NAI National Workshop
Scaling Interpretive Heights
Denver, Colorado
November 18–22, 2014
National Association for Interpretation
888-900-8283
www.interpnet.com
Schedule at a Glance
The workshop will officially open with an evening off-site event on
Tuesday, November 18. Pre-workshop sessions will take place on Monday
and Tuesday, November 17–18, followed by two days of sessions and
activities, followed by a day of off-site sessions on Friday, November 21,
and another day of sessions on Saturday, November 22. The scholarship
auction will take place on Friday evening after our off-site sessions.
Monday, November 17
Two-day Pre-workshop Sessions
NAI Advisory Council Meeting
Tuesday, November 18
NAI Board Meeting (8:00am)
One- and Two-day Pre-workshop Sessions
First-Timer’s meeting (4:30pm)
Agency Meetings (times vary)
Wednesday, November 19
Keynote Speaker and General Session (8:00am)
Concurrent Sessions (all day)
Agency Meetings (times vary)
Regional Meetings
Reception (5:00pm)
Media Awards and Excellence in Interpretation Awards (7:00pm)
Thursday, November 20
Exhibit Hall (all day)
Concurrent Sessions (all day)
Section Meetings
Exhibit Closing Reception (4:45pm)
Special Evening Events
Friday, November 21
Off-site Sessions (all day)
Scholarship Auction (7:00pm)
Saturday, November 22
Town Hall Meeting
Concurrent Sessions (all day)
Awards Dinner (5:30pm, included in registration)
1 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Welcome from the Committee
Whatever you call it—Denver, Mile-High City, or Queen City of the West—Denver, Colorado, has it all. There are majestic
mountains, endless plains, sporting rivers, blue skies, fall colors, national sports, award-winning brews, performing arts,
cultural venues, and outstanding shopping. Oh, yes, and don’t forget the 2014 NAI National Workshop. The planning team
has had a great time putting together an event that showcases the best that interpretation and Denver have to offer. You will
find some old favorites like the brew crawl and the exhibit hall, as well as some new events such as the Amazing Race NAI
style and panel presentations. And you’ll always make new friends while reconnecting with continuing ones.
If there is any way we can help you get the most from your visit, please be sure to ask any member of the planning team.
We are here to help you out. From all of us, welcome to Denver and the 2014 NAI National Workshop. Now, get out there
and scale new heights—both professionally and personally.
—NAI 2014 Committee
Welcome from the Board and Staff
On behalf of the board, staff and members of the National Association for Interpretation, we would like to welcome you to
the 27th annual NAI national conference. We are excited to be in Denver—with our national office in nearby Fort Collins,
it is our own backyard and we are proud to show it off. It is also a central location for a large number of our members, with
easy travel access and many amazing natural and historic sites to visit.
We are looking forward to a rewarding experience as interpreters from all over the country and world convene to share
experiences, report on recent research in interpretation, and learn from one another. There will be over 100 high-quality
educational sessions, as well as a keynote session, a town hall meeting on our new strategic plan, and a trade show with the
best in products and services for the interpretation community on display.
There will be a lot of opportunities to get out and explore the region and its interpretive highlights. Pre-conference
workshops include the ever-popular Interpreter’s Roadshow and an overnight stay at Bent’s Old Fort. Off-site events
include Dinosaur Ridge, Fountain Creek Nature Center, Garden of the Gods, Morrison Nature Center, Bear Creek Lake
Park, and Lookout Mountain Nature Center. There is also an opportunity to get involved in the 2014 NAI Service Project at
the South Platte Native Habitat Restoration.
We look forward to seeing you in Denver!
2 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 —Amy Lethbridge, NAI President
Margo Carlock, NAI Executive Director
www.interpnet.com/workshop
Logistics
Booking a Hotel Room
NAI encourages workshop participants to stay at the designated host hotel, the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
All workshop sessions will be held within the hotel, so there is no worry about walking distances. If you do want to get
outdoors, check out the 16th Street Mall Shuttle, which is free transportation right outside the hotel’s front door. It will
take you up and down the Mall and will connect to the Light Rail.
Reserve your room at a rate of $129 single/double through the link at www.interpnet.com/workshop or go to https://www.
starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NAFI2014.
For complete information about getting to the Sheraton Denver Downtown, download the pdf at www.interpnet.com/
workshop.
Sheraton Denver Downtown
1550 Court Place
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 893-3333
www.sheratondenverdowntown.com
Find a Roommate
Find a roommate on the NAI Workshop Facebook page (www.facebook.com/NAIWorkshop). Post your information and
check back to see who else needs a roommate.
3 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Essential Information
Exhibit Hall
A great big THANKS to our exhibitors who help to keep registration rates steady by underwriting some of the costs of the workshop
with their booth registrations! Be sure to stop by and tell them thanks.
The exhibit hall is open Wednesday 4:30–6:00pm then 7:00am–6:00pm on Thursday; after that, the hall closes—so don’t miss out!
Exhibitors are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to answer questions, and they consider education a major part of having a booth
in the exhibit hall. Stop by to see what’s new or just to have a chat.
Concurrent Sessions
There will be more than 100 concurrent sessions. Presentation tracks include Programs, Media, and Management.
Registration
Visit www.interpnet.com/workshop to register online. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older to attend the pre-workshop
training and concurrent sessions. Family members may attend off-site sessions with a workshop participant if they register and pay
the session fee.
What’s Included in Registration
Full conference registration includes keynotes, receptions, Excellence in Interpretation Awards, scholarship auction, all concurrent
sessions, free special evening events, one lunch, and one dinner.
Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to download the Interpretive Sourcebook: Proceedings from the 2014 NAI National
Workshop, made available to participants before the workshop. One-day registration includes attendance at workshop sessions and
any meals provided on the day for which you are registered.
Not included with registration are lodging, meals not listed above, pre-workshop sessions, off-site sessions, and some evening
special events.
We understand that some agencies and organizations undergo strict conference registration scrutiny and may request a no-frills
registration package. Unfortunately, due to the fact that we serve most of our group meals in the exhibit hall, it is impossible to offer
some conference participants meals and not others. Therefore NAI does not have such an option. The NAI National Workshop
planners strive to put on a quality educational event with as few frills as possible and welcome scrutiny to that end.
Marketplace of Ideas
Do you have a great demonstration to share? Recent research you’d like to crow about? A living-history costume worthy of an
Oscar? A display, a lesson plan, a book, video, or CD-ROM that you’ve produced? Or a great interpretive technique that you think
others could adopt? Share your ideas at the Marketplace of Ideas. Contact Deb Tewell at 888-900-8283 or [email protected].
Step up to Volunteer!
We want you to be a part of the fun when we meet in Denver this fall! Volunteering on site is a great way to get involved in your
professional association. Network with colleagues from across the country, polish up those leadership skills, and get a registration
discount! In addition to the roles our outstanding volunteers have filled in the past, we will have new positions this year. Contact
Volunteer Chair AJ Chlebnik at [email protected] to learn more.
Follow the Workshop on Facebook
The NAI Workshop Facebook page will include updates leading up to the workshop, and is your place to interact with the
Workshop planners and fellow attendees. Look for photos and updates, and interact with the committee, staff, and attendees at
www.facebook.com/NAIworkshop.
4 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Workshop Activities
Pre-workshop Sessions
Monday and Tuesday (see descriptions for costs)
These full-day workshops are not included in registration; please see pages 8–9 for descriptions and pricing.
Native American Welcome
Tuesday Evening
John Emhoolah, Jr. has led the Denver Indian community for many years – people from many tribal nations across the
country – in breathing new life into their heritage. A grandson of a famous Arapaho Chief, John Emhoolah also works to
build bridges of understanding between cultures. In a recent talk, he voiced his belief that “We are all connected, we all need
each other.” Mr. Emhoolah is of the Kiowa and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma and a long-time Denver resident with his wife
Geneva, his children, and grandchildren. He has received many achievement awards such as the 2006 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Award, 2008 Tesoro Foundation Honored Veteran, DMNS Education of Year Award, and National Indian Education
Association Educator of the Year Award.
Opening Reception, History Colorado Center
Tuesday, 4:30pm ($15 per person)
We are adding an event to the NAI National Workshop. We’re pleased to announce that we will be holding a reception at The
History Colorado Center on Tuesday evening, November 18, 2014, just prior to the opening of the NAI National Workshop. If
you have already registered for the workshop, you may add this event by visiting the registration area of the NAI 2014 website.
The History Colorado Center, which has housed important artifacts for over 130 years, recently underwent a complete
overhaul and reopened in 2012. The facility was designed to ignite imaginations of all ages about Colorado history. You will
want to make it a point to see this great example of visitor-oriented exhibit design.
Our group will arrive at the Center after it closes to the general public. We will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar as well as
access to high-tech / hands-on galleries that take a thematic approach in sharing the stories and spirit of Colorado’s people
over the last 10,000 years.
Exhibit Hall Receptions
Wednesday 4:30pm (included in registration fee or full meal package, guest cost: $20)
Enjoy a warm welcome and a host bar at a reception in the exhibit hall—and don’t forget to wear your ugliest sweater! A few
surprises are in store as you discover new and familiar exhibitors, including planners, publishers, exhibit designers, and
merchandise vendors, among others. This will be a great time to rekindle friendships and welcome first-timers to the NAI
National Workshop. The exhibit hall is open only Wednesday night and Thursday this year, so make the rounds and meet all
the exhibitors!
Keynote Speaker
Brigette Rouson is a life strategist, visionary, and spiritually based activist. For more than 25 years, she has worked to build
effectiveness toward a just society. She focuses on building personal and public will for a world where all people have the
resources and opportunities to lead healthy lives and seeking justice for all people -- women, people of color, youth, and other
groups -- in support of vibrant communities and a sustainable planet.
At the 2014 NAI National Workshop in Denver, her keynote, “Embracing Cultural Competency, Powering Up Interpretation,”
will address the positive power of being able to interact effectively in the context of diverse cultural and socio-economic
backgrounds, particularly in the context of program development, human resources, non-profit organizations, and
government agencies in relation to their workplaces and broader communities.
An attorney and author, Brigette brings experience from a variety of careers; her current work includes consulting to public
interest organizations, teaching, action research, writing, and advocacy.
5 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Media Awards and Excellence in Interpretation Awards
Wednesday Evening (included in registration fee)
Interpretive Media Awards (6:00–6:45pm)
The Interpretive Media Awards Competition is brought to you by NAI and its Interpretive Media Section to promote
excellence in the delivery of natural, cultural, and historical non-personal interpretive services. Through the exchange of ideas
we increase the level of excellence in our profession. The 2014 Media Awards celebrate the best of 2013 interpretive media. The
competition was judged in the spring and winners are showcased at the National Workshop.
Excellence in Interpretation Awards (7:00–9:00pm)
Join the federal agencies and NAI in recognizing this year’s top federal agency interpreters. Agency leaders will make
presentations to the national award recipients from their respective agencies: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land
Management, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, and National Park Service, as well as NAI’s Master Front-Line
Interpreter and Master Interpretive Manager awards.
Know-How Exchange
Wednesday and Thursday nights after the evening’s events (9:00pm–midnight)
Everyone has that special little something that they know how to do, something they could share, or even teach. We’re going
to give you a chance to do just that—exchange your know-how for someone else’s. We will have a meeting room set aside
in the same late night time-slot that the musicians meet to share songs and music. Bring your frog origami, whittling, flint
knapping, knitting, or moccasin-making skills and share your know-how or just sit and enjoy the evening while you ply your
craft or watch others ply theirs. Bring all the equipment and supplies you need plus a little more—to share. Items created at the
Know-How Exchange will be donated to Friday night’s scholarship auction.
Jam Session
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights after evening events (9:00pm–midnight)
Bring your musical instrument and relax, swap stories, meet new friends, sing, play, or just listen. This takes place after the
evening’s activities wind down. It’s fun!
Interpretive Career Fair
Thursday and Saturday (included in registration fee)
At the annual career fair, employers and job seekers discuss employment opportunities. If you’re an employer, be sure to bring
along information about job openings and plenty of business cards to share. When you check in at the workshop, be sure to
sign up for a slot to share your company’s information with prospective employees. If you’re looking for a job, be sure to bring
copies of your résumé to share with employers.
Exhibit Hall
Thursday (included in registration fee)
Let exhibitors pique your interest with time-tested and cutting-edge products and services. The exhibit hall will highlight the
most innovative and dynamic interpretive companies and organizations in North America. Interpretive professionals will be
on hand to discuss the latest interactive exhibit, sign project, or museum makeover. Exhibitors are eager to answer questions
and connect you with the information you need. They are here to educate NAI members in the most current interpretive
techniques—do not miss out on the opportunity to learn all you can from them!
Visit www.interpnet.com/workshop for more information on the exhibit hall or to reserve a booth.
Special Events Evening
Thursday Evening (see descriptions for costs)
Please see descriptions for special events evening options.
6 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Scholarship Auction
Friday Evening (included in registration fee)
Show your passion for the profession and support NAI’s scholarship program by buying or donating auction items. Silent
auctions will be held Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Come early and browse the deals at the silent auction tables, T-shirt sale, and book nook. Then get ready for a lively auction.
This is the perfect place to find holiday gifts, curiosities, collector’s items, interpretation materials, or a special treat for yourself.
NAI is dedicated to supporting education and training for young professionals in interpretation. Proceeds go to NAI’s
scholarship fund, college scholarships, and training monies for students and professionals. There will be a cash bar while you
enjoy the banter of the NAI auctioneers.
Off-site Sessions
Friday (see descriptions for costs)
These field sessions are not included in registration; please see descriptions and pricing.
7 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Two-Day Preworkshops
Monday–Tuesday
Interpreter’s Road Show
Join the Interpreter’s Road Show Colorado-style! NAI’s Nature Center Directors and Administrators Section will offer a little
bit of something for everyone—public, private, and nonprofit. Open to all interpreters, the Road Show provides an exceptional
look at four very different sites in Denver and Colorado Springs.
We will visit Plains Conservation Center, Bluff Lake Nature Center, Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, and Bear
Creek Nature Center. Professional development will include learning about volunteer management, programs, building and
facility development, master planning, funding, unique partnerships, and creative exhibits.
You will network with fellow NAI interpreters and administrators. There will be no off-site, overnight lodging during this trip.
Participants should reserve lodging for Monday night at the Sheraton Downtown Denver, the workshop host hotel.
Trip Leader: Brian Thill, Assistant Director of Education, South Carolina Aquarium
Cost: $290
Maximum Number of Participants: 24
Unique Sense of Place Stories: How to Inspire Personal Connections to Place
Are you looking for more meaningful ways to connect visitors to your site or resource? This training goes to the heart of how
to “forge an emotional and intellectual” connections between people and place.
Learn Erica’s easy, three-step process. Create your own “touchstone” story. Take away tools and practices you can use to
inspire creative connections at your interpretive site. Generate fresh ideas for writing, programs, and presentations. Gain
feedback from a deeply supportive community of peers. Leave with practical skills and tools you can apply right away. This
workshop includes a training manual and resources for further exploration. Day 2 will be in the field.
Instructor: Erica Wheeler
Cost: $175
Maximum Number of Participants: 40
Minimum Number of Participants: 20
Living History on the Santa Fe Trail: A Night and a Day in the Life of Bent’s Old Fort
For much of its 16-year history, 1833–1849, Bent’s Fort was the only major permanent white settlement on the Santa Fe
Trail.* The Fort was a trading hub, supply center, and social and cultural crossroads. Today, Bent’s Old Fort is one of the
most authentically reconstructed, best-curated historic sites in the country, and home to some of the best living history
opportunities in the West. Join NAI’s Cultural Interpretation and Living History section leadership team and the Bent’s Fort
NPS staff for a two-day living history, overnight, immersion experience that will cast you back into a crucial moment in the
site’s, and our country’s, past.
*Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, NPS website
Instructors: John C.F. Luzader; Bill Weldon, Director, CILH, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; Alexa Roberts,
Superintendent, Bent’s Old Fort/Sand Creek Massacre NHS
Cost: $200
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
Minimum Number of Participants: 10
8 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Creating Stories that Make a Difference: Interpretive Writing Workshop
Interpretive writing is one of the toughest types of writing to do well. At its best, it paints memorable images and ideas that
connect on profound and emotional levels with the reader, precipitating changes in beliefs and behavior. At its worst, it
alienates the very people we are trying to engage.
You can create writing that moves readers, changes hearts and minds, and communicates effectively. In this highly interactive
workshop, discover how to weave what you know into writing that inspires, intrigues, delights, and educates. Includes
workbook and Creating Stories that Make a Difference: Advice and Guidance for Interpretive Writing and Writers by the
instructor.
Instructor: Judy Fort Brenneman
Cost: $195
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Minimum Number of Participants: 10
9 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Special Events Evening
Thursday
The Soulful Campfire: A Circle of Inspiration, Laughter, and Creativity for Interpreters
Remember the late night conversations around the campfire? Or the way you felt by the third day of a backcountry trip?
This program will restore that feeling in you. It will include songs and sense-of-place stories by Erica as well as participants.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Sign-up at the conference registration desk to contribute a reading, story, song, or poem.
This will be a virtual campfire where we share the readings, stories, and poems that deeply connect us with a sense of spirit
and place. People will contribute what has profound heart and meaning for them. The result will be a deeper connection to
self, place, and community. You’ll leave restored, reconnected, and with some new ideas for sharing poetry and song in your
interpretive programs.
Cost: $10
Time: 7:30–10:00pm
Meals Included: None
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
History Through the Lens of a Beer Glass: NAI Interpretive Pub Crawl
From the rough-and-tumble saloon days to the Great American Beer Festival, Denver’s history and that of beer are
inextricably joined. After all, Denver’s first permanent structure was a saloon. Explore the heart of the “Napa Valley of Beer”
with NAI members and beer aficionados extraordinaire, Ira Bletz, Kevin Damstra, and Bob Carter.
The Centennial State’s 1859 gold rush brought thirsty immigrants, many of them German brewers, to Colorado, and three
years later the state’s first brewery opened. A few years later one of those German immigrants, Adolph Coors, who came to
America as a stowaway aboard a ship, founded his brewery in 1873 just west of Denver in Golden. The guru of homebrewing,
Charlie Papazian, who was instrumental in the legalization of brewing at home, hails from Boulder. The Craft Beer Revolution
arrived in Colorado the same year as the state’s first micro-brewery.
Perhaps it was inevitable that the Mile High City’s long and sudsy history would give rise to a population of beer lovers. On
any given day, more beer is brewed in Denver than in any other city in the U.S.! Interesting Beer Fact: The Wynkoop Brewing
Company was Denver’s first brewpub (est. 1988). One of its founders, John Hickenlooper, was elected mayor in 2006 and he’s
now Colorado’s Governor.
Today, there are 15 brewpubs and microbreweries in downtown Denver, many of which are just a hop, skip, and a jump from
our conference hotel. Let’s visit a few together and explore the Epicenter of Craft Beer!
Cost: $65
Time: 5:00–10:00pm
Meals Included: Dinner; beer tasters.
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible.
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
10 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
History’s Most Misunderstood Characters
Do you think you know the “true” stories of many of history’s individuals? Could you really define their time periods by what
they wear or by how they speak? Or, are historic characters misunderstood and surrounded by myth and misinterpretation?
Come enjoy the evening and meet some of history’s most misunderstood characters. Hear their stories and learn about their
fashions and the myths perpetuated about them. Then you, the audience, can decide who is … History’s Most Misunderstood
Character!
Applications are now being taken for participants for this night of myth and mystery. For more information or an application,
contact Bill Weldon at [email protected] or Jerri Spellman at [email protected]. Supported by the Cultural Interpretation
Living History unit of NAI
Cost: Free
Time: 7:30–9:30pm
Meals Included: None
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible and the venue is in the hotel.
Maximum Number of Participants: 250
International Interpretation, Family Style: An Inspiring Interpretation/Service/Adventure Story from Kenya, China, and Nepal
NAI members Chip and Jill Isenhart (ECOS owners) and their two kids (ages 13 and 15) left the U.S. for six months, doing
interpretive guide training and evaluation, visitor center design, and interpretive master planning in some remote natural
areas. Come hear the stories, presented by the whole family.
In addition to discussing their interpretive work, other highlights include mock charges by cape buffalo during an interpretive
walk, lion tracking, eating wasps, squishing poop for science, and landing on one of the world’s most dangerous runways.
All four members of the family will take turns sharing slides and video, describing how they unplugged from their busy lives
to plug into a variety of projects aimed at helping people and endangered wildlife. They will share a message that families can
make a difference, whether in some faraway place, or back in hometown USA.
For a bit of background, see this article written about their adventures: http://tinyurl.com/md9os8a
Cost: Free
Time: 8:00–9:00pm
Meals Included: None
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible and the venue is in the hotel.
Maximum Number of Participants: 75
11 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
One-Day Preworkshop
Tuesday
Mastering Dialogic Interpretation
This workshop will present elements and skills associated with dialogue-based interpretation. This approach steers programs
away from didactic one-way presentations to active, two-way communication between visitors and interpreters. It relies on
real world experiences, connects to everyday life, and offers active delivery of content. Dialogue-based interpretation places
the visitors first, with the content delivered only after on-site assessment of the participants has been accomplished. This new
pedagogy calls for active dialogue between the interpreter and visitors. This interactive workshop will help participants master
this two-way approach and offer scenarios from sites across the country that use dialogic interpretation.
Instructors: Doug Knapp, Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Studies, Indiana University;
Brian Forist, Associate Instructor, Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Studies, Indiana University; Eric
Knackmuhs, Associate Instructor, Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Studies, Indiana University
Cost: $125
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Interpreting Climate Change with National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI)
This workshop will explore the technique of strategic framing to interpret climate change. This is a research-based approach
to communications that helps to engage audiences in thinking productively about how they can participate in creating or
supporting solutions to climate change. Participants will learn to apply framing tools, including universal values, metaphors,
explanatory chains, and solutions. Using these approaches carefully can help tell a core story about climate change in a way
that increases the likelihood that audiences will think positively and constructively about ways to address the issues.
Instructors: John Anderson, Director of Education, New England Aquarium; Simone Mortan, Monterey Bay Aquarium; Jess
Reese, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo
Cost: $125
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Keep that Cutting Edge: Reaching Peak Facilitation
This pre-workshop is designed to provide interpretive trainers a venue for new ideas, best practices, methods, and techniques
used in the Certified Interpretive Guide course. Whether you are a new trainer looking to guide students to reach their
interpretive peak, or an experienced trainer wanting to enhance and successfully ensure each of your learners summit the
mountain again and again, we’ve got the “gear” for you! Join this expedition and together we will reach new heights. Open to
all CIG Instructors.
Instructors: Denise Berkshire, Cristal Florin, and Terry Joyce
Cost: $25
Maximum Number of Participants: 25
12 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Off-Site Sessions
Friday
1. Intro to Dinos on Dinosaur Ridge
This half-day off-site session will begin where some of the best-known Late Jurassic dinosaurs were first discovered in 1877.
These include Apatosaurus, Allosaurus, and our Colorado State Fossil, Stegosaurus.
During 1937 road construction, dinosaur tracks were revealed on Dinosaur Ridge. Over 300 dinosaur footprints and
trackways mark where Iguanodon, Ornithomimus, and a large theropod walked along the coast of an ocean 100 million years
ago. As we look at dinosaur lives captured in stone, our guide, Tom Moklestad, will point out evidence of dinosaur anatomy
and behavior.
We will see footprints of the long-necked Apatosaurus in cross-section in shoreline deposits. We will find tracks from
dinosaurs and crocodiles, burrows from ancient clams, impressions of logs and roots, strange depressions that may have been
wallows, and evidence of a microbial mat from an ancient beach that holds even more dinosaur footprints.
After our tour we’ll take a break and head to the Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center where you’ll have a chance to talk to staff
about their educational programs, how they make efforts to preserve outdoor fossils, and anything else dinosaur that captures
your fancy.
Cost: $45
Time: 8:15am–12:30pm
Meals Included: None
Travel Time: 30 minutes each way
Accessibility: There will not be any hiking, just walking from the bus to the sites a few feet from the bus.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves, water, warm layered clothing, walking shoes, camera. No high heels, open toed shoes
or sandals.
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Minimum Number of Participants: 30
2. Successful Public-Private Partnerships: Who’da Thunk It?
You will take a unique look into two park departments in Colorado Springs with public-private partnership success stories
that take vastly different approaches.
Fountain Creek Nature Center Friends and staff raised over $600,000. The success of the project is that it was accomplished
using no tax dollars. Garden of the Gods Visitor Center is operated by the Garden of the Gods Foundation; the park managed
by the City of Colorado Springs—a strong and enduring partnership.
Three ecosystems converge in Garden of the Gods. Prairie grasslands meet dry woodlands and merge with evergreen forests.
Varied rock formations and Pikes Peak reveal a most impressive display of Earth’s history. As a cultural crossroads American
Indians, explorers, gold-seekers, railroaders, homesteaders, and health seekers were drawn to the rock formations. Fountain
Creek Nature Center is where place-based and hands-on learning utilizes ecology to represent relationships that link back to
the watershed. The nature center was built in 1992 and it eventually outgrew its space. Park staff will present this intriguing
success story, as well as its challenges.
Join us as we explore these partnerships that will inspire participants to apply “can-do” approaches to their own sites and
facilities.
13 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Cost: $75
Time: 7:45am–4:30pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: One hour each way
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible. Trails will have uneven surfaces and possibly steep sections.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves, water, warm layered clothing, sturdy shoes, camera.
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Minimum Number of Participants: 20
3. Nature Centers from Plains to Peaks
Visit three Colorado nature centers spanning ecosystems from the eastern plains to the mountain peaks. All three evolved
from humble beginnings—a house, a garage, and a trailer—into the successful centers they have become.
Nestled on the 240-acre Star K Ranch property of Colorado’s eastern plains and surrounded by city, Aurora’s Morrison Nature
Center invites visitors to discover grasslands, wetlands, and riparian cottonwood forests. We will learn about their low-tech,
high-touch exhibits, programming, and direct interaction with staff naturalists.
Bear Creek Lake Park offers an array of educational displays and exhibits. The center is a portal to the park which offers
visitors a vast array of recreational opportunities within 2,600 acres of riparian woodland corridors, ravines, grasslands, and
lakes in the foothills-plains ecotone. Weather permitting, we’ll have our lunch at the famous, nearby Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Lookout Mountain Nature Center inspires visitors to connect with nature through interactive exhibits that provide a glimpse
into the flora and fauna of the foothills ecosystem. Gentle hiking trails meander through 134 acres of ponderosa pines and
meadows, affording panoramic views of Denver.
At each of these three centers, staff will share with us their ecological and community niches, strengths, and lessons learned.
Cost: $65
Time: 8:30am–4:30pm
Meals Included: Box Lunch
Travel Time: One hour each way
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible. Trails will have uneven surfaces and possibly steep sections.
Suggested Gear: Jacket, hat, sunglasses, gloves, water, warm layered clothing, sturdy shoes, camera, binoculars.
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Minimum Number of Participants: 20
4. 2014 Service Trip: South Platte Park Native Habitat Restoration
Each year NAI members help improve the interpretive community in our host city by participating in the annual NAI Service
Project. Join us for our 10th anniversary project!
We will discover the last wild 2.5 miles of the South Platte River, now preserved in a City of Littleton open space park
managed by South Suburban Parks and Recreation. The Park is a gem to behold. Imagine being able to kayak on an urban
river and enjoy tall gallery trees and wetland vegetation amidst the intertwined highways and the light rail corridor. Today
the park and use of the Carson Nature Center has become a magnet for bird watchers, hikers, and dreamers. With this year’s
project you will enjoy a slice of wild amid urban surroundings—complete with Carson Nature Center.
The 2014 Service Project is a combination of trail work, restoration planting, and exotic weed tree removal. Help remove
invasive Russian olive and buckthorn tree saplings. Protect native cottonwoods from beaver building activity. Cap off
14 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
restoration work in low-flow channels along the river. View construction of an innovative channel enhancement project
underway and contribute to its success.
Coordinator: Faith L. Duncan, NAI Service Trip Leader
Local Coordinator: Skot Latona, Supervisor, South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center
Cost: $45
Time: 8:00am–5:00pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: 30 minutes each way
Accessibility: South Platte Park features a paved trail and fully accessible nature center. The project will occur off trail on
potentially muddy slopes and river banks with sometimes dense shrubs and trees. Work is moderate to strenuous.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves, water, warm layered clothing, sturdy shoes, camera.
Maximum Number of Participants: 14
Minimum Number of Participants: 10
5. Wildfire: A Colorado Reality
Wildfire is scientific, interdisciplinary, fascinating, relevant, emotional, and natural. Over one million Coloradoans live in
“red zones” and due to powerful educational programs are beginning to learn to live with wildfire, to change their homes,
communities, and behaviors as they gain more understanding.
Join state fire ecology educator Shawna Crocker as we travel to Colorado Springs to witness the impacts of some of our most
destructive wildfires—the Black Forest Fire (2013) and Waldo Canyon Fire (2012). These two fires destroyed over 800 homes
in two consecutive seasons.
Shawna will talk to our group about how to deliver lessons in fire and forest ecology to learners of all ages. She will engage
us in sample activities that help explain the role of fire in ecosystems and communities and the fire effects on air, water, land,
animals, and plants. Using fire science and social science, agencies, organizations, and individuals are working to create
“fire-adapted” communities that take responsibility for their wildfire risk related to resident safety, homes, neighborhoods,
businesses and infrastructure, forests, parks, open spaces, and other community assets.
Cost: $75
Time: 9:30am–4:00pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: 1.5 hours each way
Accessibility: Uneven trails and off-trail walking
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves, water, warm layered clothing, sturdy shoes, camera.
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
Minimum Number of Participants: 15
6. Arsenal and Repository
Visit the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and discover how this 15,000-acre site was transformed from
a former Army arsenal to a national wildlife refuge. During your visit enjoy a stop at the refuge’s “green” design visitor
center then join us for a two-hour wildlife viewing tour. The refuge is home to bison, bald eagles, migratory songbirds, and
many other species of wildlife. During the tour we’ll discuss current visitor services topics including the refuge’s 15-year
Comprehensive Conservation Plan which involves evaluating and planning for visitor uses while balancing the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s mission of wildlife first.
15 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Cost: $75
Time: 9:45am–4:00pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: 30 minutes each way
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves or mittens, water, warm clothes in layers, sturdy shoes, camera, backpack.
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
7. Let’s Visit Fort Collins
The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery opened in 2012 as an innovative museum experience that blends science, history, and
culture. Staff will discuss the museum’s history, mission, and philosophy, followed by a tour of the facility. Highlights include
the permanent exhibition galleries, state-of-the-art immersive digital dome theater, live black-footed ferrets, the local history
archive, and a behind-the-scenes look at their in-house exhibits workshop.
The NAI national office is right down the street; we will make a quick stop to take a look around and see the NAI Heritage
Library. Someone will be on hand with a key so you can take a selfie sitting at an NAI staff member’s desk while they are back
in Denver working!
After lunch, we will make a third stop, this one at one of the City of Fort Collins’ many natural areas—which area will be
dictated by the weather. Citizen-initiated city and county sales taxes fund the Natural Areas Department’s land conservation,
trails, and educational programs. By law, these taxes may not be used for other aspects of city government. With 41 sites and
over 36,000 acres locally and regionally, there is likely a natural area near every resident!
Cost: $75
Time: 8:15am–4:30pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: One hour, 15 minutes each way
Accessibility: Facilities are accessible. Trails will have uneven surfaces and possibly steep sections.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves or mittens, water, warm clothes in layers, sturdy shoes, camera, backpack.
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Minimum Number of Participants: 20
8. Home Ground: The Plains of Colorado
Most people travel to Colorado to visit the mountains, but almost half of the state is prairie. Plains Conservation Center and
Four Mile Historic Park immerse participants in the role of the prairie ecosystem in the settling of Denver and its role in the
lives of people today.
Plains Conservation Center is a modern icon of the prairie where staff members help visitors feel more connected to nature
and history. Participants will embark on a prairie safari of wildlife viewing on the center’s 1,100 acres. Staff will discuss how
they interpret the prairie’s past, present, and future at the 1837 replica Native American Cheyenne Camp and the 1887 sod
village. In addition, they will talk about PCC’s past year’s journey into the world of social enterprise.
Then head over to Four Mile Historic Park, Denver’s oldest standing house. Built in 1859, its unusual name tells of the unique
perspective of homesteaders’ travel across the prairie (the Denver area also has a Seven Mile House and a Twelve Mile House)
and the growth of the Queen City. Experience some of the activities shared with the over 12,000 school students served
annually in this urban oasis.
16 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
Cost: $75
Time: 9:00am–4:00pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: 45 minutes each way
Accessibility: Uneven trails; off-trail walking is required.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves or mittens, water, warm clothes in layers, sturdy shoes, camera, backpack.
Maximum Number of Participants: 56
Maximum Number of Participants: 22
9. Rocky Mountain National Park and Enos Mills Cabin
In 1920 Enos Mills wrote, “It is probable that nature guiding will become a nation-wide and distinct profession….” Wouldn’t
he be pleased that there is a profession, an organization like NAI, and that our National Workshop is in Denver!
Mills’ inexhaustible energy led to the 1915 creation of Rocky Mountain National Park, our nation’s 10th national park. Our
group will explore the park and visit the historic Enos Mills Cabin.
Our orientation will begin at Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. We will then head further into the park, where we will have
spectacular mountain views and East District Naturalist Kathy Brazelton will share some of the topics that are the basis for
the park’s interpretive programs: glaciation, forest health, fire, watchable wildlife management, and, of course, the very timely
elk rutting season. Flood regularly changes the mountain landscape; we will stop at the Lawn Lake Alluvium area to better
understand how the montane ecosystem adapted to major flood debris. Our lunch in Moraine Park, a glacial valley, will
provide us with breathtaking views of Notchtop and its glacial cirques.
After we leave the park, we will head to the Enos Mills Cabin where we will meet Eryn Mills, who will delight us with stories
of her spirited great-grandfather.
Cost: $70
Time: 8:00am–5:00pm
Meals Included: Lunch
Travel Time: Two hours each way
Accessibility: The visitor center is accessible; trails have uneven surfaces and potentially steep sections. The cabin requires
walking across uneven ground and is not accessible to wheelchairs.
Suggested Gear: Hat, sunglasses, gloves or mittens, water, warm clothes in layers, sturdy shoes, camera, backpack.
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Minimum Number of Participants: 20
10. Ski or Ride with a Ranger!
A majority of ski areas in the West operate at least partially on US Forest Service public land. Ski areas on National Forest
System (NFS) operate under a special use permit, which outlines partner responsibilities and guidelines. This partnership sets
the stage for an interpretive opportunity! Many ski areas have Ski With a Ranger (SWAR) programs—an interpretive program
on skis (or snowboard).
The Clear Creek Ranger District of Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland hosts a SWAR
program at Loveland Ski Area, one hour outside Denver. The ski area opened in 1936, making it the second-oldest in Colorado,
after Steamboat’s Howellson Hill. Loveland is near the hearts of generations of Colorado skiers and riders.
Loveland Ski Area is an example of interrelationships. Join us for a fun SWAR program that covers alpine and winter ecology,
17 NAI National Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 18–22, 2014 www.interpnet.com/workshop
2014 NAI National Workshop Registration
All NAI Workshop participants must be NAI members. If you are not a current member, you can add membership with this form.
Register online at www.interpnet.com/workshop or send this form by fax (970-484-8179) or mail (PO Box 2246, Fort Collins, CO 80522).
Name___________________________________________________Title____________________________________________________
Organization____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address (wk/hm)_ _______________________________________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________________State________ Postal Code________Country___________________
Phone (wk/hm)___________________________________________Fax_____________________________________________________
E-mail_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NAI membership
o Individual $69 o Senior $49 o Student $25
Check as apply:
o I am donating an auction item. o I am a vegetarian.
o I am a first-time attendee.
o I require special accommodations. (Please provide written description by Oct. 10.)
Career Fair
At the annual career fair, employers and job seekers discuss employment opportunities and evaluate resumes.
o I am willing to review resumes or serve as a career counselor.
o I am bringing a resume to be reviewed.
Need a roommate? Visit the NAI Workshop Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NAIworkshop
Registration
Member
Nonmember
Student Member
Student
Nonmember
Senior
Professional*
Additional
Meal Tickets**
Early: This rate honored until conference opening for federal employees.
Full registration
o $395 o $465
o $260
o $285 o $260 o $175
One Day oW oTh oS
o $240 o $310 o $100 o $125
o $100 o $60
Regular: Does not apply to federal employees.
Full registration
o $470 o $540 o $290 o $315
o $290 o $200
One Day oW oTh oS o $290 o $360 o $150 o $175
o $150 o $80
* Senior professionals must be 62 years or older and retired.
** Additional meal tickets cover meal events that are included in regular registration only (opening event, breakfast, and lunch when
provided). Additional tickets must be purchased for banquet, field trips, and special events at the same price as regular registrants.
Additional ticket holders do not receive any handouts or gift items and are not eligible to attend any sessions, including keynotes. The
same rules apply to additional exhibit booth attendants who are not registered for the full conference.
Continued on next page.
TICKETS
Preworkshop Sessions
1. Interpreter’s Road Show $290
2. Unique Sense of Place Stories: How to Inspire Personal Connections to Place $175
3. Living History on the Santa Fe Trail, A Night and a Day in the Life of Bent’s Old Fort $200
4. Creating Stories that Make a Difference: Interpretive Writing Workshop $195
5. Mastering Dialogic Interpretation $125
6. Interpreting Climate Change with National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) $125
7. Keep that Cutting Edge: Reaching Peak Facilitation $25
1st choice: Session #____ $_________________________________
2nd choice: Session #____ $_________________________________
3rd choice: Session #____ $_________________________________
Opening Reception at The History Colorado Center
$15 for registrant + Number of guest tickets _ _____________________ = $_ ____________
Offsite Sessions
1. Intro to Dinos on Dinosaur Ridge $45
2. Successful Public-Private Partnerships: Who’da Thunk It? $75
3. Nature Centers from Plains to Peaks $65
4. 2014 Service Trip: South Platte Park Native Habitat Restoration $45
5. Wildfire: A Colorado Reality $75
6. Arsenal and Repository $75
1st choice: 7. Let’s Visit Fort Collins $75
8. Home Ground: The Plains of Colorado $75
9. Rocky Mountain National Park and Enos Mills Cabin $70
10.Ski or Ride with a Ranger! $80
11. NAI Amazing Race - Denver $40/person
Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
2nd choice: Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
3rd choice: Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
Special Events Evening
1. The Soulful Campfire: A Circle of Inspiration, Laughter and Creativity for Interpreters $10
2. History Through the Lens of a Beer Glass: NAI Interpretive Pub Crawl $65
3. History’s Most Misunderstood Characters FREE
4. International Interpretation, Family Style FREE
1st choice: Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
2nd choice: Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
3rd choice: Session #____ + Number of guest tickets _ ____________ = $_ ____________
Payment Methods Make checks payable to NAI or indicate credit card information below.
o VISA o Mastercard o Discover o AmEx Card Number:_______________________________________________________________________
Cardholder’s name (please print)_ _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature______________________________________________________Security Code__________________ Expiration Date___________________
Billing Address (if different from above):
Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________________________________________State________ Postal Code________Country_________________________
Mandatory: Signature
Signature__________________________________________________________________________________ Date_____________________________
By submitting this registration, I agree that NAI may photograph or video me, and that NAI may use those photographs or video footage for marketing
purposes. I agree to the terms and policies outlined on www.interpnet.com/workshop. Registration will not be processed without registrant’s signature.