Time does fly

I have been here for a little over two weeks...and the time has flown! I am fully checked off on the outdoor cleaning and closing procedures. I am working on getting checked off on fish prep. I am three days into fish prep training, and I will admit...despite all of my experiences sorting dead fish I needed some refreshers. :) I can not stress how supportive and amazing the other volunteers/interns/and especially the training staff are. They have been nothing but positive. I really feel like I am part of a little family.

One thing I am not used to yet...Milwaukee = cold = lots of snow = ice. Last week it was in the single digits...tomorrow night it is going to be in the negative double digits. I have done a lot of shoveling...and deicing of the facility. We need to keep the facility snow/ice free incase we have to relocate animals...and also so we don't fall on our butts!!

I layer when I go to work...long underware under jeans under sweat pants under "swooshy" pants (they reflect the water). I also bought thermal socks, dive rubber gloves, jacket, 4 pairs of gloves, two hats, and a face ski mask warm fleece thingy.

When it gets really cold out- we work in spurts outside...do as long as we can, run in, warm up...go back out.

Today it was 40 degrees out though...odd. Needless to say we spent the day super cleaning what we could not clean during the coldness...making sure ice was away from vital areas and putting salt down to keep the melted snow from becoming glare ice. They are calling for neg 20-30 below tomorrow night...with freezing rain tomorrow.

It is all worth it though. Being around these awesome dedicated people and these incredible animals. I will hopefully be getting pics soon! :) I will definetly post them.

First day!

It was my first day as an intern at Oceans of Fun! The first day is always kind of crazy for everyone, not just the interns. There is a lot of learning on both sides- from the intern and trainer perspective. Just getting to know the individuals, the duties, basically everything. Starting out as the new kid on the block is a scary yet exciting thing.

They started me out on the most basic and important thing...cleaning. I have met a lot of people who totally under estimate the amount of work that goes into working with these animals. It is far from "jumping off Flipper's nose" all day.

I was on my hands and knees a couple of times cleaning a pen...there is a lot of scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing, and rinsing. It is part of what you have to do to keep a healthy environment for the animals.

I skimmed the pool, brushed the pool, cleaned some pens, scrubbed some buckets...and I got to watch some sessions too. :)

I really felt weird watching the sessions, though...I am so used to not being able to stop and watch a session like I was able to do today. I am sure that there will be days where I am unable to- because it will be busy once shows begin...but they made a point to tell me today that I am welcome at any time to watch them and "that was what I was there to do" to learn training techniques by watching examples...and also watch and learn each animal's personality.

I also got my project topic for the research paper I need to work on. I am also going to be using this topic as the research proposal/presentation for the Ohio State Psych research symposium in March. I am to do a poster presentation as part of my independent study. Whew! Lots of work a head of me! I better start reading some papers right away. :)

Happy Holidays!

My formal acceptance letter!

I got my formal letter of congrats from Oceans of fun today! It included with it my sced for January. I am going to be working 4 days a week for now...I was told that they wanted me on 4 days a week for my training. :) I certainly do not mind!

I start officially on January 14th at 8am - 4pm!

I am going to give them a call and let them know that I got the letter.

The Power of Positive Intern Training: IMATA Soundings Journal Article on Oceans of Fun

The Power of Positive
Intern Training

*Tami N. Solano and Kelly E. Kamrath
Oceans of Fun, Inc. • Milwaukee, Wisconsin

SOURCE: Soundings 2005 • Volume 30, Number 2 Page 5

Please visit IMATA's website to become a member and read up on all the issues of SOUNDINGS. Check out IMATA.ORG for more information

Oceans of Fun is a pinniped facility that has joined with
the Milwaukee County Zoo to provide year-round public
presentations, seasonal school outreach programs, and
interactive experiences for zoo visitors. We currently house
3.4 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and 0.1
Atlantic harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) ranging in age from
6 months to 23 years. It is our responsibility to provide the
best care possible for the animals while continuing to educate
the public. We are able to achieve our goals by maintaining
a professional staff of trainers, educators, and a
well-trained, dedicated team of interns and volunteers.
Like many marine mammal facilities, we operate with a
small and extremely dedicated animal care training staff.
Our staff is sufficient for all animal needs and care; however,
it can be challenging to fulfill the personnel requirements
needed to run all aspects of daily performances, outreach,
and interactive programs. To meet these needs, the
decision was made to integrate a staff of interns and volunteers
into our daily routine. If our interns and volunteers
were going to play such an active role at our facility, we felt
it was extremely important to train them to understand and
commit to our organizational mission and to maintain our
high standards of excellence.


With the large number of people that desire to gain
experience in the marine mammal field, finding seasonal
staff is not difficult; selecting quality students from the
abundance of applications and resumes is the challenge.
Candidates must complete a series of at least two interviews
with our intern and volunteer coordinator prior to
being accepted onto our team. We integrate on average 10-
15 new individuals each season. These students must commit
to a minimum of 250 hours, working one to four 8-
hour days per week. With all the new hires, our staff takes
on the challenge of training them. By allowing interns and
volunteers to work closely with our staff, they gain valuable
knowledge and experience in the area of marine mammal
care and public awareness.


When they are hired, our interns and volunteers are
given an Oceans of Fun Training Manual. This manual discusses
and outlines, in detail, all guidelines, procedures,
and animal information to enable the intern to be successful
throughout his or her training program. Each one is
responsible for reading, understanding, and complying
with all the material presented in the manual. We begin
first by training each individual on the basic areas of animal
care: diet preparation and facility cleanliness. We are
an outdoor facility consisting of three pools, decks, wet
docks, and dry area enclosures all requiring daily sanitization.
Our fish house is composed of a sink preparation
area, refrigerators, freezers, buckets, and coolers, which
require hourly monitoring and cleaning. Our goal in the
initial stages of training is to enforce appropriate procedural
steps, safety, efficiency, and a clear understanding of
our standards of sanitation. We believe these areas to be the
foundation and stepping-stone prior to expanding on
advanced knowledge and responsibilities in animal care.


When incorporating new people into an animal care
environment, it is extremely important to train them extensively
and successfully. At Oceans of Fun, we have developed
our own performance accreditation program to
ensure that each intern or volunteer is professionally
trained in the areas of facility sanitation requirements, public
education, and marine mammal care.


Our training program begins for all new interns and volunteers on their first
day. Oceans of Fun utilizes a method of training called a
check off system. This technique is used to guarantee that
every new hire is trained efficiently and thoroughly. Each of
the three specific subject areas is set up on a 4-day training
cycle. Day 1 consists of learning the procedure side by side
with a trainer. The subject is completely explained, and the
intern assists in completing the specific task. Day 2 is a day
set aside for reiteration. Our goal is to slowly build confidence
and independence in the area. By day 3, the individual
is able to handle most of the responsibilities on his or
her own with assistance from a trainer, if needed. The
trainer then sets aside time to verbally review the area and
answer any questions. Finally, on the 4th day, the intern
should be confident in the area and ready for testing. Keeping
in mind each person varies with the time needed to
learn new skills, we have found that 4 days seems to be sufficient
for most areas of training. After this training cycle is
complete, there is an evaluation and written quiz to test
each individual's knowledge and comprehension of the
area. The goal of this 4-day training and quizzing process
is not only to ensure the interns and volunteers understand
all procedures, but also their importance and value. After
the intern has passed the written quiz, (s)he is now checked
off in that area. To be checked off means that our staff is
confident in the intern's ability to be professional and
responsible for that specific area with minimal supervision.
This method of training is carried throughout each subject
area of training in our accreditation program.


When interns understand the importance and required
criteria in the areas of basic animal care, they can move forward
in our accreditation program by advancing their skills
and knowledge associated with our daily public presentations
and educational programs. These responsibilities consist
of assisting in the operation of public presentations
hosting presentations, and working alongside our educators
during daily interactive programs. We feel strong public
speaking skills are an important prerequisite for working
in the marine mammal industry. Therefore, Oceans of
Fun trains all individuals to become comfortable and confident
while speaking in front of both small and large
groups. Interns and volunteers are given a written script to
follow and memorize including professional responses to
questions frequently asked by the public. It is imperative
that all representatives of Oceans of Fun relay the correct
information to the public. These skills not only promote
personal confidence, but also reinforce the need for public
education.


Interns and volunteers are always very eager to learn
more about animal behavior and training techniques.
Observation of training sessions, interactive programs, and
daily presentations are the key to their learning process. By
carefully observing the animals during training sessions
and then being able to ask questions, interns and volunteers
are able to continue to advance their knowledge and
understanding of animal training. Classical conditioning,
operant conditioning, positive reinforcement, bridge, and
target training are just a few of the terms initially discussed
with interns and volunteers. Comprehension of these concepts
is an important part of our accreditation program.


They are reviewed, tested, and discussed for complete
understanding. We also encourage all individuals to
become active in our environmental enrichment program.
Under a trainer's supervision, interns and volunteers are
able to provide and create new enrichment devices for the
animals. This is a great incentive for the staff. Not only
does it allow them to become an active part of the animal's
day, it also allows them to observe play behavior and develop
problem-solving skills.


The busy days of training sessions, public performances,
and interactive programs occasionally limits our time to
elaborate on advanced discussions regarding a species' natural
history and advanced training techniques. To make
sure all interns and volunteers in our program receive the
detailed knowledge and requirements to be successful in
the field of marine mammal training, our training staff
devised a workshop series to be held after-hours. This fourpart
seminar series focuses on subjects including anatomy
and physiology, natural histories, basic animal behavior
and training, husbandry care, environmental laws, and
conservation. Our staff leads each professional presentation
and discussion utilizing interactive games for learning
retention. All our hard work and positive feed back from
the intern and volunteer staff on the workshop series has
encouraged us to take on the challenge of designing a new
advanced series of seminars. We are hoping to incorporate
the advanced series into our intern and volunteer program
in 2005.


In addition to the hands-on exposure interns receive at
our facility, we also feel it is very important to prepare
them for the scientific studies and research involved in the
field of marine mammal care. Interns are responsible for
completing an independent project during their time with
us. These projects include conservation issues, breeding
behavior, enrichment, training history and theory, medical
research, pup development, and other behavioral studies.
Individuals must elaborate on their topic and develop a scientific
paper and presentation supporting their thesis.


Interns learn useful skills such as devising behavioral
ethograms and acquiring skills on how to conduct research.
Valuable experience like this is a great preparation and
introduction into the profession.


The success of our intern and volunteer accreditationtraining
program has been very rewarding. Participants are
trained in preparation for future advancement in the field
of marine mammal care. To continue our goals and dedication
to our program, we are in the process of designing
new advanced level internship positions. Again, individuals
must show initiative and accomplish levels of accreditation
including written exams, evaluations of public speaking,
daily duties, and professionalism. Individuals applying
must have a minimum of 6 months of experience and a
score of at least 90% on all evaluations and examinations.
This trainee apprentice position allows individuals to take
on more responsibility including: water quality testing,
becoming more active in the educational portion of our
programs, and beginning to build supervisory and team
leadership skills. Trainees can also become more active in
training and medical sessions, thus expanding their knowledge
and understanding of animal behavior, training, and
medical care. We designed this program to be a progression
for individuals who are eager to learn more and continue
their advancement within the field of animal care.
The results of our extensive intern- and volunteer-training
program are exactly what we had hoped. We, as a facility,
are able to provide valuable work experience to those
interested in pursuing a career in the marine mammal field.


With the knowledge they gain at our facility, they are able
to educate others about these animals and communicate
the importance of environmental preservation. In return,
our training staff receives valuable assistance with daily
facility duties, which enables us to spend more time with
the animals in our care. Our goal is to provide a positive
experience to all individuals who invest their time and
energy into our facility. It is our hope that everyone walks
away with a greater understanding of marine mammal
care, our industry standards, and the importance of education.


We have invested a lot of time and effort into these
training programs for a reason. Our greatest reward is the
knowledge that we are passing on our highest priority to
future marine mammal trainers: exceptional care for our
next generation of animals.

Oceans of Fun Internship Description

Oceans of Fun, Inc.
OCEANS OF FUN, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

10001 W. Bluemound Road
Milwaukee Wisconsin
53226

Post Date: 12/6/2007
Deadline for Application: 4/15/2008
Number of Positions: 7 Salary: Non-compensational positions

Internship Description
Oceans of Fun is dedicated to the field of marine mammal science and education. It is our goal to provide the best possible environment, training, husbandry, and care for our marine animals with the focus of educating the public about marine life, environmental protection, and conservation. Internship/volunteer positions are encouraged for individuals eager and dedicated to the ongoing advancements in the field of marine mammal science, psychology, animal training, husbandry/veterinary care, and education. As part of the Oceans of Fun team you will work alongside and assist our Animal Care Staff in the areas of, facility sanitation, diet preparation, public presentations, school outreach, interactive programs, and animal training/medical sessions. Individuals will learn to perform at the highest level of standards in animal care.


Essential Responsibilities
-Animal Diet Preparation -Facility Cleaning & Sanitization -Assisting in all aspects of public presentations including; pre/post program preparation, running the sound systems and microphones, public interactions. Interns are also responsible for learning our show script and narrating daily presentations. -Assisting our educators in daily interactive encounters, including; adult groups, birthday parties, children’s 3-day camps and school outreach programs. -Learn basic filtration and water quality requirements. -Assist our Staff during daily training sessions and medical/behavioral observations. -Actively assist in our environmental enrichment program. -Assist in other miscellaneous projects including; independent research, observational studies, seminar participation, and any other animal care staff needs.

Requested Requirements
No previous marine mammal experience is necessary for the position. All applicants must complete an Oceans of Fun application, submit 2 letters of recommendation and a current resume, and set up an interview with our coordinator.

Interns: (credit or non-credit positions available) Summer Interns: Responsible for committing to 450-500 hours (4, 8-hour days per week, for 14 weeks). Generally, these positions run May 15-September 1. Applicants must apply before April 1 to be eligible for the summer positions.

Off-Season Interns: Responsible for committing to 250 hours (2, 8 hour days per week, for 14 weeks). Generally these positions are held in fall (September 15-January 1), winter/spring (January 15-May 1). Individuals are encouraged to apply at least 2 months before their desired starting date.

Volunteers: Ideal for individuals unable to commit to the hour requirements of the internship, yet are interested in gaining experience in the animal care field. Volunteers are asked to commit to 1, 8-hour day per week for 6 months or 2, 8-hour days per week for 3 months. Positions available throughout the year, however it is encourage you apply 2-3 months in advance.

Individuals interested in applying must submit an application, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume, and contact our internship coordinator to arrange for an interview.
Contact Information:

Oceans of Fun, Inc.
Kelly Kamrath
Senior Animal Trainer & Internship/Volunteer Coordinator
10001 W. Bluemound Road
Milwaukee Wisconsin
53226
Phone: 414-453-5527 ext. 2
Fax: 262-313-4313
kelly@oceansoffun.org
Website: oceansoffun.org

My follow up interview- and moving forward!

I had my follow up interview for Oceans of Fun this week. It was the final step for my full acceptance. I get my acceptance letter sometime within the coming days along with my sced. I can not wait!

As far as how my interview went...I do not know of many people who, after an interview, get emotional because of the compliments the interviewer gave them...but I guess I am just a sap. It made me feel good to hear what she had to say after I recited my carefully memorized script- word for word.

She told me she loved my inflection and enthusiasm. Granted- when I speak to people I tend to have that overly happy roller coaster sounding way of talking. But it works well in front of massive groups of people.

The thing that stopped me was what she said in regards to my back. "We know that you have a prior back injury. We want to work with you and continue to help you strengthen your back and your general lifting ability. We have 80 lb bags of salt that we do lift, but I am going to have you perform other duties in adding salt to the pools that do not require that lifting. The heaviest our boxes go is about 35 lbs (I told her that 35 is perfectly fine)- but I only ask that you be completely honest in your abilities...we will work with you and give you extra help if you need it."

I got off the phone and nearly teared up. So many places I have applied catch wind about my situation at the Seaquarium and toss my seemingly noteworthy resume aside. I was horribly weak and feel behind at the Seaquarium- I could not lift as much and when I did- I was not fast.

There are PLENTY of other applicants who can bench press me and lift tanks, fish, and anything else without any thought. She could have taken any number of them, as their intern program is very competitive...but instead, she told me straight up that she knows my problems and she wants to work with me through it.

We discussed the summer term option- as she expressed interest in bringing me into summer term because of all my public speaking and outreach work (on top of my work at other intern programs). If I take it up, I would be in Milwaukee until August.
After our nice catch-up talk laying down the final details of my acceptance into the program, I hung up the phone and just kinda stood in the middle of our guest room dumbfounded. Did she really just say all those wonderful things....about me?

I think about the Miami Seaquarium every day. I think about how I felt like I lost my dream because of my own physical limitations. I thought about being on full scuba gear at the bottom of a killer whale pool, turning around and seeing her looking me dead in the eye...a 7,000 lb animal close enough to reach up and touch. The moment she looked at me I felt something, that I HAD to be here- this is what I was meant to do...then weeks later, I was heading back home to Ohio because a Dr took one look at me and said if I continued, I could seriously hurt myself...permanently.

After the dr's appointment I was forced to leave the internship- causing me to have serious doubts about my abilities...wondering if maybe the physical aspects of this job could be to much. When I got back to Ohio I had two options- I could turn emo, dress in black, and blog about the unfairness or life...or I could try to turn the lemon into lemonaid.

I went to physical therapy...just to get a handle on things I could do to strengthen yet not further hurt myself. I also got a personal trainer and started working 2 times a week for 6 weeks. I am still working with this trainer and probably will continue to do so until the week I leave. It has helped a lot and I am able to move a lot smoother and handle heavy loads with more ease then I used to.

It would be a lie if I said that my time at the Seaquarium did not affect me. I miss them horribly. I think about my experiences there often and I just wish I could have completed it. But I am determined to not let it hold me back from my dream. A lot of people, who live their dreams, have issues they must battle- my strength is my own battle.

So needless to say, my internship in Milwaukee is a huge step for me. I am back in the field after almost a year of being away from working in it. I am excited, scared, and at the same time incredibly eager to push myself and show myself that I am incredibly capable of doing what I dream of doing. The only person that can take away their dreams is themselves...and I really believe that.