May 4^th – 6^th, 2009

Introduction to environmental, cultural and historic site interpretation.

Aims:

To give participants new to interpretation a comprehensive overview of just what interpretive communication is and why it is the most powerful communication process we have available to communicate to our audiences with.

Objectives:

Participants will:

- Understand the basic principles of how visitors learn and remember in an interpretive setting.

- Understand what the communication techniques are that separate a message from “informational” to “inspirational”.

- Learn and be able to use Tilden’s Interpretive Principles (Provoke, Relate, Reveal).

- Gain experience in using these principles in developing and presenting interpretive presentations.

- Gain a general overview of the interpretive planning process.

- Gain experience in developing interpretive themes and objectives.

- Learn how to evaluate the outcomes from interpretive programs and services.

Course Program; over the three days topics and experiences presented will include:

- How visitors learn and remember.

- Interpretive concepts – a hands-on and minds on discovery experience.

- What is interpretation really?

- Tilden’s interpretive principles with practicum (It is what makes interpretation “interpretive”!)

- Planning interpretive programs, services and events:

* Developing interpretive themes.

* Who is your audience?

* Planning interpretive objectives.

* Media and teaching aide selections

* Implementation strategies

* Evaluations

* Overview of planning interpretive media and use of the Internet.

* The business of interpretation - making programs and services cost effective and sustainable.

* And more...

The course will include a field trip to participate in an interpretive experience for you to critique.

In addition, participants will be given the challenge of developing and presenting an interpretive program to the group (gulp).  Yes really.

The course will finish approximately at 12:00 on Wednesday, May 6^th, 2009.

A CD of interpretive resources will also be provided for each participant as well as a copy of the text book “Interpretive Master Planning”.

Participants:

This course is designed for countryside staff, interpreters, consultants, heads of learning, and interpretive staff for parks, museums, zoos, historic sites, and commercial heritage attractions who have not had any formal training in interpretation, but find themselves doing interpretive programs or services delivery.  It is a general introduction to interpretation course designed to “get you started” in the interpretive profession.

Contact: The Snowdonia National Park Training Center (Plas tan y Bwlch) in Wales, UK at: [log in to unmask] for registration details, or John Veverka [log in to unmask] or at http://www.heritageinterp.com for content details.