Education & Workshops

Fostering a Culture of Preparedness

ZDR3 aims to improve preparedness for individual facilities, our response network, and the entire zoological industry, leveraging its reputation in disaster response.

With an increase in potential threats from natural and manmade disasters, and the resultant media and public scrutiny, our industry must not just plan and prepare for what has happened in the past. Our future depends on us facing the fact that the unexpected and unthinkable could befall us.

A woman gives a presentation in front of a projection screen to a room full of people, who are listening attentively

Regional Response Readiness Workshops

These 2-day workshops enable personnel from different facilities to build collaborative relationships and enhance disaster preparedness. Participants learn to develop disaster response teams, strengthen their own facility’s response capacity, and understand ZDR3’s regional disaster planning. This knowledge is then utilized to improve their facility’s preparedness and support for others, fostering a spirit of peer-to-peer support in the zoological industry.

We currently have no plans for workshops in 2025-2026
Two women practice CPR hand position on a dummy. The woman on the right is wearing a ZDR3 logo

Facilitated Training & Certification

ZDR3 encourages network responders to seek training in emergency management, including First Aid, CPR, Stop the Bleed®, automated external defibrillator (AED), and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). ZDR3 coordinates with specialized instructors and certified trainers from the ZDR3 Network, who volunteer to provide certified training at workshops.

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A blond woman giving a presentation to a room, with her hand raised. She stands next to a projection screen that reads "Facility Protection Considerations, Before and After Adverse Events"

Speaking Engagements & Network Building

ZDR3 offers in-person and virtual presentations on zoological disaster planning, preparedness, and response, sometimes featuring subject matter experts. We aim to reach diverse stakeholders to promote broad information sharing. As of September 2025, ZDR3 has delivered content to over 3,500 participants through webinars and in-person events.

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ZDR3 Tabletop Exercise

Six people are gathered around a round table, watching as a standing man moves a figurine. There is a map and a cluster of toys representing animals and equipment in the center of the table

Tabletop exercises are essential for disaster planning and preparedness in the zoological industry. These exercises allow teams to simulate emergency scenarios, evaluate their strategies, and improve communication protocols in a controlled environment. They are particularly useful for training new staff or those who may not participate in live-action drills, providing a safe space for learning and collaboration. 

ZDR3 staff have enriched these exercises with detailed gameplay and challenging scenarios, using tactile 3-D objects to enhance engagement and learning. This method boosts overall readiness and ensures smoother execution during real disasters.

You can access the tabletop exercise manual and shopping list for the 3-D objects in our Resource Library. If you have not yet joined, follow the instructions on the Resource Library homepage.

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