Blogs

From the President - March 2022

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Spring is such an exciting time of year and also known as a season of rebirth and new life, perfect descriptors of spring at DPMMR. However, spring at DPMMR is also known as the start of our “busy season” and in a way – the start of our “New Year.” Consequently, February is usually a month dedicated to laying the foundation for a successful year ahead. Our training teams spent most of February teaching the animals new behaviors to further connect with our guests,... Read More

From the Pod - March 2022

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

From the Pod… Alfonz – Alfonz recently hit a milestone when he tipped the scales at 602 lbs!  Last you heard; our big guy was learning a new behavior called “Belly Breach.” Well, we are now happy to report that Alfonz has mastered the breach – and you can imagine the splash he creates when all 600 pounds come crashing into the water. When he was learning this behavior, our trainers used target poles (physical prompts), paired with hand signals to help him “pose” in the air, but he no ... Read More

Tips to Becoming a Trainer!

Friday, January 28, 2022

Hi everyone! My name is Dani and I'm a Senior Marine Mammal Specialist here at DPMMR. I began my journey at the facility as an intern in Fall of 2017 and I've been here ever since. A very common question the trainers get asked is "How did you become a trainer?" Although that is a complex question and every trainer's journey to becoming a trainer is different, I can give some helpful tips if this is a career path you may be interested in. Most facilities do look for a 4 year college degree,... Read More

Differences Between the Level 1 and Level 2 Internship

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Have you ever wondered how you get a job as a marine mammal trainer?  Hello, my name is Cristina and I have been a trainer and intern coordinator at DPMMR for about 2 years now, and in that time we have expanded the internship into two separate levels; one focused on foundational skills and another focused on advanced concepts. When we came up with the idea of a level 2 internship, it was surrounded by the thought that this extended internship would be almost like a seasonal apprentice ... Read More

A Day in the Life of a DPMMR Intern

Monday, January 17, 2022

Good morning! My name is Cristina, one of the intern coordinators! Today I am going to take you through a day in the life of being an intern here at DPMMR. Interns are responsible for guest interactions, diet preparation, facility maintenance, and assist with training. The internship is designed to give hands-on learning to equip our interns with the necessary skills needed to acquire an entry level position in this industry. If you are interested or have any questions regarding our internsh... Read More

From the President: Happy New Year!

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Happy New Year from DPMMR!  We certainly hope that 2022 brings all things healthy and happy to you and your family! DPMMR is kicking off the year, with a continuation of our multiple facility development projects in an effort to further the growth of our business and mission.  Despite a rocky 2020, laden with COVID issues, DPMMR had a prosperous and productive 2021. Not only did we have our best year, financially, but also we implemented many facility upgrades that were much need... Read More