Thursday, November 9, 2023
Breakout Session Block 3
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Salon A (Live Streamed) – JEDAI
Many Paths to Inclusion
Join this interactive discussion and panel to discover how the Missouri Department of Conservation, Tennessee State Parks, and East Bay Regional Parks are empowering frontline interpreters to share more stories and include more voices in interpretation.
Presented by Rob Barrett, Rolanda Teal, Stacey Davis, Felicia Walker, & Hobart Akin
Salon B – Programs
Sustainability Education For A Popular Planet
Sustainability
Engage in role-playing, games, and simulations to explore human-environmental interactions, impacts of population pressures on fragile ecosystems, and paths to sustainability.
Presented by Howard Aprill
Salon C – Management/Operations
Retail With A Purpose: What Does the Fox Say?
The world's cutest fox tells a lasting story in this interactive session. Discover how a souvenir can help visitors share the amazing stories of what they learned at your site!
Presented by Lindsey Stone & Caroline Lochner
Arkansas B. (Live Streamed) – Leadership
Healthy Boundaries: Managers and Wellbeing
Wellness
Are you in leadership feeling passionate but also tired, burnt out, frustrated, and caught in a never ending grind? Join this session to network and learn about healthy boundaries.
Presented by Sarena Randall Gill & Brian Thill
Ouachita – Programs
Interpretation On The Go
Do you have informal contacts in your wild places? Of course, you do! Join us as we share how Texas State Parks strive to make meaningful connections with roving contacts.
Presented by Ben Horstmann & Danielle Okay
Conway – Programs
Incarceration, Justice, And Common Humanity
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
What comes to mind when you hear "Alcatraz?" Most folks think of movies or escapes. How can the island's history inform issues around justice, incarceration, and humanity today?
Presented by Matthew Connelly
Harris Brake – Programs
Expanding Climate Narratives Via Storytelling
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
Learn about a new NPS toolkit. It will teach techniques that deepen climate change interpretation through inclusive and hopeful storytelling that cumulates in action.
Presented by Elizabeth Villano, Cassie Anderson, Donna Graves & Nichole McHenry
White Oak – Programs
Interagency Panel- Interpretive Programming in the Federal Agencies. What’s new?
All are welcome! Join a presentation by the Federal Land and Water Management Agencies (FS, NPS, BLM, NOAA) about what we’re all working on regarding interpretation, what the programs look like in each agency, and opportunities to collaborate with or work for us.
Breakout Session Block 4
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Salon A (Live Streamed) – Management/Op.
How To Work With Young Professionals
Attracting/Engaging Students and Young Professionals
Join members of the new Young Professional Council as they discuss tips and tricks for hiring and working with young professionals.
Presented by Brendan Kane
Salon B – Programs
Adapting Programs For Youth With Special Needs
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
In special education, participants may benefit from an adapted program that provides accommodations or modifications in the classroom. Presented by Jennifer Simms
Salon C – Leadership
Ten Things I've Learned About Leadership
While sometimes we refer to people as 'natural leaders', many of us build this skill set over time. Success and failure can help us grow into strong leaders.
Presented by Mary Rouse
Arkansas B. (Live Streamed) – Media/Tech.
ReCollections–A Parks Canada Podcast
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
In 2023, Parks Canada launched ReCollections- a History and Archaeology podcast. Each episode explores new places and stories to help make sense of a complicated past.
Presented by Fred Sheppard & Jeff Bolingbroke
Ouachita – Programs
Slices Of Life: Historic Vignette Writing
Living History
Design, research, and create stories relevant to your site's time period. Short, five to seven minute, vignettes give visitors a slice of history come to life!
Presented by Angel Ray
Conway – Programs
Collaboration Is "For the Birds"
Reconnecting People to the Outdoors
Songbirds need our help and the AZA SAFE Songbird partners are building a toolkit of strategies to encourage songbird preservation. Come learn how we can all work "for the birds!"
Presented by Rhana Smout Paris
Harris Brake – Programs
Spanish Session!
Presented by _______
White Oak – Programs
US Forest Service Agency Meeting
All are welcome! A gathering of all FS employees attending the conference, and anyone who wants to sit in. Meet with the FS National Program Manager of Interpretation and Tourism to share what’s been going on at the national level, what’s coming up, and open discussion about ideas for future work, challenges that need addressing, etc…
Presented by Toby Bloom
Breakout Session Block 5
3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Ballroom Foyer – Programs
A Bridge Impromptu Hike, Let's Go Outside!
Difficult Communication Tips
Share and learn some techniques and successes of guided hikes, that will help you connect your visitors to your resource, even as a surprise visit. Yes, we are going outside!
Presented by Jay T. Schneider
Salon A (Live Streamed) – JEDAI
Resistance: JEDAI And Interpretation
Join the discussion to explore JEDAI concepts in interpretation, our own identities, and resisting dominant culture while caring for ourselves and each other in this journey. Presented by Kevin Wright, Kawēlau Wright, Ph.D. & Sarena Randall Gill
Salon B – Programs
Nature Journaling Is For Everyone
Reconnecting People to the Outdoors
Nature journaling encourages us to slow down, get down, and look around at the plants and animals we often walk right past. Get ready to reflect, write, and draw!
Presented by Christine Morris, Jennifer Robinson, Drew Lefebrvre, & Alyssa Cornell
Salon C – Management/Operations
Enhance Motivation Through Organizational Culture
Evaluations Forecasting and Future of Interpretation
This presentation will provide approaches to using strategic planning, management, evaluation, & onboarding to improve employee motivation & enhance positive outcomes for visitors.
Presented by Jo Jahn, Marc Stern, and Bob Powell
Arkansas B. (Live Streamed) – Manage./Op.
Get Ready For Interpretive Planning!
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
You know you need it, you know you want it, you know how busy you are. How do I get ready for interpretive planning? What are some steps I should consider in getting started?
Presented by Chuck Lennox
Ouachita – Programs
Careers In Conservation: More Than A Program
Attracting/Engaging Students and Young Professionals
A review of LA County Park's wildly successful "Careers in Conservation" program, which created extensive paid learning and professional opportunities for high school students. Presented by Sarah Brewer
Conway – JEDAI
Heritage Interpretation As Social Justice
Social Justice
Black (and Brown) people becoming certified interpreters create opportunities close racial disparities in our communities by providing access to tourism dollars.
Presented by Erica N. Veal
Harris Brake – JEDAI
The Amoral Skill Set
Social Justice
Interpretation is intimately powerful, capable of both inspiration and abuse. Expect a lively session as we navigate real-world scenarios addressing these murky waters together.
Presented by S. Marisol Asselta
White Oak – Programs
Keep That Cutting Edge
Innovative Interpretive Techniques
Connect with fellow Certified Interpretive Guide Trainers and share your insights about the CIG curriculum. We will spend part of session sharing our experiences and learning from one another with a facilitated idea-sharing and problem-solving session. Then, we'll discuss ways to update the CIG curriculum to meet evolving needs in the field! Whether you are a new trainer or experienced trainer, join us to enhance your practice and help improve our program!