The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) in partnership with Doug Lowthian and Mary Gruhl is offering a professional certification workshop for individuals interested in enhancing their interpretive skills, knowledge and ability to deliver quality programming to a variety of audiences.

The CIG Program
The Certified Interpretive Guide program is designed for anyone who delivers interpretive programs to the public. It combines both the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical skills in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors.

This 32-hour course includes:

• History, definition, and principles of interpretation
• Presentation and communication skills
• Creating  programs that are purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic
• Incorporating tangible objects and intangible ideas into your programs
• Course materials including CIG course workbook
• Coffee breaks and snacks daily

NAI Certification requirements:

• Open-book exam
• Program outline
• 10-minute presentation

Course Requirements:

• Anyone age 16 or over with a desire to increase their knowledge and skills related to interpretation may participate. Membership in NAI is not required, but NAI members pay a discounted fee to participate in the program. (See Costs below for details)
• Class size will be limited to 24 participants.

Instructors:
Doug Lowthian, CIG, CIT
Doug’s involvement in interpretation started over 20 years ago. Since then he has worked in cultural and natural history interpretation, environmental education and resource management from the city streets of Boston to the glaciers of Alaska, mostly for the National Park Service. He has worked as a frontline interpreter in cities, marshes, beaches, boats and mountains. He worked as an environmental education specialist in Costa Rica and helped start an alternative school in Alaska. He currently is self-employed giving interpretive tours and training and owns a store in Bayfield, WI.

Mary Gruhl, PhD, CIG, CIT
Mary is a National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Certified Interpretive Trainer and resident of Bayview, Wisconsin. Her experience over the past 25 years as a research scientist studying a midge used as a pollution indicator, classroom teacher (grades 6-12), Director of a Center for Science Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Grades K-12, teacher and adult workshops) and CIG trainer has provided numerous opportunities for her to share her passion to develop and help others develop hands-on materials that make learning in both formal and informal settings fun and easy for any participant. Mary has been treasurer for Region V for the past 3 years.

The Workshop Setting:
All sessions will take place at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, Wisconsin. http://nglvc.org/ The NGLVC is a unique year round visitor center celebrating the history and culture of the Great Lakes including the era of logging and voyageurs as well as the diverse natural history of the Lake Superior highlands. Located in Ashland are the remains of one of the worlds’ longest ore docks as well as eight unique wall murals depicting Ashland’s history.

The NGLVC is located 20 miles from the Apostle Island National Lakeshore and the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness Area.  www.nps.gov/apis/parkmgmt/wilderness.htm

Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. daily.

Food:
Participants may bring their own sack lunch or eat lunch at one of the several nearby restaurants. Light refreshments served on reusable dinner ware will be provided during breaks. We ask that you bring your own water bottle and coffee cup for use during the course.

Travel and Lodging:
For information about Ashland and available lodging and restaurants go to www.visitashland.com/cgi/display_database.cgi?database=LODGING...

No transportation service is available to the NGLVC, so a car is essential. The closest airport is in Duluth, Wisconsin located 80 miles from NGLVC.  Directions upon request.


Costs:
NAI Member: Cost is $323
                         (Includes certification fee, course materials, instructor fee and daily snacks)
Non-Member: Cost is $368
                         (Includes certification fee, one year NAI membership, course materials,
                        instructor fee and daily snacks)
Don’t want NAI membership: Cost is $373
                         (Includes certification fee, higher for non-members, course materials,
                         instructor  fee and daily snacks)
Don’t want the certification (just training): Cost is $243
                         (Includes course materials, instructor fee and daily snacks)

Certification Library
Two sets of the texts, necessary for completion of the open-book exam, will be provided for student use during the workshop; however, those who wish to purchase their own texts, NAI offers a discounted package price of $120 (plus $10 shipping). Call NAI at (888-900-8283) to order the “Certification Library” shipped directly to you OR order through us and we’ll have the books available for you upon your arrival at the workshop. Order form included in registration form.
The texts used are:
Environmental Interpretation by Sam Ham;
Interpreting Our Heritage by Freeman Tilden;
Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources by Knudson, Cable & Beck;
Sharing Nature with Children by Joseph Cornell;
Interpreting for Park Visitors by Bill Lewis.

Registration:
Registration and payment must be received by October 1, 2008. For information about the workshop or to register, contact Mary Gruhl at marygruhl@aol.com  (715-373-2703) or Doug Lowthian at dlowthian@centurytel.net (715) 779-3029

Download the registration form here. We look forward to treating you to a unique experience on the shores of Lake Superior in Wisconsin’s NORTHLAND.