Education

The Conservancy delivers youth engagement programs targeted in particular at underserved or disadvantaged South Florida populations AND formal education and training programs in conjunction with its science and conservation activities.

Youth Engagement

Children of all ages are fascinated with primates and love to interact with them but many never have the opportunity to build on their scientific curiosity. The DuMond Conservancy provides this opportunity by engaging and educating South Florida’s kids and teens. Our intensive program HOPE gives middle and high school student’s hands-on exposure to conservation in action. College students/graduates/scientists serve as mentors reinforcing responsibility, discipline and accountability and are valuable role models for our middle and high school students.

The 50+ nocturnal owl monkeys at the Conservancy are at the heart of our mission to engage students and young scientists in the stewardship of primates and their habitats. Many are retired from biomedical research and are provided specialized care. Huge, warm eyes and unique social behavior make owl monkeys very engaging and ideal ambassadors for primate conservation.

Volunteers at the Conservancy play a vital role in the care and conservation of our owl monkeys by providing care for these unique, gentle primates under trained staff supervision in an inclusive environment. Whether it’s to fulfill required community service hours or to acquire experience working in this environment, the DuMond Conservancy welcomes your service. See the Opportunities tab for contact information.

The Conservancy also participates with University of Miami in offering at Monkey Jungle a version of the University’s Howard Hughes Medical funded Research in Ecology program targeted at middle school students (see our Links tab)

Formal Education and Training

These programs are typically developed and delivered in partnership with academic institutions, such as Florida International University and Randolph-Macon College. They target in particular young scientists and conservationists in the formative periods of their careers. Programs include conservation and research field method training courses and research experiences though involvement in supervised research activities or formal research projects conducted by professional investigators. Look under our Research, Conservation and Opportunities  tabs for information concerning specific activities and opportunities.