2009
NAI Region 6
Workshop Shreveport,
Louisiana
Thursday,
February 26th ~ Sunday, March 1st
PROGRAMS
FRIDAY ~ OPENING
ASSEMBLY
CULTURAL INTERPRETATION
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE CADDO INDIAN CULTURE
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
LaRue Martin Parker, Chief of the Caddo Nation of Binger, Oklahoma
Mrs.
Parker is a woman who has seen her people through many heartaches and
triumphs. As the leader of a culture
that many uninformed people considered 'extinct' Mrs. Parker has worked hard to
help her people learn their own history and traditions She also helps
others learn that the Caddos are not a 'dead' race,
but a vibrant society with a bright future.
She will convey to NAI workshop interpreters the spirit of the Caddo
Nation and inform us as to how we can accurately portray the awesome spirit of
her people. Learn from this eloquent
speaker how to inspire the public to develop a greater understanding of modern
Native American culture.
*************************
FRIDAY ~ CONCURRENT
SESSIONS
FRIDAY ~ SESSION # 1 ~
9:50 10:35 am
ROOM A
TITLE: BALLOONS,
SUGAR CONES & TREE COOKIES
PRESENTER(S): Donald
E. Munsey, Jr. Volunteer Interpreter,
Associate Professor
of Mathematics, Louisiana
Delta Community
College
SITE/AGENCY: Black
Bayou Lake NWR
- Monroe, Louisiana
ABSTRACT: Participants will explore tree growth using
balloons as a model to simulate the basic process and cyclic nature of tree
cell growth. Next, ice cream sugar cones
will be used to explore the nature of tree growth and to make the connection
between environmental factors, tree growth and the rings on a tree cookie. Handouts will be provided.
*************************
ROOM B
TITLE: REACHING
OUT TO DIFFERENT GROUPS
PRESENTER(S):Daniel Stoute and Aimee Robert,
Interpretive Rangers
SITE/AGENCY: Office
of State Parks ~ Louisiana
ABSTRACT:A panel
discussion will be given by 3-4 representatives of Office of State Parks to
discuss diverse groups that the agency is reaching out to and how. With a trend of losing many public school
groups to standardized testing, gas prices, and limits on field trips, we will
discuss efforts being made to pull in different types of clientele. Examples of such groups include: Homeschoolers, private schools, boy/girl/cub scouts, ROTC,
4-H, Civil War Roundtables, quilting clubs, colleges, etc. These groups and many others are often
overlooked, and with just a little extra effort can be brought into your site.
*************************
ROOM C
TITLE: CADDO
INDIAN CULTURAL INTERPRETATION
PRESENTER(S): The Hasinai Society
- Shirley Gouge, Leader
SITE/AGENCY: Caddo
Indian Nation - Binger, Oklahoma
ABSTRACT: Interpretation of Caddo Indian Culture and
History is prominent in Region 6.
Learn first hand from The Hasinai Society what
is and is not proper when interpreting their history and culture. The Hasinai Caddos have many long-standing traditions and have
established this society to pass these traditions on to younger
generations. Meet and learn from the
young people who are carrying the torch of tradition down through time for the
Caddo Nation and the elders who are guiding them.
*************************
FRIDAY ~ SESSION # 2 ~
10:55 11:40 am
ROOM A
TITLE: HOW TALL IS THAT TREE?
PRESENTER(S):
Donald E. Munsey, Jr., Volunteer Interpreter,
Associate Professor
of Mathematics, Louisiana
Delta Community
College
SITE/AGENCY: Black
Bayou Lake NWR
- Monroe, Louisiana
ABSTRACT:
Participants will explore methods to determine heights of trees and other items
in the field. Traditional methods using
both similar triangle geometry and right triangle trigonometry will be
explored. The participants will
culminate the activity by constructing their own clinometers, using card stock,
a soda straw, a washer and a bit of wire.
They will then use their devices to measure a few known heights. Handouts will be provided.
*************************
ROOM B
TITLE: INTERPRETERS AND EDUCATORS: Forming a
Winning Partnership
PRESENTER(S): Public
School Educator Cindy Kilpatrick and company
SITE/AGENCY: Oil City
Environmental Magnet School Louisiana
ABSTRACT: Learn how Oil City School was revitalized by redesigning
their curriculum and concentrating on environmental education. See how working with Walter B. Jacobs Nature
Park to create a program
that got students out to the park for not just a single field trip but multiple
experiences per year is radically improving students academic success! Learn
how your site can cooperate with schools to implement a program that truly
fulfills the objective of "No Child Left Inside".
*************************
ROOM C
TITLE: HOW TO
SAFELY CONDUCT HISTORIC BLACK POWDER DEMONSTRATIONS ON YOUR SITE
PRESENTER: Scott Dearman,
Interpretive Ranger
SITE/AGENCY: Mansfield State
Historic Site - Louisiana
ABSTRACT: Many historic sites across the country
utilize historic black powder demonstrations as part of their interpretive
programming. Even non-historic sites and
parks occasionally use black powder demonstrators and reenactors
during special events. This presentation
will cover general safety guidelines for conducting these types of programs,
from visitor and demonstrator safety to the proper environment for using
historic firearms.
*************************
FRIDAY ~ SPECIAL BREAK TIME PRESENTATION
TITLE:
HISTORY THROUGH THE TREES
PRESENTER(S): Students and teachers
SITE/AGENCY:
Oil City Environmental Magnet School
ABSTRACT: Take a break for about ten minutes between
sessions and be entertained and amused by a wonderful, educational skit
performed by these adorable, elementary school students. Brush up on your
history and environmental education.
Copies of the skit script will be available to those who would like to
adapt this program to their own site.
*************************
FRIDAY ~ SESSION # 3 ~ 1:25
2:10 pm
ROOM A
TITLE: ADDING LIFE TO YOUR PROGRAMS: Choosing and
Using Live Animals for Interpretation
PRESENTER(S): Leigh
Whitted, Education Specialist
SITE/AGENCY: Houston Zoo Texas
ABSTRACT: This
session will introduce participants to many of the considerations that go into
choosing, caring for, and handling live animals for interpretive
presentations. We'll discuss how to
choose the right animal for your site, how and where to acquire animals, the
basics of handling, and how to integrate live animals into your interpretive
presentation.
*************************
ROOM B
TITLE: ADVENTURE-BASED
PROGRAMMING PRACTICES
PRESENTER(S): Susan
Tigert, CIG
SITE/AGENCY: Lake Ouachita
State Park - Arkansas
ABSTRACT:
Presenting adventure-based programming requires you to develop practices
designed to provide safe and quality programs while provoking participants with
challenges and experiences. You must
establish your role as a competent, skilled leader and possess an understanding
of group dynamics to connect to this unique audience and create meaningful and
long-lasting knowledge. This session
will cover logistics, risk management, curriculum and group dynamics of
adventure-based programs.
*************************
ROOM C
TITLE: CONDUCTING
NIGHT EVENTS FOR LARGE GROUPS
PRESENTER: Scott Dearman,
Interpretive Ranger
SITE/AGENCY: Mansfield State
Historic Site - Louisiana
ABSTRACT: Night programs and events present unique
challenges for staff and visitors not encountered during daylight events. Routine event operations such as parking,
traffic flow, crowd movement and trail safety are all impacted by the night
environment. This presentation will
highlight helpful tips and basic guidelines for safely conducting large night
events.
*************************
FRIDAY ~ SESSION # 4 ~
2:30 3:15 pm
ROOM A
TITLE: EDIBLE
NATIVE PLANTS
PRESENTER(S): Dr.
Charles Allen
SITE/AGENCY: Louisiana Native Plant
Society
ABSTRACT: Learn
about edible plants from the man who wrote the book(s)! Participants will sample food and beverages
prepared from Louisianas
diverse flora and get great ideas for presenting informative plant programs.
Dr. Allen will
offer his books and native seeds for sale at the workshop.
*************************
ROOM B
TITLE: KNOW
YOUR MATERIAL
PRESENTER(S): Bill Runyan, CIG
SITE/AGENCY: Early Arkansaw Reenactors Association
and US Fish and Wildlife Service
ABSTRACT: An experienced historic and natural
resources interpreter explains the key to using limited resources and your
imagination to put together a program that can be both entertaining and
informative.
*************************
ROOM C
TITLE: INDIGENOUS
MUSIC STYLES OF LOUISIANA
PRESENTER(S): Matt Hampsey CIG, CHI and Bruce Sunpie
Barnes, Interpreter
SITE/AGENCY: New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park Louisiana
ABSTRACT: Musical informance
given by NPS musical rangers from New
Orleans. This
music filled program explores LA music styles such as zydeco,
jazz, Cajun, creole folk songs, and Mardi Gras Indian
songs. The rangers will also discuss how they use music to tell stories of Louisiana.
*************************