: One Dolphin Dip session, two Dolphin Encounter sessions, and a signal session from the dock.
Additional Activities Include: Snorkel field trip, Medical Demonstration, Observation Time, Research Workshop, Signal Workshop, Training Demonstration, and Training Workshop.
Students may elect to receive college credit for attending this course. Credit is available through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional fee. In order to receive credit, students must successfully complete all course activities and pass an end of course exam. For more information, click here.
The cost of Basic DolphinLab is $1500.00 (US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals, lodging, a field trip and a CD of photographs taken of your dolphin interactions throughout the week. The cost of the course also includes transportation to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels at pre-established times that you will be provided after the class is confirmed.
Although there are no prerequisites for attending Basic DolphinLab, applicants should have a strong desire to experience and learn about dolphins and the marine world. This course is available to all students ages 18 and up.
This course serves as a prerequisite for taking the Career Focused Series DolphinLab courses.
Cognitive & Behavioral Marine Mammal Research is part of our focused career series DolphinLab programs. The course is a seven-day program that provides an in-depth, hands-on immersion into the field of marine mammal science. Cognitive & Behavioral Marine Mammal Research surveys a wide-range of knowledge, theories and ongoing research concerning dolphins.
By working with staff on actual DRC research studies, students gain a greater understanding of the cognitive abilities and social behavior of these amazing animals, as well as deeper insight into research concepts and methodology. As they are introduced to DRC and its resident dolphin population, students learn to respect each dolphin as an individual through observation of their unique behavioral and physical characteristics.
The course includes a unique blend of seminars, observation time and hands-on activities and proves that learning about research is not only fascinating, but also fun! Class sizes average six to fourteen students to ensure individualized instruction.
Assist research staff in conducting current research sessions, learn to conduct independent observation sessions, participate in additional research activities, one Dolphin Encounter, one Play with a Dolphin session, and a dock side signal session.
Additional Activities Include: Daily informal discussions with Research staff and informal observational time with the dolphins.
The cost of Cognitive & Behavioral Marine Mammal Research is $1700.00 ( US). Tuition includes all seminars, activities, meals, lodging, and a CD of photographs of your dolphin interactions throughout the week. The cost of course also includes transportation to and from the Marathon Airport or Marathon hotels at pre-established times that will be provided after you are a confirmed student.
Students may elect to receive college credit for attending this course. Credit is available through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional fee. In order to receive credit, students must successfully complete all course activities and pass an end of course exam. For more information, click here.
Students must successfully complete Basic DolphinLab before attending Cognitive and Behavioral Marine Mammal Research. Applicants are expected to have a strong interest in marine mammal science, careers in the field and be able to participate in an academically and physically rigorous schedule. The course is available to all students ages 18 and up.
All of Dolphin Research Center's Adult DolphinLab classes are fully college accredited through the Florida Keys Community College for an additional fee. Students can earn three college credits for each course taken, provided they complete the course requirements.
Applications for college credit must be processed and all fees paid to FKCC before the course begins. Please contact the Education Department for further information.
Fifty percent of your final course grade will be determined by the extent of your participation in DolphinLab seminars, workshops and class activities. Fifty percent will be determined by your performance on the end of course exam. Exam answers will illustrate a mastery of knowledge about dolphins, their ecosystem and related conservation issues; answers given are to be correct according to current knowledge/research as presented in the seminars, demonstrations and field activities and reflect an understanding of major factual information contained within all topics in the course outline. The exam will be given at Dolphin Research Center on the last full day of the course.
Learn more about Florida Keys Community College.
The classes listed on these schedules are open for individual participants. If you are interested in bringing a group to DRC for a DolphinLab outside of the public program dates listed below, please contact the Education Department.
| Classes |
Dates
|
Status
|
| DolphinCamp (ages 10-12) |
06/07-06/13
|
Open
|
| DolphinCamp (ages 10-12) | 06/14-06/20 | Open |
| DolphinCamp (ages 13-14) | 06/21-06/27 | Open |
| DolphinCamp (ages 13-14) | 06/28-07/04 | Open |
| Classes |
Dates
|
Status
|
| Teen Basic DolphinLab (ages 15-17) | 07/05-07/11 | Open |
| Teen Basic DolphinLab (ages 15-17) | 07/12-07/18 | Open |
| Teen Basic DolphinLab (ages 15-17) | 07/19-07/25 | Open |
| Teen Intermediate DolphinLab (ages 15-17) | 07/26-08/01 | Open |
|
Teen Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training (ages 15-17) |
08/02-08/08 | Open |
2014 Adult Course Dates
|
April Classes: |
||
| Classes |
Dates
|
Status
|
| Basic DolphinLab |
04/12-04/18
|
CANCELLED
|
|
May/June Classes: |
||
| Classes |
Dates
|
Status
|
| Basic DolphinLab |
05/10-05/16
|
Open
|
| Mariine Mammal Interpretation | 05/17-05/23 | Open |
| Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training | 05/24-05/30 | Open |
| Advanced Marine Mammal Training & Enrichment | 05/31-06/06 | Open |
|
August Classes: |
||
| Classes |
Dates
|
Status
|
| Basic DolphinLab |
08/09-08/15
|
Open
|
| Marine Mammal Care & Basic Training | 08/16-08/22 | Open |
| Cognitive and Behavioral Research | 08/23-08/29 | Open |
