2012 Events
Below is a list of past events from 2012.
January 27-29
Clicker Expo
Portland, OR
Ken was excited to be returning to Clicker Expo in 2012. Three sessions were repeated by popular demand from the previous season: Smart Reinforcement and a lab on reinforcement substitutes as well as the new course from 2011 on Aggression Treatment and Context. Additionally, Ken offered three new sessions: Oops! What to Do When Mistakes Happen, 1+1=3 Adduction & Combining Cues, plus a lab focusing on adduction. The latter class on adduction was a continuation of Ken's series on Concept Training, previous years focused on modifier cues and mimicry. Each season, the Clicker Expo proves to be one of the highlights of the year because of the enthusiasm of the attendees - no other conference has so many people devoted to soaking up and sharing info about positive reinforcement like the Clicker Expos do. Ken loved getting requainted with old friends and making new ones.
February 4-5
Weekend with Ken Ramirez
Gentle Touch Pet Training
Arroyo Grande, CA
This seminar will be focused on dog training, but will certainly be applicable to all trainers and animals. Day 1 (Saturday) is by invitation only. Day 2 (Sunday) will be open to the public and topics will include Reinforcement Strategies (Non-Food Reinforcers), Problem Solving, and Training for Conservation. It proved to be a very good weeked, Teah's facility is in a beautiful location with beautiful weather and attendees with a real interest in learning.
February 7
International Giraffe Symposium
San Francisco, CA
Ken was invited to be the keynote speaker. He spoke on training and conservation and highlighted the important work that zoos can play in contributing to conservation efforts - but with a unique focus on the role of training. The organizers also asked Ken to do a two day training workshop that was open to the public and held immediately following the symposium (see below). The conference proved to be an interesting conference with presentations from zookeeprs as well as from wildlife bilogists who study giraffe in the wild.
February 10-11
Zoo Training Seminar
Sponsored by International Giraffe Symposium
Oakland, CA (11th) and Vallejo, CA (10th)
see Giraffe Symposium web-site listed above
Following the International Giraffe Symposium, Ken conducted a two-day seminar for attendees of that conference. However, the seminar was open for anyone to attend. The seminar was a basic overview of operant conditioning and positive reinforcement for the zookeeper. The approach was broad and accessible for those training any species. Day 1 was held at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and day 2 was held at the Oakland Zoo. There were nearly 70 attendees, half from the zoological world and the remainder from the dog and horse training worlds. They were a very attentive group with excellent questions.
March 10
Art & Science of Animal Training
University of North Texas, ORCA
Denton, TX
Ken was invited back for the 4th consecutive year, the topic this year was "Lessons from the Aquatic World". Ken invited colleagues Steve Aibel and Mike Pool from SeaWorld San Antonio to join him and present several topics that will illustarte the advances made in marine mammal training that have direct application to so many other species. As with previous years of this conference it is a truly mind expanding expereince that creates great dialogue about important topics.
March 30-April1
Clicker Expo
Nashville, TN
Ken was excited to be returning to Clicker Expo in 2012. Three sessions were repeated by popular demand from the previous season: Smart Reinforcement and a lab on reinforcement substitutes as well as the new course from 2011 on Aggression Treatment and Context. Additionally, Ken offered three new sessions: Oops! What to Do When Mistakes Happen, 1+1=3 Adduction & Combining Cues, plus a lab focusing on adduction. The latter class on adduction is a continuation of Ken's series on Concept Training, previous years focused on modifier cues and mimicry. This was a great Expo as usual. Special guest Dr. Clive Wynn spoke about dog cognition and during the panel discussion we all surprised Karen with a cake and gift as we celebrated her 80th birthday (actually in May). The celbration included a video retrospecitve of Karen's career. It was a very special weekend.
April 9-14
AZA Training Course
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Orlando, FL
This is an excellent course for zoo trainers. Ken was invited to participate for the 5th straight year. This course has multiple instructors including Steve Martin, Marty McPhee, Michelle Skurski, and Emily Insalaco. This year included anouther great group of keepers who were interested in learning about training.
April 20-22 *Note change in date!
3 Day Seminar with Ken Ramirez
Sponsored by Clicker Training fur Pferde
Munich, GERMANY
This was an advanced seminar with a multi-species approach. Topics included Reinofrcement Strategies, Handling Animal Mistakes Positively, Recipe for Becoming a Top Trainer, Aggression Treatment and Problem Solving Review, Concept Training: Mimicry, Positive Reinforcement in the Workplace, Training Consultant Notes. There were nearly 100 participants from 16 countries. They had a high level of skill and asked some excellent questions. Ken truly enjoyed this group.
*2012 Scholarship Winner: Melanie Johnston
July 21-22
Making the Impossible - Possible!
Sponsored by Dogs of Course
Dog Training Club of Chester County
Exton, PA (outside Philadelphia)
Making the Impossible - Possible! - This two-day advanced seminar included the following topcis: Non-Food Reinforcers (and will include coaching of a few pre-selected trainer-dog teams), Handling Animal Mistakes, Concept Training (Modifiers, Mimicry, & Adduction), Problem Solving, and The Complete Trainer (recipe for teaching other trainers). It was a great turnout of more than 150 trainers who had great questions.
August 20-24
Professional Seminars for Zoological Trainers
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago, IL
e-mail enquiries to: adults@sheddaquarium.org
This is a full graduate course adapted to a one-week format for zoo training professionals. An opportunity to take a full course and see Ken work with animals in his home setting, the beautiful Shedd Aquarium. Although originally designed for zoo trainers, many dog trainers take the course each year. The class was sold out this year and we had a great group of enthuiastic participants. This course at Shedd continually proves to be one of Ken's favorite seminars each year.
August 25 – October 20 (Every Saturday)
WIU Graduate Course on Animal Training
Western Illinois University (class at Shedd Aquarium)
Chicago, IL
Strict requirements, for info before applying please contact Ken at kramirez@sheddaquarium.org. The course this year was full and had a large number of truly iinterested and engaged students, making for a livley class.
September 1-2
Weekend with Ken Ramirez
Animal Click & Dog Action
NETHERLANDS
or e-mail: info@animalclick.nl
This weekend included a full agenda of topics including Reinforcement Strategies: Using Non-Food Reinforcers, Handling Animal Mistakes, Complex Tools, Concept Training, Aggression Treatments, and Recipe for Becoming a Top Trainer. To fit it all in this seminar started early at 8:30 am and continued until at least 5:30 pm. There were nearly 100 attendees, most from the Netherlands, but participants also came from Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and Hungary.
August 25 – October 20 (Every Saturday)
WIU Graduate Course on Animal Training
Western Illinois University (class at Shedd Aquarium)
Chicago, IL
22 students this semester. This was one of the most active and involved WIU classes ken has expereinced in over 15 years of teaching the class.
September 24
Invited Full-Day Guest Speaker
Indiana Canine Assistance Network
Indianapolis, IN
Ken spoke on some of his most popular topics and geared them specifically toward assistance dog work. Reinforcement Strategies: Using Non-Food Reinforcers, Problem Solving, and Tales of being an Animal Training Consultant. This was Ken's first time speaking for this group. The day after Ken, Don Blair spoke about scent detection with a focus on diabetes alert training.
August 25 – October 20 (Every Saturday)
WIU Graduate Course on Animal Training
Western Illinois University (class at Shedd Aquarium)
Chicago, IL
A full classs as usual, but this year Ken had one of the most engaging student groups he has ver had for his graduate course.
November 24-25
Weekend with Ken Ramirez
Hills District Kennel & Training Club
Sydney, AUSTRALIA
www.hillskennelandtrainingclub.com
Ken's topics were repeats of topics he has spoken about in many locations around the world this year, but most were new topics for Australia. They included Reinforcement Strategies: Using Non-Food Reinforcers, Handling Animal Mistakes, Concept Training, and Aggression Treatment. Day 1 started in the afternoon and ran from 2:00 pm - 9:30 pm while Day 2 was a more traditional day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Additionally, Ken did a Friday evening seminar before the weekend for the instructors and staff from the Hills District Club. The main seminar had 200 attendees and was an enthusiastic group.
*2012 Scholarship Winner: Andy Kantor
December 2-8
IMATA Conference
International Marine animal Trainers Association
Hong Kong
Ken conducted two separate seminars the day before the Conference (Sunday December 2nd). This workshop was held at L'hotel Nina and Convention Centre and will be simultaneously translated into Chinese and Japanese to attract the local Asian attendees. The first seminar held before lunch was titled An IMATA Training Primer the seminar focused on why training is important and the major advancements that have been made in the use of positive reinforcement with marine mammals in the last 45 years. The afternoon seminar was a separate seminar which focused on advanced reinforcement strategies. Later in the week Ken was invited to do a special address that looked at the advancements and achievements that IMATA has made to contribute to the profession. The pre-conference seminars were sold out and Ken reached an Asian audience that does not normally attend these conferences. The overall conference had nearly 600 participants - a great first Asian confernece for IMATA.
TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP
Can't afford to attend one of Ken's seminars? Looking for career or training advice? Apply for one of these unique opportunities. For more information see application below.
2012 Scholarship Winners: Melanie Johnston and Andy Kantor
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