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For Professionals | For Companion Parrot Owners
Natural Encounters, Inc. Presents the Workshop Series:
"The Art & Science of Training Companion Parrots"
Designed for all Companion Parrot Owners
Workshop Leader: Steve Martin Steve Martin has lived with parrots from the time he was five years old. By the time he was 16 his bird interest expanded to falconry and he has been a Master Falconer ever since. He began his professional animal training career when he set up the first of its kind, free-flight bird show at the San Diego Wild Animal Park in 1976. Since then, he has produced educational animal programs or consulted on animal behavior issues at over 50 zoological facilities in eleven countries
Steve has produced three videos on parrot behavior & training, and lectures frequently about parrot behavior. He has also written several articles on animal behavior and conducts training workshops each year at his facility in Winter Haven, Florida. Over two-thirds of his year is spent on the road consulting with zoos and aquariums on animal behavior issues or teaching staff the art and science of animal behavior.
Our Mission To help you reach your goals and realize your full potential in every aspect of parrot behavior and training.
Workshop Descriptions: Foundation Skills Workshop
This six-day workshop is the perfect introduction to understanding parrot behavior and developing the skills required to shape and modify even the most challenging behaviors. This workshop is a combination of insightful lectures and hands-on experience with several birds from our extensive collection. Our expert bird trainers lead each team of four or five participants as they put into practice the skills they have learned in the lectures.
The information in this workshop includes:
• The Science of Learning and Behavior
• Arranging the environment for success
• Creating lasting positive relationships
• Operant Conditioning
• Empowering your parrot
• Understanding and using Positive Reinforcement while avoiding Punishment
• Teaching parrots basic and advanced behaviors
• Problem solving
Advanced Skills Workshop
This six-day workshop is the perfect compliment to the Foundation Skills Workshop. Participants will enhance the skills they learned in the foundation workshop and develop an even deeper understanding of parrot behavior and the techniques that will open doors to more fulfilling relationships with companion parrots. Our team of expert bird trainers will lead each team of two participants in daily training sessions with a variety of birds from our collection.
The information in the workshop includes:
• Review of the science of behavior
• Advanced behavior modification techniques
• Replacing unwanted behavior
• Teaching parrots complex and advanced behaviors
• Free-flight
Reinforcement Retreat
We are happy to announce a new parrot behavior and training workshop experience we have created at NEI. It is called the "Reinforcement Retreat." As the name suggests, the Reinforcement Retreat is a gathering place where people go to increase their understanding of parrot behavior as well as their training skills. It is the perfect next step for those who have completed the Advanced Skills Companion Parrot Workshop.
Since all of the participants will have completed the Foundation Skills Workshop, and the Advanced Skills Workshop, the Reinforcement Retreat will focus more on experiential learning and less on lectures, quizzes and exams. The day will be filled with training demonstrations, group discussions, problem solving, and of course, much more time to work with birds.
Each team of two participants will be led by one of our expert trainers, just like in the Advanced Companion Parrot Workshop, and will help guide the participants toward specific learning objectives. This course is more dynamic than the others and is tailored to meet each participant's personal goals.
Companion Parrot Workshop Schedules:
Foundation Skills Workshop
When: 2009 dates TBD
Where: Natural Encounters, Inc. Training Facility in Winter Haven, Florida
Tuition: $1500 per person (limited to 20 attendees)
Icebreaker: TBD
Banquet Celebration: TBD.
Advanced Skills Workshop
Prerequisite: Foundation Skills Workshop
When: 2009 dates TBD
Where: Natural Encounters, Inc. Training Facility in Winter Haven, Florida
Tuition: $2,000 per person (limited to 10 attendees)
Icebreaker: TBD
Banquet Celebration: TBD
Reinforcement Retreat
Prerequisites: Foundation skills workshop & Advanced workshop
When: 2009 dates TBD
Where: Natural Encounters, Inc. Training Facility in Winter Haven, Florida
Tuition: $2,000 per person (limited to 10 attendees)
Icebreaker: TBD
Banquet Celebration: TBD
For Registration and Information:
Online Registration Form
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