As always, MMC offers these trainings tuition-free.  We ask for a $5.00 per person/class suggested donation to help recover costs of reproducing class materials for each student.  Please note the location of the class, because classes are held in many different locations!  For more information on a specific class, please click on the name of the class for a more detailed course description!

MMC periodically offers the following classes:

Basic Handling, Evaluation & Transport
Marine Mammal Rescue Equipment & Field Site Set-Up
Marine Mammal Law Class
First Response & Advanced Assessment
Advanced Transport Techniques & Protocols
Basic Necropsy Protocols & Sampling Procedures
Identifying Signs of Human Interaction
Marine Mammal Fish Kitchen, Food Preparation & Sanitary Procedures
Species Identification & Basic Behavior
Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100/200)
Basic Rigging, Knots & Crane Signals
Stranding & Volunteer Coordinator

Locations Periodically Offered:
Class Location: Key Largo (Marine Mammal Conservancy, 102200 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo,  FL  33037- behind the AT&T Tower at MM102, Bayside)
Class Location: Coral Gables (University of Miami, Coral Gables Campus)
Class Location: Key West (Eco-Discovery Center, Truman Annex)

Course manuals will be given to each participant (where applicable); please bring a pen to take notes and a $5.00 suggested donation to help us cover the cost of printing course materials.  For more information contact Education@MarineMammalConservancy.org.  We look forward to seeing you!

Directions to Class Locations:

Marine Mammal Conservancy is located at 102200 Overseas Hwy (MM 102) in Key Largo, take the dirt driveway on the north side of the Concrete AT&T Tower.

Eco-Discovery Center is located in the Truman Annex at the end of Southard Street in Key West.

University of Miami is located in Coral Gables.  The Learning Center is on the north end of campus.  When coming from the south on US1, turn left onto Granada Blvd (if coming from the north, turn right on Granada Blvd).  Turn left onto Pisano Ave (there is a statue at the fork).  The parking lot will be on your left just across from Doctors Hospital.

Island Dolphin Care is located at 150 Lorelane Place, Key Largo, Fl 33037
When coming into Key Largo from the north you will pass the Holiday Inn on your left at MM 100.  Start slowing down and within a block you will come to an intersection with traffic lights.  At this intersection, make a left turn across the highway.  Go one short block and make your first right hand turn.  Go another block and make your first left hand turn. This puts you on Ocean Bay Drive.  Stay on this street for 7 or 8 blocks until you come to a small bridge.  GO OVER the bridge, then turn right just after the bridge and Island Dolphin Care is on the corner.
If you are arriving from Key West or south of Key Largo, drive North on US 1 to MM99. Just past MM99 you will see flashing yellow lights over the highway. At the flashing lights, turn right on East Drive.  Go to the first stop sign and turn right on Ocean Bay Drive.  Island Dolphin Care is located about 1/3 of a mile ahead – on the right – just AFTER the small bridge.

On Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 members of the Key Largo Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be hosting a class specifically for us!  MMC Staff & Qualified Volunteers are invited to attend a CPR and First Aid Course at a very discounted price!   The class has limited spots available so please contact Alex@MarineMammalConservancy.org for more information and to secure your spot.

MMC is excited to welcome FIU’s Marine Biology Club into our volunteer family!

A good example of this is MMC’s recent Mass Stranding Exercise which hosted personnel from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, The National Park Service, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Law Enforcement Officers, the Florida Marine Research Institute, The Florida Aquarium, the Marine Animal Rescue Society, The University of Miami, Humane Society International, Florida Disaster Animal Response Teams, as well as several veterinarians. Over 100 personnel attended the exercise where scenarios included implementation of the Incident Command System, First Response and Advanced Assessment, Transport, euthanasia, human health and safety, Field Site set-up and equipment, temporary enclosures for stabilization and scenarios requiring authorization from higher authority.

We believe that education of the public is the first step in addressing the needs of marine mammals. The focus of our Education Program is to disseminate information about marine mammals, ecological concerns and ongoing efforts in rehabilitation to interested groups and the general public and to strengthen the Stranding Network, which responds to marine mammals in distress.

MMC offers training workshops and classes to volunteers, staff, other organizations, and federal and state agencies.  Through these classes we are able to provide stranded marine mammals better chances for survival in the first critical hours by increasing the number of people capable of responding to their initial and advanced treatment needs.

Our schedule is modified periodically.  We encourage volunteers to take as much training as possible. For more information about these classes, please contact us at info@marinemammalconservancy.org