Since 1985, Dolphin Research Center has offered DolphinLab programs, originally created for adults to deepen their understanding of dolphins, explore the human impact on wild populations, and gain meaningful hands-on experience through immersive, multi-week sessions.
Over time, DolphinLab has evolved to meet the needs and interests of a diverse range of students. Today, these programs provide unforgettable, hands-on learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, responsibility, and a lifelong connection to marine life.
While these experiences are truly priceless, they do come at a cost—and we never want financial barriers to stand in the way of a student’s dreams.
Your donation can make a direct difference. By donating towards a scholarship, you can help a student access an opportunity that may shape their future and fulfill a lifelong dream.
If you would like to donate towards a specific program, please reach out to our Membership department at [email protected].
The Professional Animal Trainer (PAT) Certificate Program is a continuing education program for individuals currently working in the animal training/handling field or with experience within the past two years. While the program’s focus is on marine mammals, the courses offered can be applied to trainers who work with both marine and terrestrial animals.
A hybrid style learning program. With half the class online, about behavior training, physiology, and public speaking. While the onsite portion is putting that knowledge into practice. Students will work with a team of marine mammal care and training specialists who actively care for and train marine mammals in a non-profit, public-access educational facility.
All About Dolphins DolphinLab: Relationships & Enrichment is a six-day program that introduces participants to the Dolphin Research Center, our mission, and relationship-based training philosophy, and our resident Common bottlenose dolphin and California sea lion family
Training, Interpretation and Research is a six-day program in which participants work closely with our Education and Animal Care and Training staff, with a hands-on approach to take an active role in dolphin training sessions by experiencing basic training skills.
Experiential learning program that surveys a wide range of knowledge, theories, and ongoing research concerning dolphins, the marine environment, and related issues. Through observation time, live demonstrations, and interactive programs, students will foster special connections with DRC’s animal family, and learn from the best teachers - the dolphins and sea lions!
Builds on the knowledge and experience gained in Teen Basic DolphinLab while still incorporating plenty of fun and high-quality educational information. This program not only features the advanced study of dolphins, but also explores other marine mammals, including sea lions, manatees, river dolphins, and more.
Students work closely with our Education and Animal Care and Training staff, taking a hands-on approach to learning basic training methods and husbandry practices with DRC’s dolphin family.
For ages 10-12 and 13-14, this program teaches them about the amazing world of dolphins! A five-day action-packed program to teach local kids about dolphins, learning to respect each as an individual through observation of their unique behavioral and physical characteristics.
For ages 8-10 full-time Keys kids, this program teaches them about the amazing world of dolphins! A five-day action-packed program to teach local kids about dolphins, sealions, how to protect them, and so much more!
