Zoo Horticulturist Certification Courses
Are you looking to improve your knowledge of zoo horticulture? Perhaps you are already on track for AZH Zoo Horticulturist Certification? Two certification courses will be offered at the 2010 AZH Annual Conference in San Diego, California ("Exhibit Design I" and "Browse and Toxic Plants") on Saturday, September 18, 2010. Course descriptions and links for registration are below.
Please note, classes are taught concurrently so register for only one.
Registration deadline for Design I is August 25, 2010 Registration for the Browse and Toxic Plants is Full
AZH Certification Course: "Browse and
Toxic Plants"
Course Description
The new AZH Zoo Horticulturist Certification course is focused on two broad but interwoven topics: browse and toxic plants. Offered to animals as a dietary element or behavioral enrichment, browse may also divert animals’ attention from landscape plants in a zoo habitat. Some plants, either in an exhibit or within reach, may be toxic to animals, depending on geographic location, the season, the animal’s behavior, the plant parts or amount ingested. There are also non-toxic hazards from plants, such as ingesting excessive fiber or skin reactions to ornamental grasses. Hosted by the San Diego Zoo, this course will provide participants with an introduction to how plants are utilized for nutritional requirement, enrichment and landscape protection. It will also include a general overview of plant toxicity that is specific to zoos.
Lecture, touring Zoo facilities and interactive group discussion will incorporate specific examples and enable participants to share ideas from their own experience. Course participants from both small and large organizations will benefit by gaining the skills and tools they need to: develop and harvest a browse garden; import browse if needed; collaborate with veterinary and nutrition staff to determine plants that are safe and appropriate to meet animal needs for nutrition and enrichment; work with keepers to track browse use; recognize the characteristics of plants that are toxic to zoo animals, and receive resources to obtain specific information that is relevant to their region.
AZH Certification Course: "Exhibit Design I"
Course Description
Zoo and aquarium exhibits provide habitat for animals and tell a story that shapes the visitor experience. Landscape is integral to both of these exhibit purposes and horticulturists at large and small institutions have a significant role to play in the exhibit design process. The AZH Design I course hosted by the San Diego Zoo will provide participants with an introduction to the principles of exhibit landscape design, and an understanding of exhibit landscape functions in these phases of exhibit design: Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents. Specific examples of new exhibits will be discussed, including illustrations of how green principles were applied. Participants will also explore the landscape elements of exhibits currently in design at San Diego Zoo. Course participants will gain the skills and tools they need to plan, implement and maintain exhibits that help create and support the exhibit story.
Participation in a pre-course webinar on Wednesday, September 1st is required.
Goals
- To create a training program in Exhibit Design issues specific to the needs of zoo and aquarium horticulture.
- To provide participants with a primer on the principles of exhibit landscape design in zoos and aquariums.
- To enable horticulturists to influence the zoo and aquarium design process and contribute to the success of the design process throughout all phases.
- To give participants the skills and tools they need to plan, implement and maintain environmentally sound, naturalistic and esthetically pleasing landscapes that help create and support the exhibit story.
As a result of completing the AZH Design training program, participants will be able to:
- Define common terminology in exhibit design (design phases, design/build process, value engineering, etc.)
- Develop a working understanding of blueprints and construction documents relevant to the landscape design.
- Understand the purpose of each stage of the exhibit design process (concept, design development, bid documents, etc.) and how landscape planning and design are integrated in each phase.
- Build cooperative relationships and communication pathways with the design team (architects, landscape architects, project managers, engineers, animal professionals, contractors, interpretive staff, and others)
- Implement best practices for ongoing exhibit landscape management including green principles.