Four out of the last five summers, senior Madeline Murray has traveled to the Florida Keys to participate in a program called DolphinLab. This seven day program allows students to observe, interact and learn everything about dolphins.
The program’s mission is that through education, research, and rescue, students can promote peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and communication between marine mammals, humans and the environment.
“The main goal of the program is to instill in students a love of marine animals and prepare them in the field of working with animals,” Murray said.
In sixth grade Murray decided she would like to go to the program. The first time she was able to go was the summer before eighth grade after she earned enough money by babysitting.
Ever since then, her parents have paid for the plane ticket and Murray has made the $1,500 tuition herself for the four times she has gone to DolphinLab.
“It was the best money we ever spent. She learned the real value of money, through working and saving. It also gave her a sense of independence, control and ownership of what she wanted, and of her dreams,” Murray’s dad, William Murray said.
Throughout her four years, Murray has worked through the three levels at DolphinLab– basic, intermediate, and marine mammal care. Each level contains classroom time where the students listen to lectures about various topics regarding marine life , for example: ecology, conservation, dolphin physiology, etc.
In addition to the classroom time, the students get a lot of hands on experience with the dolphins. As the levels become more advanced students have more time in the water with dolphins.
“I worked with a dolphin named AJ. The week was a success and I have honestly never been more proud. It took a lot of work to get to that point, and some tough love. It was the best week of my entire life,” Murray said.
Even though Murray has since then graduated from the program, she continues to work with animals anyway she can locally.
“I am an exhibit interpreter at Brookfield Zoo. I teach guests about animals, conservation, and the bones and skins of different marine life. This keeps me on top of my knowledge of animals, as well as allows me to educate others about things that are super important to me,” Murray said.
Murray hopes to continue studying animals in the future. She plans to study Zoology or Animal Behavior.
“I want to be a trainer or researcher who studies dolphin cognition. My dream job is to work at DRC [Dolphin Research Center] one day,” Murray said.
Murray will not be attending the DolphinLab program this upcoming summer, but she has learned a lot and has enjoyed attending the program. With the age group of 15-18, Murray would not be able to participate after this summer. Even though she won’t attend, she plans on visiting the facility sometime this summer.