THURSDAY - SATURDAY
October 8-10 , 2026​
In-Person - Livestream - OnDemand
16.5 CEUs
CCPDT, IAABC, KPA, RACE
CANIS is where serious canine pros shape the future of their field!
CANIS brings together trainers, behaviorists, veterinarians, shelter professionals, researchers, and educators to share evidence-based ideas & elevate professional standards in canine care and training.
CANIS Combines & Replaces:
APDT International Conference
The Aggression in Dogs Conference
Canine Science Symposium
FDSA Camp​
WHAT IS CANIS?
CANIS is an initiative co-created by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers International (APDT International) and Aggressive Dog, in collaboration with over a dozen organizations committed to advancing science-based, humane care for dogs.
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Each of these organizations has played a leading role in education, advocacy, and professional development within their domain. Together, we are uniting our reach to build a conference—and a movement—that can do more than any one discipline alone.
3 Ways to Participate & Earn CEUs:
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In-Person + Recording Access
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Watch the Livestream* + Recording Access
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OnDemand Recording access of all sessions
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​In a Nutshell
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​Attend Online or In-Person
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43 Renowned Speakers
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50+ Groundbreaking Sessions
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Exchange Ideas with a Community of your Peers
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All Sessions are Recorded and Available OnDemand
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Sessions on the Main Stage are Broadcasted Live
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16.5 CEUs​
CCPDT, IAABC, KPA, PPAB, IACP, and PPGA
(Whether you attend in-person, online or watch the recordings)
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​In-Person Location:
Schaumberg Convention Center
1551 N. Thoreau Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173 USA
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Speakers Include:
Michael Shikashio
Sy Montgomery
Dr. Chris Pachel
Kim Brophey
Chirag Patel
Dr. Kristina Spaulding
Kiyoka Tamesue
Justine Schuumans
Dr. Tim Lewis
Sara Brueske
Dr. Abbie Atteberry
Dr. Amy Cook
Karen Deeds
Ashley Escobar
Annie Grossman
Full list of speakers & sessions below...
SPEAKERS & THEIR SESSIONS
Get ready for a powerhouse lineup of canine innovators! ​
Five Tracks, One Holistic Vision.
The CANIS agenda is organized around FIVE CORE TRACKS, each representing a key pillar of canine care:​​
TRAINING TRACK SESSIONS
Annie Grossman
Helping Clients Understand the Science of Training!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Aaron Louis
The Foundation of the Dog-Human Relationship!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Dr. Marsha Penner
How a Dog's Brain Learns from Rewards & Punishment
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Dr. Lore Haug
The Physiology & Behavioral Science of Exercise!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Dr. Tim Lewis
The Biology Behind Canine Behavior!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Sonia Fathering
Trade Secrets to Transforming Resource Guarding!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Tabitha Kucera
The Power of Food & Non-Food Distractions in Veterinary Care!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
BEHAVIOR TRACK SESSIONS
Dr.Kristina Spaulding
Addressing Behavior Through a Stress & Resilience Framework!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Helen St. Pierre
Quality of Death for Behavior Euthanasia
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Dr. Lore Haug
Gut Microbiome & its Influence on Development & Beghavior
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Dr Colleen Quinn
My Dog's Behavior: Based on Medical Problems, Behavior Issues or Just Being a Dog?
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
SCIENCE & VET TRACK SESSIONS
Dr. Monique Udell
How Research on Human & Animal Relationships can Transform a Dog's Life.
Thursday, October 8
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Dr. Lisa Gunter
Designing Research Studies about Dog Training Methods.
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Dr. Erica Feuerbach
Emotions, Dopamine & Training. Why Parsimony isn't just for Scientists.
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Dr. Abbie Atteberry
Shelter Population Management that Minimizes Behavior Challenges.
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Dr. Lisa Gunter
Current & Future Directions of Foster Care Programs In Shelters.
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
SHELTER & RESCUE TRACK SESSIONS
Dr. Abbie Atteberry
Animal Behavior Medications in Shelters.
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
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Ferdi Yau
Arousal Reduction Strategies for Shelter Dogs!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
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Kiyoka Tamesue
Enhancing Welfare & Outcomes for Dogs in Sanctuary Environment
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
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Ferdi Yau
Supporting Dogs in Unpredictable & Stressful Environments!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
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SPORTS TRACK SESSIONS
Denise Fenzi
Contact Healing: A Simple Tool for Complex Behavior
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Crystal Wing
Maintaining Optimal Arousal Levels in Dogs!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Karen Deeds
Multiple marker System: It's Not Just for Sports
Anymore!
Friday, October 9
EST: 4:45 PM
CENTRAL: 3:45 PM
MOUNTAIN: 2:45 PM
PST: 1:45 PM
Denise Fenzi
Striving for Harmony in Real-World Training Choices!
Saturday, October 10
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Julie Flanery
Introduction to Rally-FrEe: Tricks, Teamwork & Titles!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Kim Palermo
Control Unleashed Patterns for Every Dog!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Sara Brueske
Control Games for All Dog Sports!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 6:30 PM
CENTRAL: 5:30 PM
MOUNTAIN: 4:30 PM
PST: 3:30 PM
Dr. Amy Cook
Reducing Street Fear & Anxiety through Social Play!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Karen Deeds
Using Learning Theory Responsible. Leash & Collar Conditions!
Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Dr. Amy Cook
Conquering Noise Sensitivity1
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
Crystal Wing
Play as Behavior & Building Relationships!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Sara Brueske
Using Food Reinforcers to Build Great Toy Play!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 6:30 PM
CENTRAL: 5:30 PM
MOUNTAIN: 4:30 PM
PST: 3:30 PM
Sara Brueske
High Flying Foundations: Intro do Disc Dog!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Ashley Escobar
Strengthening a Dog's Shoulders, Paws & Core!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 11:45 AM
CENTRAL: 10:45 AM
MOUNTAIN: 9:45 AM
PST: 8:45 AM
N & M McManus
Building Better Nose Work Teams through Games!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
Wendy Krehbiel
Putting Nose Work Training into High Gear!
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Thursday, October 8
EST: 3:15 PM
CENTRAL: 2:15 PM
MOUNTAIN: 1:15 PM
PST: 12:15 PM
Julie Flanery
The Power of Touch: Targeting with a Twist!
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Friday, October 9
EST: 4:45 PM
CENTRAL: 3:45 PM
MOUNTAIN: 2:45 PM
PST: 1:45 PM
Kim Palermo
Enrichment Trasformed with ACE Free Work!
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Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM
CENTRAL: 9:00 AM
MOUNTAIN: 8:00 AM
PST: 7:00 AM
CHRONOLOGICAL SCHEDULE
All sessions will be recorded and made available for on-demand viewing once released, so you can watch anytime, from anywhere.
Some sessions are scheduled concurrently. That’s completely intentional and there’s no need to worry about missing anything. If sessions overlap, you can attend one live and catch the other later as a recording.
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For virtual attendees, Main Stage sessions will be live-streamed in real time. All other sessions will be accessible as recordings once they are published, ensuring you have access to the full educational experience at your convenience.
Thursday, October 8
EST: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Central: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Mountain: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
PST: 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
Welcome to CANIS!
Michael Shikashio
Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Central: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Mountain: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
PST: 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Opening Keynote with Dr. Chris Pachel and Chirag Patel!
Dr. Chris Pachel, Chirag Patel
Training Stage / Behavior Stage / Shelter and Rescue Stage / Dog Sports Stage / Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Central: 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Mountain: 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM
PST: 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Mapping Out a “Good Life”: 3 Global Perspectives on Canine Welfare
Kim Brophey, Kapil Patwardhan, Justine Schuurmans
Behavior Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Central: 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Mountain: 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM
PST: 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
The Shocking Truth: Designing Research Studies About Dog Training Methods
Lisa Gunter, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher
Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Central: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Mountain: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
PST: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
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Panel Discussion – Rethinking Animal Welfare – What Are We Missing?
Training Stage / Behavior Stage / Shelter and Rescue Stage / Dog Sports Stage / Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
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Friday, October 9
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EST: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Central: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Mountain: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
PST: 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
The Biology Behind Canine Behavior
Dr. Tim Lewis
Training Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Central: 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Mountain: 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM
PST: 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM
TBD
Amy Herot
Livestream / Main Stage / Dog Sports Stage - Nose Work
EST: 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM
Central: 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
Mountain: 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM
PST: 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Panel Discussion
Training Stage / Behavior Stage / Shelter and Rescue Stage / Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Central: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Mountain: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
PST: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Control Games for All the Sports
Sara Brueske
Dog Sports Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
Saturday, October 10
EST: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Central: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Mountain: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
PST: 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Aggressive Manifestations of Pain and Discomfort
Dr. Daniel Mills
Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM
Central: 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Mountain: 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM
PST: 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Getting to a Win: Striving for Harmony in Real-World Training Choices
Denise Fenzi
Dog Sports Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Central: 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Mountain: 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM
PST: 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Panel Discussion
Shelter and Rescue Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
EST: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Central: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Mountain: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
PST: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
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Closing Keynote with Sy Montgomery!
Sy Montgomery
Training Stage / Behavior Stage / Shelter and Rescue Stage / Dog Sports Stage / Science and Vet Stage / Livestream / Main Stage
FAQ & POLICIES
Is the conference in person or virtual?
Both. The conference is offered as a hybrid event. We will be livestreaming directly from the main stage with a professional studio team, allowing you to participate from the comfort of your home or attend in person. Sessions that are not livestreamed, as well as any overlapping sessions, will be available to watch on demand once recordings are released.
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What are the conference dates and times?
The conference begins with the Welcome and Keynote Address at 8:30 AM Central Time on October 8, 2026.
Local times for each session are clearly listed in the schedule for your convenience.
Will recordings be available after the conference?
Yes. All sessions are professionally recorded, and all registrants receive one full year of access to the recordings, regardless of whether you attend live, in person, or are unable to join during the broadcast.
Are CEUs available?
Yes. We offer 16.5 CEUs for CCPDT, IAABC, KPA & RACE, whether you attend in person, watch the livestream, or view the recordings.
All attendees have until October 10, 2027, one full year after the conference, to complete the CEU submission. RACE CEUs have until January 10, 2027 to complete the submission. Once all codes are successfully entered, CEU certificates can be downloaded and printed.
What is the cancellation policy?
In-person conference and workshop registrations:
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to info@canisconference.com no later than 12:00 AM EDT on August 4, 2026. Cancellations received by this deadline are eligible for a 50% refund of the original registration fee.
No refunds are available for cancellations submitted after 12:01 AM EDT on August 4, 2026, or for no-shows.
Livestream and On-Demand (virtual) registrations:
All virtual registrations are non-refundable. All purchases are final.
How will I access the livestream and recordings?
Login instructions will be emailed to you after registration and again during the week of the conference.
Please note that livestream attendees are responsible for their own technology setup, including:
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A reliable high-speed internet connection
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A compatible desktop, laptop, or tablet
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An up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome, Safari, or Firefox)
Hotel information for in-person attendees
We have secured special room rates at four nearby hotels for in-person participants.
For hotel details and booking information, please click here.
Registration
​Individual Registration
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Click the Virtual Attendees button below to register for online participation (livestream & recordings)
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Click the In-Person Attendees button below if you want to participate in person (Schaumburg, IL)
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Follow the prompts and enter your information and payment method.
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You will receive a confirmation email upon successful registration.
EARLY BIRD RATES
Valid through May 1, 2026
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Online Only + Recording Access
Individual: $225.00*
Groups 4+: $195.00
In-Person + Recording Access
Individual: $595
Groups 4+: $565
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Select Your Registration Choice Below: