Pre-Trip: Lee G. Simmons Wildlife Safari Park
Enjoy a trip through the amazing Wildlife Safari Park, along with behind-the-scenes tours, demonstrations and lunch.
September 22, 2024 | 6:00pm
Kiewit Luminarium
345 Riverfront Dr, Omaha, NE 68102
Sponsored by the Omaha Zoo Foundation
Icebreaker
Photography by Dan Schwalm and Madeline Cass © 2024 HDR
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Helen Fagan, an award-winning scholar and practitioner in Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, is the founder of Helen Fagan and Associates, providing consulting and coaching services to organizations worldwide. With a Ph.D. in Human Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she's recognized for her expertise in inclusive leadership, cultural competence and emotional intelligence. Dr. Fagan has received prestigious awards for her work, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Fulfilling the Dream Award. As a faculty member, she leads the Inclusive Rural Fellowship program and has authored the acclaimed book "Becoming Inclusive: A Worthy Pursuit in Leadership." Her innovative initiatives have garnered national recognition, reflecting her commitment to fostering inclusion and addressing disparities in organizations and communities worldwide.
Professional Certificate Courses (PCCs)
Aquatic Systems & Husbandry, Sponsored by Penguins International
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium has the largest Aquarium in a zoo! And what better place to learn about animals who live in or near aquatic systems? The course is aimed at keepers caring for animals in or around water that may not be their primary focus. From hippos, penguins, sea lions, to amphibians and everything in between. This 12-hour class will help you better understand aquatic systems and husbandry for all animals that have water in their exhibits. From water chemistry to pump maintenance and training, this course will help you better understand all aspects of your exhibits.
Nails, Needles, Beaks, Hooves, Oh My!, Sponsored by Animal Behavior Management Alliance
Caring for our animals is what makes us zookeepers. Part of caring for animals is helping them maintain good body conditions. Blood samples, nail, beak, and hoof trims are necessary, whether voluntary or involuntary. This 12-hour class will cover training techniques and exhibit designs to facilitate these requirements. This class is for anyone wanting to learn better animal husbandry training and handling techniques. You will hear from a variety of staff members about many different species. We will also cover the collaboration between keeper and vet staff.
Green Zoo, Green You, Better Planet, Sponsored by hose2habitat
We all want to save our planet, but how? In this 12-hour class, we will see how the Omaha Zoo has made changes, large and small, from making changes in your lunch box to partnering with corporations in the community. This class is for anyone passionate about saving our planet, and in helping themselves and their institution make changes. We will also have an all-class discussion and a panel of conservation community partners. Being able to make even small changes in your area as a keeper will collectively make a larger impact. Together we can learn and grow and make a greener planet.
AZA/AAZK Panel Discussion
Keepers Are Key: Elevating Animal Welfare/Well-Being Through Assessments, Research and Animal Management Practices
September 24, 2024 | 8:00–10:00am
Animal welfare and well-being are taking an increasingly central role in the management of modern zoos, aquariums and related facilities. Keepers are uniquely positioned to collect and provide crucial data about their animals’ well-being, which informs both small- and large-scale decisions that can dramatically impact the lives of animals in human care. This panel discussion will begin with a review of key terms surrounding welfare/well-being. It will then evaluate day-to-day actions keepers take which can easily be turned into assessments that positively impact animal well-being, and look at ways in which keepers can take raw data from record keeping and turn it into larger projects that help inform animal management practices. Case studies will be used to discuss how keepers can collaborate with other staff and zoo management to create welfare assessments, research projects and more that directly impact the lives of the animals in their care — even within the restrictions of a busy daily keeper schedule. Small group discussion and Q&A will be used to help audience members problem-solve issues they may be facing at their own facilities.
2024 AAZK National Conference Topical Workshop Abstracts
Monday, September 23, 2024
PCC Unplugged Topical Workshop: Trials and Triumphs of Voluntary Hoofstock Training
1:00–3:00pm
Hoofstock training has been a hot topic in zoos over the past decade. Join the Omaha hoofstock crew as they go over the trials and triumphs of training giraffes, rhinos and antelope. From voluntary blood, ultrasounds and hoof trimming, we’ll discuss the aspects that lead to success and failure. We’ll take a look at safety, trimming techniques, antecedent arrangement and more. This two-hour lecture will include Q&A as well as case studies of different situations faced in our industry.
We Are All Interpreters: Exploring Techniques to Create Engaging Visitor Experiences
1:00–3:00pm (LTW)
Gone are the days of working with animals to avoid people. Animal Care Staff are often expected to develop, lead and analyze educational programming for zoo guests — with or without proper training. From functional training demonstrations to outreach programming to passing inquisitive guests on the path, opportunities for connection are everywhere! When guests are met with engaging staff and thought-provoking information, they will develop a greater understanding of the animals of the world. This workshop will provide background knowledge of building interpretive programming like theme development and objectives. You will also learn interpretive techniques to execute engaging talks and demonstrations. The expected topics to discuss will be answering difficult visitor questions, words to avoid, age-appropriate learning, learning styles and more! Whether you are gaining confidence as a speaker or a full-time educator, this workshop aims to be informative, interactive and inspirational for every attendee.
A Free-Operant Approach to Environmental Enrichment
3:30–5:30pm
In the wild, animals are free to behave for desired outcomes in an ever-changing environment with few restrictions on the form, frequency, duration or intensity of their behavior. Freely interacting with diverse challenges in a responsive environment produces extensive behavioral repertoires with which animals exert control over their world. Like the wild conditions, zoo environments can be arranged to better support diverse behavior for diverse outcomes. A free-operant approach is one in which the environment is engineered so animals are free to perform an array of responses at any time, with naturally occurring consequences shaping and maintaining their behavior. We call this arrangement a free-operant environment. Enriched with behavioral opportunities and reinforcers that support the core interests of the animal, a free-operant environment induces a wide range of behavior for a variety of outcomes. In this arrangement, animals do what nature sets them up to do: choose what reinforcers to pursue, how, how often and for how long. This workshop explores considerations for identifying meaningful outcomes and building environments where opportunities to behave for those reinforcers are more freely available. When a free-operant environment is arranged effectively, a static repertoire of behavior will not suffice. Instead, the environment, with various problems to solve, continually shapes new behavior. In this way we support behaviorally healthier lifestyles for animals in zoos.
Individual Development Plans and Work-Life Balance Assessments: Policies for Staff Welfare
3:30–5:30pm (LTW)
The goal of this workshop would be to provide resources for current and/or aspiring leaders on creating a culture of wellness within animal care teams by discussing the use of individual development plans and work-life balance assessments. A summary of why these policies are necessary will be discussed to begin the workshop. Current documents and practices surrounding individual development plans and work-life balance assessments would then be explained and shared with attendees. Results of these practices will be shared, including important employee-leader conversations, statistical analysis of work-life balance assessments and management adjustment or policy changes to promote staff wellness. Attendees will be asked to fill out the documents in an exercise to think critically about their personal and/or direct reports’ development and work-life balance. Resources on how to create their own documents and/or policies will be provided in addition to discussions on how to use the subsequent information to enact policy change. Tips for improving work-life balance will also be covered in this workshop. The workshop will be presented via PowerPoint, verbal discussions and attendee participation on paper. If selected as an open topical workshop, attendee participation will be modified to reduce paper waste. This topic aligns with the 2024 National AAZK Conference theme, “Together We Grow,” by focusing on collaboration between animal care professionals to improve the welfare and job satisfaction of keeper staff.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
PCC Unplugged Topical Workshop: Intro to Life Support & Water Chemistry
1:00–3:00pm
Have a tank or water system in your area that you wish you understood more? Then this workshop is for you! This class will go over the basics of life support systems and water chemistry. We will cover the different types of filtration and examples of each filtration, including but not limited to: sand/bead filters, protein skimmers, UV sterilizers, carbon filters, heat exchanger and ozone. It will also cover information regarding pumps and valves. Furthermore, we will discuss basic maintenance on these components. The water quality portion will focus on the nitrogen cycle, how to test for different parameters, frequency and importance of testing.
From Anecdote to Analysis: Keeper Applications of Experimental Design
1:00–3:00pm (LTW)
Animal observation and record keeping are an essential part of every keeper's job, resulting in unique, valuable data about an animal’s behavior, environment and overall well-being. Unfortunately, without proper testing, these observations are prone to misinterpretation and broad, anecdotal conclusions, such as “the cat starts pacing at 3:00pm because we feed it at 4:00pm” or “the frogs don’t breed for two years after they’ve switched exhibits” are often perpetuated. However, turning these observations into useful data can be easier than you may expect, regardless of your experience with formal research techniques. This workshop will expose participants to the basics of experimental design and the collection, analysis and interpretation of your data, as well as advice for gaining support from teammates and institutions. These skills will allow keepers to conduct research applicable to any taxa with sample sizes ranging from case studies to collaborative projects involving multiple organizations. The application of these tools will allow participants to propose a project with a greater level of comfort and use the project to grow professionally, improve the well-being of the animals under their care and improve collaborative methods.
Beyond the Silence: Tough Conversations Made Easy
3:30–5:30pm
You’ve probably had conversations about toxicity and red flags in the workplace. Maybe you’ve seen people posting questions about burnout and difficult coworkers in forums. The challenge is most of these conversations aren’t happening in ways that are conducive to change. Join us in this immersive workshop designed for zoo professionals, where we delve into the powerful realms of radical candor and crucial conversations. Learn to craft concise and impactful communications through the tool of radical candor, fostering an environment of open dialogue. Explore strategies for navigating crucial conversations with finesse, enhancing team cohesion and ensuring effective communication within your zoo community. With a combination of lecture, discussion, role-play and reflection, we’ll provide the tools you need to break the silence and start the conversation. This workshop is tailored to empower zookeepers and professionals with the skills needed to strengthen relationships, reduce conflict and promote a culture of collaboration in the unique and vital world of zookeeping.
Culture and Conservation: How a Culture-First Perspective Can Help Your Zoo Overcome Challenges
3:30–5:30pm (LTW)
We often think of “culture” as something that other people have — but our own cultures directly impact conservation, animal care, the role of zoos in education and more! In this workshop, we share lessons from our work with zoos across six continents on how you can think about local culture to help your zoo better connect with its audience and goals, and how you can learn from what zoos in other cultures are doing. Participants will workshop cultural roadblocks they have faced and learn strategies to approach these roadblocks from a culture-first perspective, brainstorming new solutions that have the potential to last. We will also talk about opportunities to travel to and teach students at zoos around the world.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
PCC Unplugged Topical Workshop: Being Green… Where Do You Start?
1:00–3:00pm
In this two-hour workshop, we will cover actions the Omaha Zoo has done to become more green with minimal resources. Forming teams to manage different areas of focus from water and energy usage, to forming a green team and even marketing to educate the public. We all have to start somewhere, and this is the story on how the Omaha Zoo started their green initiative and formed a collaboration with Verdis Group and other green-minded companies.
When Psychological and Physical Safety Meet (two-part workshop, must attend both parts)
1:00–3:00pm & 3:30–5:30pm (LTW)
Working in our profession comes with an inherent risk that, when left unchecked, can lead to emotional exhaustion, mental fatigue and physical injuries. Keeper staff should feel physically and psychologically safe throughout their workdays. It is all too common where keepers have something throughout their day that gives them a moment of pause, leaves them questioning if they did in fact lock the lock, or they worry about what would happen if today were the day that their human brain failed them. Creating an environment where individuals feel secure to ask questions, bring up concerns and report mistakes without fear of punishment or repercussions can catch common threads before serious injuries or fatalities occur. By understanding that the relationship between psychological safety and physical safety are symbiotic in the workplace, organizations can develop strategies that cultivate a multifaceted culture of safety which can save both the humans and animals in their care.
Developing a Growth Mindset
3:30–5:30pm
“Mindsets are just beliefs. They’re powerful beliefs, but they’re just something in your mind, and you can change your mind.”
Carol Dweck, Mindset
There are two types of zookeepers: those with a fixed mindset — those who believe they either have what it takes or they don’t — and zookeepers with a growth mindset — those who believe that with diligent effort and consistent practice they can accomplish anything. Developing a growth mindset is key to developing empathy for yourself, your team and your animals. It’s also essential in making positive changes in the workplace and in conservation efforts. This workshop will share grounded research in what a growth mindset is, and how to develop and implement it, while providing tools for participants to practice and take back to their facilities. Through group discussion and role-playing scenarios, participants will learn how to change their language and behavior from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. We’ll practice active listening to understand (rather than respond) and how to ask “leading questions,” while assuming positive intent from others. Participants will also learn how to utilize their growth mindset while dealing with setbacks and learn from our mistakes, rather than letting mistakes define us. When we all implement a growth mindset, we start to see the best in each other and our organizations. As our mindset changes, we grow in empathy, team leadership and compassion for our work. And we realize we really do have what it takes to change the world.
When registering, please pick either one PCC (Professional Certificate Course) or two LTWs (Limited Topical Workshops). If you happen to choose the LTW that is a two-part class, you will not be able to sign up for other LTWs or PCCs.
