Animal Care Conference

Animal Care Conference

Hungerford Nature Center & Museum

191 Farmington Ave, Berlin, CT 06037

September 11, 2026

8:30-2:30

Please join us at Hungerford Nature Center & Museum for a full day of learning and skill-building especially curated towards nature center animal care professionals and educators! We will have four sessions with two topics per session and lunch provided. We are honored to have Dr. Allison Bloom, exotic animal veterinarian and practice owner of Kensington Bird & Animal Hospital as our keynote speaker. Other topics will cover communicating animal care values to your organization, licensing requirements, proper animal handling, creating bioactive enclosures, working with non-releasable wildlife, and training and enrichment with animal ambassadors. You can choose which sessions you would like to attend, and you do not need to go to every session. Some topics may be geared towards those who are new to the field while others may be more suited for seasoned professionals. There is a little something for everyone! Space is limited so please register now to secure your spot. Below is the tentative schedule for the day:

Welcome 8:45-9:00

Keynote Speaker 9:00-9:45 (lecture)

• Dr. Allison Bloom - Kensington Bird & Animal Hospital

• Dr. Bloom is a veterinarian and practice owner of Kensington Bird & Animal Hospital in Berlin, CT. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona and completed specialized training in exotic animal endoscopy and laparoscopy at the University of Georgia. Dr. Bloom also serves as Vice President of the Hartford County Veterinary Medical Association and is a member of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. We are honored to have Dr. Allison Bloom as our keynote speaker at this year's animal care conference!

Session 1 10:00-10:45 (discussion)

• The Executive Director said we can have a fox! Or can we? Licensing for nature centers. What licensing do you need to house certain animals and how do you know?

• "Without us, you'd be nothing!" Communicating animal care value to your organization

Session 2 11:00-11:45 (hands on workshop)

• Packing up and handling animal ambassadors on programs. What is the safest way to do this? 

• Going bioactive. How to make an effective bioactive enclosure

Session 3 12:30-1:15 (round table discussion and lecture)

• Let's work together! What animals do you have and what animals are you looking for? Time to make a spreadsheet?

• Working with animals who come from wildlife rehabilitators. The Wildlife Line

Session 4 1:30-2:15 (hands on workshop and walking tour)

• Training and enrichment with animal ambassadors

• Tour and questions