SUNDAY ~ OPENING ASSEMBLY

RE-MYSTIFYING NATURE THOROUGH POETRY– Emotional Logic for the Interpreter

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Will La Page, “The Park Poet”, Eureka Springs, AR

We have done a remarkable job of de-mystifying nature through science over the past several generations, to the extent that we have removed much of the charm, the mystery, and the romance of nature—the nature that we celebrated for centuries before becoming rational, objective, logical beings. While interpreters have a responsibility to address the logic of science, they also are charged with tapping into the emotions that surround everything they interpret. What better way to do this than by returning to the world’s second oldest form of interpretation: poetry. Curiously, poetry became a casualty of our rationality, and has never enjoyed the place it deserves in the professional interpreter’s tool kit, so that, now, the re-mystifying of nature requires the de-mystifying of poetry. This session awakens the poet that exists within each of us, the poet that is, in fact, the interpreter, by demonstrating that all poetry is an interpretation, and all interpretations need to be poetic to be

memorable. Emerson told us that if we do not write our poetry it will escape in other ways. So, interpreters are already practicing poets. In this keynote session, Mr. LaPage will demonstrate specific ways that a poetic approach can help lead to interpretative success.

Copies of Will’s books will be available for sale at the conference and he will be available to sign them following his presentation.

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SUNDAY ~ CONCURRENT SESSIONS

SESSION # 5 ~ 9:20 – 10:05 am

ROOM A

TITLE: GOING NUTS

PRESENTER(S): Sarah Keating, CIT, Assistant Superintendent

SITE/AGENCY: Lake Dardanelle State Park – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: Your park is full of all sorts of nuts in the fall (and I don’t mean the visitors) and you have often thought “I bet I could do something with those”. But how can you develop thematic programs around these pearls of nature? During this interactive session we will explore several projects and programs you can use in your park because…”sometimes you feel like a nut”.

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ROOM B

TITLE: MINING PEARLS FROM THE ETHERNET

PRESENTER(S): Pam Tooley

SITE/AGENCY: Collin College, McKinney, Texas

ABSTRACT: In this age of technological information mining, finding the perfect piece of information is simply a matter of typing a few key words, but finding out how and where in the online world is not always so easy. Learn research techniques and unique sites in the invisible web to create your own online resource library with online computer tools.

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ROOM C

TITLE: FINDING INTERPRETIVE PEARLS BY REVIVING THE CHAUTAUQUA SPIRIT

PRESENTER(S): Martha Siler, Executive Director and Leita Spears, Assistant Director

SITE/AGENCY: Clayton House Museum, Fort Smith – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: The successful monthly Chautauqua living history program held at the WHH Clayton House museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas on less than a shoestring budget is beginning its third year. Regardless of whether a site is cultural or natural, there are stories to tell. We will tell about our program, the lessons we have learned, and help interpreters develop concrete plans for character selection, development, advertising, and implementation of living history at their site.

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SESSION # 6 ~ 10:25 – 11:10 am

ROOM A

TITLE: W.S.I.: Wild Scene Investigations

PRESENTER(S): Don R. Simons, CHI

SITE/AGENCY: Mount Magazine State Park – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: Are you a fan of those CSI shows on TV? Do you conduct animal tracking programs at your site? Why not combine both interests? Go beyond the typical rubber animal track/ink pad activities and do some real scene investigations. This session demonstrates tools and techniques you can add to your program and help find those often overlooked pearls in the woods.

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ROOM B

TITLE: A.C.E.’s HAVE IT: Aquatics Based Camps Help Preserve Our Resources

PRESENTER(S): Sasha Bowles, Park Interpreter, CIG

and Shelley Flanary, Park Interpreter, CIG, BS, ACA Instructor

SITE/AGENCY: Lake Dardanelle State Park - Russellville Arkansas

ABSTRACT: In this ever changing world, increasing knowledge and awareness for preserving our water resources is a constant struggle. The best way to ensure preservation is to instill a love and appreciation for the resource at an early age. Developing a unique water resource based camp for kids is a perfect way to reach them. Kids love going to camp. You can help create lasting memories and a love for the resource through the programs you offer. This session will present you with ideas to develop such a camp as well as some tried and true activities the kids will enjoy.

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ROOM C

TITLE: MAKING MEANING OF THE ENDGAME OF INTERPRETATION

PRESENTER(S): John Miller, CIT, Naturalist Program Supervisor

SITE/AGENCY: Missouri Department of Conservation, Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center

ABSTRACT: What do you really want your audiences to do after being in your interpretive program? Do you want them to remember facts or your carefully crafted theme? If so, you are heading in the WRONG direction. Your ‘endgame’ should be to create programs to get audience to care and think. This program was approved by Sam Ham to be presented ONLY ONCE to Region 6. It is a portion of his original research from his 25 years of experience with cognitive learning which he recently presented in St. Louis. You will learn that you may not want your audience to focus on every word or action you create. Rather, you need to let your audience think in order to make their own meanings. This presentation will help you create meaningful programs that will be remembered for a lifetime.

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SESSION # 7 ~ 1:35 – 2:20 pm

ROOM A

TITLE: WHAT ON EARTH? : Inspiring Visitors to Explore, Observe, Enjoy & Protect the Natural World

PRESENTER(S): Rachel Engebrecht, CIG, Park Interpreter

SITE/AGENCY: Petit Jean State Park – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: This program demonstrates how a “guessing game” can be incorporated into a presentation to help make it fun, interactive and inspiring to visitors, as well as to inform people about “hidden pearls” at an interpretive site. Participants are invited to test their nature knowledge and observation skills, and are encouraged to experience a park’s natural resources first hand, as well as to help protect those resources.

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ROOM B

TITLE: WHAT I LEARNED AT DAY CAMP...ASTHE LEADER!

PRESENTER(S): Mary Gillihan, Interpreter

SITE/AGENCY: Ozark Folk Center - Arkansas State Parks

ABSTRACT: This session may teach you new programs and it will share some proven ways of spending 3 to 5 fun filled and educational days with those ages 8 to 12. Experience the string game and the discussion that it brings; find out why “in your space” works better than “take you seat”; make a nature bracelet; talk about the need for silence and some ways to achieve it; talk about the differences & similarities of summer sessions and those for Home Schooled, in the Fall; find out why The Kids Book of Questions is a favorite for almost everyone; ask your own questions, share your own experiences, become a Day Camp Leader!

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ROOM C

TITLE: AWARD NOMINATIONS MADE SIMPLE

PRESENTER(S): John Miller, CIT, Naturalist Program Supervisor

SITE/AGENCY: Missouri Department of Conservation, Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Center

ABSTRACT: Have you been afraid to nominate a fellow interpreter for an award because you thought it took too much time. Have you nominated someone, but they did not win? Learn how easy, but important it is to nominate someone in your area for a Regional or National NAI award. You will not only get to score fictitious nominations, but you will also see how to improve a nomination for a better chance at success. This presentation will benefit you and those around you who truly deserve to be recognized for their work.

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SESSION # 8 ~ 2:40 – 3:25 pm

ROOM A

TITLE: A TASTE OF WET, WILD, and PLT

PRESENTER(S): Shelley Flanary, Park Interpreter, CIG, BS, ACA Instructor

SITE/AGENCY: Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area –Arkansas

ABSTRACT: Are you always searching to find activities and other resources that can be used in a classroom or interpretive program? Would you like to discover other avenues? Then this session is for you. Come explore these resources and how they can be used to meet curriculum frameworks for grades Pre-K – 12. This fun, educational and hands-on professional development resource is a way to understand linking PLT, WET, and WILD activities to many aspects of students learning.

NOTE: This session is limited to 30 participants

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ROOM B

TITLE: INTERPRETIVE PEARLS INSIDE THE TOILET

PRESENTER(S): Lori A. Spencer, CHI, CIG

SITE/AGENCY: Mount Magazine State Park – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: Are you ready to flush all your notions of non-personal interpretation? Interpretive pearls can be found inside the bathroom stall. Give your visitors’ brains a wrinkle while they tinkle! Learn how to use the biggest waste of space at your site during this fun presentation designed to help you visualize interpretive success in a place everyone uses.

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ROOM C

TITLE: MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

PRESENTER(S): Katherine L. Evans, CIG

SITE/AGENCY: Lake Dardanelle State Park – Arkansas

ABSTRACT: In these days of tighter school budgets, interpreters are always looking for new ways to incorporate multiple subjects into their programs. Even if you are not musically inclined this session is a perfect opportunity to learn how to incorporate music into your programs in a fun and non-intimidating way.

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