Jim Hudson, assistant curator at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat, works with a dolphin. Photos by Clint Karlsen. Participants in The Mirage's Trainer for a Day program perform many tasks, including the slide-out, seen here, where the dolphins slide out of the pool on command. The Mirage dolphins eat several pounds of raw fish each day.

Tyler Harry had no clue what was in store for him on his 13th birthday.

But when he woke up that December morning and saw a dolphin-shaped balloon, he knew it would be a good day.

What transpired actually gained "coolest birthday, ever" status and may be the best gift he has ever received.

The Schofield Middle School seventh-grader spent the day training dolphins at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, courtesy of his mother, Laurie Harry, and the habitat's new program, Trainer for a Day.

For $500, anyone 13 and older can do the same, which gives them access the public has never been granted before, said program facilitator Heather Harmon.

Since the opportunity was made available in September, people from across the country have been calling to book the program for themselves or as holiday, birthday or anniversary presents, Harmon said.

Participants shadow the dolphin trainers, who teach them how to communicate with the animals through hand signals. During his visit, Tyler helped give a sonogram to one of the dolphins, fed them and assisted with their overall care. He did all this using his newly learned sign language, telling the dolphins to splash water, jump into the air and slide out of the pool, among other things. One of the things he did not do, which many people may expect, is swim with or ride the dolphins. It's not that kind of thing. Participants are told upfront that the dolphin habitat exists for research and educational purposes, not entertainment.

Still, "it was very fun," Tyler said, laughing. He has loved dolphins since he was a little boy, because "they're one of the most intelligent animals on the planet and really cool to work with," he said.

The cost, including a $150 observer fee, was steep, Laurie Tyler said. But it was well worth it, considering that it was such an exclusive gift, she added. Only four people can participate at any given time, allowing trainers to work one-on-one with them. Tyler was solo on his birthday, with his mother watching and taking pictures.

The package includes a continental breakfast, a three-course lunch, admission to the habitat and Secret Garden, as well as a T-shirt.

Management decided to offer the Trainer for a Day program because of public demand, said Mike Muraco, director of animal care at the habitat.

"The phone rings off the hook here with people who want to swim with the dolphins. We get a lot of requests for more involvement," Muraco said.

Humans have long been drawn to dolphins, for reasons Muraco said he can't decide. It could be their ever-present smiles, which aren't really smiles but have to do with the curvature of their skulls. Or maybe it's the way they seem to relate to people.

"There is a strong fascination with dolphins. To a certain extent, there are some animals that evoke emotional responses in people," Muraco said. "We're in a bit of a win-win situation. Because people love dolphins so much, whatever we do is inherently entertaining."