2026 AAZK National Conference

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Point Defiance AAZK Chapter welcomes you to Tacoma to enjoy the 51st annual AAZK National Conference. We are pleased to offer many unique opportunities from learning in Professional Certificate Courses to experiencing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest on Zoo Day with visits to both Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

2026 AAZK National Conference

September 13 - 17, 2026
5400 N Pearl St
Tacoma, Washington
United States
98407

Event Workshops

Professional Certificate Course - Advanced Husbandry Of Marine Mammals - Sponsored By Polar Bears International

September 14, 2026 13:00 - 17:30
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:10

This course occurs from 1:00pm-3:00pm, 3:30pm-5:30pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Professional certificates are awarded to individuals who attend all 12 hours of the course and pass a written test issued at the conclusion of the course. Attendees of an AAZK Professional Certificate Course (PCC) will not be able to sign up for other workshops. In the event that your desired course reaches capacity, you will be notified and added to a waitlist.

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium maintains a diverse collection of marine mammals. During this course, we intend to highlight our strengths and pass along advanced husbandry practices which we hope will benefit marine mammal collections around the country.

Course attendees will leave with a better understanding of marine mammal husbandry of pinnipeds, polar bears, and sea otters, their environmental needs, and how to maintain and document animal wellbeing, training and enrichment.

Professional Certificate Course - Husbandry And Management Of Aquatic Marine Invertebrates - Sponsored By Hayward Flow Control

September 14, 2026 13:00 - 17:30
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:36

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium maintains a diverse collection of aquatic marine invertebrates including temperate cold-water species from the Pacific Northwest as well as subtropical species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean. During this course, we intend to highlight best husbandry practices which we hope will benefit marine invertebrate collections around the country. Course attendees will leave with a better understanding of marine invertebrate husbandry across common taxonomic groups, their environmental needs, and how to maintain and document animal wellbeing and enrichment.

Professional Certificate Course - Empathy For Wildlife: Using Empathy To Support Your Mission And Drive Conservation Action - Sponsored By Mixlab

September 14, 2026 13:00 - 17:30
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:37

Staff from Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park will familiarize participants with the concept of empathy for wildlife, empathy best practices, and assessment techniques. Between 2015 and 2017, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium collaborated to define empathy for wildlife and develop tools necessary to measure it. From that work grew the Advancing Conservation through Empathy for Wildlife Network. As members of the network, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park share best practices, assessment tools, and learning opportunities with affiliated institutions in the United States and abroad.

Through this course, participants will identify ways in which empathy practices can support their institutional missions and will learn how they can incorporate empathy into their own programming and mission-based work.

Limited Workshop - Taking The Lead In Axolotl Welfare: The Practical System Of The ROMA Project For Evidence- Based Diagnosis

September 14, 2026 13:00 - 15:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:52

This Limited Workshop takes place on Monday, September 14th from 1:00pm-3:00pm in Venice 4 at Hotel Murano. Attendees may only register for a maximum of two (2) limited workshops (60 participant workshop).

Presented by: Miguel Angel Rodriguez Andrade and M.C. Alejandra Galvez Gutierrez of Parque Zoologico Benito Juarez

The management of the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a critically endangered species, is often hampered by a lack of standardized health protocols. This hands-on workshop introduces the ROMA Project (Optimized Recovery of Analysis Samples), a validated system that empowers keepers to "take the reins" of the diagnosis and management of this species. Participants will be immersed in the results of our study, where the application of this protocol in 4 specimens revealed a 100% prevalence of dehydration and hypoglycemia, and a 75% rate of subclinical parasitosis. Through interactive stations,
attendees will learn the minimally invasive ROMA protocol for sedation and blood sampling, practice interpreting real anonymized hematological and biochemical data, and develop a corrective action plan based on specific findings. The workshop focuses on immediately applicable tools, including the correlation between water quality and clinical outcomes, and how to use this data for proactive decision-making and the continuous improvement of animal welfare.

Limited Workshop - Cheetah Conservation: A Model For Success In Saving Big Cats

September 14, 2026 15:30 - 17:30
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:57

This Limited Workshop takes place on Monday, September 14th from 3:30pm-5:30pm in Venice 4 at Hotel Murano. Attendees may only register for a maximum of two (2) limited workshops (60 participant workshop).

Presented by: Jess Sorrentino of Cheetah Conservation Fund

As the leading organization in the conservation of, education about, and research on cheetahs, Cheetah Conservation Fund has over 35 years of experience in developing successful conservation strategies to ensure the future in the wild of this highly endangered cat. Cheetahs are considered one of the oldest big cat species with fossil records dating back over four million years. After surviving intense genetic bottlenecks, multiple species-destroying diseases, popularity as pets and hunting companions, and intense habitat loss, cheetahs are making a comeback through a holistic approach to conservation implemented by organizations working throughout their range. Using the extensive in situ experience with cheetahs, this workshop provides a model applicable to the successful conservation of all the
world’s big cat species. In this class, students will learn about the natural history of cheetahs, their behaviors, holistic conservation strategies, and more. Hosted and conducted by CCF, the class incorporates other presenters working in cheetah range countries such as Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and Cheetah Outreach. At the conclusion of the workshop, students will have a wealth of knowledge about a successful conservation model applicable to all big cats, cheetah natural history and conservation, and the importance of collaboration.

Participants will have an exclusive opportunity to take the “Certified Cheetah Interpreter” test on the CCF website via a link sent following the class. Passing the test makes participants eligible to receive a certificate as well as a commemorative pin to put on their uniform
identifying them as official “CCF Certified Cheetah Interpreters.”

Limited Workshop - Stronger Themes For Stronger Impact: Crafting Keeper Talks That Truly Land

September 15, 2026 13:00 - 15:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:51

This Limited Workshop takes place on Tuesday, September 15th from 1:00pm-3:00pm in Venice 4 at Hotel Murano. Attendees may only register for a maximum of two (2) limited workshops (60 participant workshop).

Presented by: Nicole McCormick and Amy Hale of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Many of us want to deliver talks that are more engaging and meaningful, but it can be challenging to know where to start… especially when it comes to developing a theme. Interpretive themes can sometimes feel abstract, overly academic, or like a thing that only educators worry about. In reality, though, a strong theme is one of the most keeper-friendly interpretive tools available. A strong theme statement clarifies your purpose, helps you know what belongs in your talk (and what doesn’t), and gives your audience a clear and memorable idea to walk away with. This interactive workshop breaks down the idea of “theme” into practical and approachable steps. It is designed specifically for keeper talks, but useful for anyone who delivers public presentations. Through hands-on activities, group challenges, and real-world practice, participants will practice creating and using themes. We’ll explore how a well-crafted theme not only boosts your confidence as a presenter but also makes it easier for guests to follow your storytelling narrative and to connect emotionally with the animals in your care. At the end of the session, you’ll walk away with simple tools and tested strategies that will help you build talks that are clearer, more intentional, and far more impactful – all by embracing the power of a strong theme.

Limited Workshop - Forging Effective Working Relationships Between Zoological & Facilities Staff

September 17, 2026 13:00 - 15:00
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:47

This Limited Workshop takes place on Thursday, September 17th from 1:00pm-3:00pm in Venice 4 at Hotel Murano. Attendees may only register for a maximum of two (2) limited workshops (60 participant workshop).

Presented by: John Joy and Haley Withers of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Successful operations of zoos and aquariums largely rely on the expertise and efforts of diverse frontline staff. Notable among these are zoological staff – responsible for the care of the charismatic wildlife ambassadors inherent to such institutions – and facilities staff – responsible for the integrity and upkeep of animal exhibitry, holding spaces, and shared infrastructure. Establishing cooperative working relationships between these two departments is essential to achieving a high caliber of zoo operations, quality animal welfare, and positive employee satisfaction. All too often, however, these relationships are strained and ineffectual. Presented jointly by staff representatives from both areas, this clinic focuses on keeper professional development through an in-depth exploration of matters fundamental to forging effective keeper-maintenance working relationships. Subjects include defining shared goals and objectives; establishing clear communication practices and encouraging open communication channels; clarifying expectations and timelines while considering practicality, feasibility, and multiple perspectives; and tips for fostering a collaborative culture of mutual respect and appreciation founded in empathy and understanding. Presenters will round out the session by sharing success stories of substantial interdepartmental projects undertaken at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, WA,
followed by a roundtable Q&A.

Limited Workshop - Animals Are The Easy Part: What Animal Training Can Teach Us About The Human Side Of Zoo Work

September 17, 2026 15:30 - 17:30
Fee: $0.00
Seats Remaining:42

This Limited Workshop takes place on Thursday, September 17th from 3:30pm-5:30pm in Venice 4 at Hotel Murano. Attendees may only register for a maximum of two (2) limited workshops (60 participant workshop).

Presented by: Megan Paider of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and PJ Beaven

Animal trainers spend their careers shaping behavior, building trust, and responding thoughtfully to conflict — skills that are just as valuable when working with people. Yet many professionals find human dynamics far more challenging than training animals. Animals Are the Easy Part is an interactive workshop that explores how principles of animal training can be applied to everyday workplace relationships and team challenges. Using principles and concepts of animal training along with The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni, participants will establish a practical, relevant framework they can return to anytime they are navigating communication breakdowns, tension, or misalignment. Rather than addressing each dysfunction in isolation, the workshop emphasizes shared themes such as clarity, consistency, trust-building, and intentional responses to behavior. Participants will examine familiar training tools including the ABCs of behavior, reinforcement and punishment, trust-building through consistent interactions, and the value of clear training plans, and explore how these concepts translate to human interactions. Through discussion, reflection, and real-world scenarios, attendees will consider how assumptions, emotional reactions, and inconsistent consequences can unintentionally reinforce the very behaviors they find most challenging in others. Together, we’ll encourage each other to draw parallels between how we successfully train animals and how we engage with colleagues, teams, and leadership. By reframing human behavior through a training lens, participants will leave with
practical strategies to strengthen trust, support accountability, and focus teams on meaningful results, with tools you can apply immediately and sustainably beyond just your animals.

Upcoming Events

2027 AAZK National C... August 14

2026 AAZK National Conference

Event Workshops

Professional Certificate Course - Advanced Husbandry Of Marine Mammals - Sponsored By Polar Bears International

Professional Certificate Course - Husbandry And Management Of Aquatic Marine Invertebrates - Sponsored By Hayward Flow Control

Professional Certificate Course - Empathy For Wildlife: Using Empathy To Support Your Mission And Drive Conservation Action - Sponsored By Mixlab

Limited Workshop - Taking The Lead In Axolotl Welfare: The Practical System Of The ROMA Project For Evidence- Based Diagnosis

Limited Workshop - Cheetah Conservation: A Model For Success In Saving Big Cats

Limited Workshop - Stronger Themes For Stronger Impact: Crafting Keeper Talks That Truly Land

Limited Workshop - Beyond Cockroaches: Elevating Terrestrial Invertebrates In Zoo And Aquarium Experiences

Limited Workshop - Forging Effective Working Relationships Between Zoological & Facilities Staff

Limited Workshop - Animals Are The Easy Part: What Animal Training Can Teach Us About The Human Side Of Zoo Work

Upcoming Events