Program 2010
Sophie Donio

The program "Supportive experience with the aid of the dolphins" has existed since 1991 and takes place at Dolphin Reef, Eilat, Israel.

This program has been adapted and improved over the years, and we come up with a new one now, but you never know what will be next year…

Dolphin Reef is a unique site in terms of the conditions in which the dolphins are leaving, and the Human-Dolphin relation ship that are formed as the result of our way to interact with them. The dolphins are able to maintain their social structure, living as a permanent group, and they are free to choose whether or not to approach any persons who enter their world.

The dolphin's freedom of choice creates for the children a strong feeling that they are the chosen one when a dolphin approach and let himself being touched.

This is a long-term program, lasting about a year, and we work all year round. Families from Europe come for two weeks, working 4 days each week. It is recommended that families come every two months for two weeks each time, as much as possible. We work with the children early in the morning during “Privilege Time” (that time in which the children can work alone with the trainer and the dolphins without regular visitors observing) before Dolphin Reef opens its doors to the public.

We work mainly with children from 6 years old and up, who suffer from various mental handicaps and problems such as: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, Dyslexia, behavioral problems, Down-Syndrome, depression, cancer patients, and victims of sexual-abuse, among others.

The concept of this program is to give the children an opportunity to be themselves. Dolphin Reef provides a natural environment like an oasis in the desert, close to the sea with all kind of land animals and sea animals. The obvious respect given to the animals at Dolphin Reef has influenced even children in the toughest situations, having come from criminal backgrounds and ways of thinking.

The children feel the freedom given to them, so they accept our limits; they receive love so they get more open; they feel the success and they get personal attention so they are more confident; they walk on the moving pier so they improve their movement.

Motivation is the word to describe what Dolphin Reef is creating for the children in this program. When the children feel better about themselves, they become motivated to accomplish great things.

But, how does this happen?

One type of activity is held on the pier alongside the dolphins, and the other type of activity is held in the water without the dolphins.

One dolphin trainer takes the same child for the entire year, and introduces him to the dolphins. The child can start to know and recognize the dolphins in Dolphin Reef, to learn about their way of life and their environment. They get close to the trainer, to the dolphins, and to the other people who work around. One swim teacher, who works also the whole time with the same child, improve his swim, sometimes from being hold to complete independence, and even being able to free-dive.
What ever we teach, on the platform or in the water, is not a must! First of all, we play with the children, we have a lot of fun, a lot of positive experiences, and then the drive to learn comes.
In those activities, we influence many fields; the Emotional side first of all, then the Cognitive side, the Sensor-motor side, the Family part, and the Social part. With the emotional side fulfilled, it brings the motivation and calmness. At this point many things arrive:
The attention and concentration span grows, the self-esteem and self-confidence rises, dealing with frustration and with a "no" answer becomes easier and the ability to sit and learn improves. The children learn responsibilities as they assist the trainers in their tasks in caring for the dolphins. There is a work done on the touch and on the gross and fine motor skills. We teach the children how to pet a dolphin, instead of pinching, grabbing or pushing away. We offer all kind of activities, which requires small and coordinative movements, and as well great balance while walking on the rocking pier, or crossing from the pier to the platform to sit and meet the dolphins. We also work on the social part, while we bring other children to play and participate. 

Another field is with the parents, they come and enjoy the place, they see their child happy and progressing, they relax. It's a family time, a quality time as a family.

The level of personal attention given to each child requires that the program remain relatively small, and we therefore accept twenty children per year.

In order to reserve a place for your child, please fill up the application forms. Responses to the applications go out beginning at the head of the New Year.

The cost of the program is €100 per session on the platform and in the water, which includes entrance to the Dolphin Reef for two weeks for the whole family.

 We can also assist you in finding accommodations at lower prices than in local hotels.

To view  prices and application form for the Supportive Experience program, click here.
Or e-mail:  experience@dolphinreef.co.il
To view the Therapy Seminar click here