<p>My D., who is finishing this year with a BS in equine science, has heard of a school in CA (Moorpark?) that has an exotic animal training program. From what I understand most of the students have degrees in something else and then use this as a post grad--even though you are really just getting an AS degree. Supposedly their graduates are placed in zoos, parks, movie industry, etc. Anyone know anything about this program?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/%7Eeatm/%5B/url%5D">http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/~eatm/</a></p>
<p>I have little personal knowledge of the program, but we live nearby and have visited when our kids were little. They have public hours on weekends. It's at Moorpark College (a community college) about 45-min drive north of downtown L.A. They dub the program EATM (Exotic Animal Training and Management) at "America's Teaching Zo."</p>
<p>Here's a link to what some of the graduates are doing now.
<a href="http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/zoo/photos-grads.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/zoo/photos-grads.html</a></p>
<p>From everything that we've heard over the years, the program is very intense and very well-respected. Students work incredibly hard and are completely responsible for the care of these exotic animals. (Personally, I'm not a fan of zoos, but if we're going to have them, I like that the animals get the best possible treatment).</p>
<p>I too have heard good things about the program. I am a volunteer docent (I give tours to mostly 1st and 2nd graders) at our local zoo, and I know some of our keepers have gone there.</p>
<p>D. is somewhat confused about what she wants to do with her life. She is considering an animal science masters, a zoo management degree, a 2nd degree in biology with grad work to follow or staying in horse industry. This Moorpark program caught her eye as she loves hands on animal work--down side is that all the jobs you feed into start out and may stay very low pay. She is going to have to decide whether to do what she loves or go for something she likes but has more financial stability.</p>
<p>Gee, I thought this thread was gonna be about fraternity hijinks or some such thing, lke the movie Animal House....</p>
<p>Oh well.</p>
<p>newmassdad, LOL, like when I clicked on the thread "just say no.." I thought he was giving up cigarettes or drinking.</p>
<p>I read your post of several years ago about your dd’s interest in the EATM program after a BS in equine science. My dd is a high school junior and she is dying to go through the EATM program. I’ve told her a 4-year degree has to come first, for a lot of reasons. I was wondering what your dd ulimately did and whether she went to EATM or did something else, whether she used her equine science degree, etc. My dd is looking at going to Hampshire for an animal behavior degree or Carroll for an animal training (dogs/horses) degree in a program called the Human Animal Bond. I’m hoping either of these degrees will be good first steps for her wherever she goes to follow up her interest in dealing with animals - but I was wondering how your dd’s interest played out, if you don’t mind sharing that with me. Thx.</p>
<p>There is a fascinating nonfiction book about the program by Amy Sutherland called “Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World’s Premier School for Exotiic Animal Trainers.” She spent a year shadowing the first year class as they learned in the classroom and on the job taking care of exotic animals. The content is probably not appropriate for younger teens, as she discusses the details of the student’s lives and all aspects of animal care pretty frankly.</p>
<p>What kind of stats does an exotic animal need to get in?</p>
<p>siliconvalleymom - you are right, that is a marvelous book. Dd is 16 and I think I got that book for her when she was 13 or 14. She loved it. She has known that she wanted to work with animals for years and years, so this book was one of several (many) she’s been given on the subject.</p>
<p>Do you know anything about EATM specifically besides what is in the book, or any other animal training programs?</p>
<p>Well, they don’t take exotic animals from the public, that’s for sure. 
Actually, their admission is totally by lottery since they are a community college. Unbelievable that for such a program you don’t have to have any prerequisites. They get people ranging from straight out of high school to adults in their 50s looking for career changes. The program typically washes out 1/3 of their students during the first year. It is apparently a rigorous 7 day/week program where you work HARD for much more than 8 hours/day. The first year is devoted to basic animal keeping so it’s a lot of grunt work. The second year is when you get to do some real animal training. Dd can’t wait to go but I KNOW that at age 18 she will simply not be mature enough to do the work, let alone run her life (transportation, laundry, groceries and cooking, banking, etc.) at the same time.</p>
<p>tikikiki, sorry I didn’t answer sooner. To answer your question, d. is still kinda finding her way. She finished up with the BS in equine, but is not working in the field. She has not been willing to relocate from where she is living now so has been doing office type work and restaurant. She still rides almost daily and does a little equine photography. She would still like to end up with an “animal” career someday—unfortunately what she has found so far won’t pay the bills. Best of luck to your d., working with animals to me seems like the ideal job and one that wouldn’t feel like work.</p>