Spring has Sprung!
Hello everyone!
This month has flown by! I can’t believe it’s already time for another update, but that’s likely because so much has happened in the past few weeks.
Just after our last update, we hosted over 100 of our closest friends and donors for the Grand Opening of The Connect Center. The evening started with food stations representing cuisine from around the world, staged alongside the dolphin lagoon, as well as exhibits that comprise The Connect Center. During the main program, the DPMMR team dedicated The Connect Center to Rick Borguss and The Borguss Family. Without their support, DPMMR could not exist, and The Connect Center would not be possible! Prior to kicking off the party with Dueling Pianos, it was only fitting that Rick helped us “Cut the Ribbon'' and officially deem our oceanside facility as the Connect Center. Indeed, the Grand Opening was a wonderful celebration of DPMMR’s mission and the many improvements our supporters have made possible over the last year. (During the event we made a huge announcement which we will be sharing with you soon, so keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks!)
Just a few days after our Grand Opening celebration, over half of our team traveled to Atlanta for the week-long International Marine Animal Trainer Association (IMATA) conference. Each year, we do our best to send part of our team of animal care staff to this conference to share ideas, learn new techniques, and network with fellow marine mammal trainers from around the world. Our team always leaves the conference re-inspired and with new tools to improve the lives of the animals in our care. We had a great time in Atlanta, but we’re happy to all be back in Key Largo putting our newfound knowledge to use.
It wasn’t long after our wheels touched the ground at Miami International Airport that our Spring Break season began. This Spring Break, we’re excited to host well over 1,000 students from across the country on school-sponsored field trips. Each of these students visit The Connect Center, partake in classes and presentations relating to marine conservation, and connect with our dolphin family in the water for an unforgettable educational experience. Education is a large component of our mission, so we’re thankful to be fulfilling that mission at a larger capacity in the coming weeks.
As mentioned above, we have an exciting announcement to make in the coming weeks. Our team has been “boots on the ground” since January working on an exciting new project that I can’t wait to share with you. So, be sure to stay connected with us in the next couple of weeks!
I hope you enjoy your Spring Break! If you are down in the Florida Keys, be sure to stop by. We would love to see you!
Sincerely,
Nancy J. Cooper
President