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 The Collier County Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation, is offering a professional certification course for individuals who will be delivering interpretive programs or having public contact at interpretive sites.
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
• making your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic
• using tangible objects to connect audiences to intangible ideas and universal concepts in interpretive programs
• presentation and communication skills
• certification requirements (open book exam; program outline; 10-min. presentation)
• all materials, workbook, and CIG course textbook
Requirements for the CIG Course
 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 may pay a discounted fee to participate in the program. You can also elect to take the training without becoming certified. (See below under “Cost” for details)
Class size will be limited to 12 participants to ensure individual attention.
Instructor:
Kris Whipple CIG CIT CIP is an interpretive consultant specializing in training, planning and writing for environmental, cultural and historical sites. Kris’s diverse background includes over 25 years as a field naturalist, park ranger, education specialist, trainer and curator in parks, museums, zoos and aquariums. Most recently, Kris served fourteen years as the Education Curator for Group Programs, for Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Walt Disney World Animal Programs. Kris is certified as an Interpretive Trainer, Planner and Guide, as well as a CIG and CIH Instructor with the National Association for Interpretation. She’s also a columnist for NAI’s The Interpreter magazine.
Cost:
$365.00 for non-members (includes instructor fee, 1-year NAI membership, certification fee, course materials and refreshments.) Lodging and meals are not included.
Cost Options:
- Already a member of NAI? Cost is $320.00
- Don’t want NAI membership? Cost is $370.00 (higher certification fee for non-members)
- Don’t want the certification (just training)? Cost is $285.00 (includes NAI membership)
 The Workshop Setting:
All sessions will take place at the Collier County Parks and Recreation Exhibit Hall located in North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road Naples, FL 34119. Sessions begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. daily. Participants may bring their own sack lunch or eat lunch at one of several nearby restaurants. Light refreshments will be provided daily during the breaks.
Lodging
Nearby lodging options include:
- Inn of Naples (4055 Tamiami Trail, Naples, FL, US 34103 Phone: (Local): 239-649-5500 | (Toll Free Direct): 1-800-895-8858 www.innofnaples.com.
- Hawthorne Suites of Naples: 3557 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34109
Phone: (800) 267-0451 www.hawthornnaples.com
Please contact the hotels directly for pricing and availability. No transportation service is available to the workshop site so a car is essential.
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, for those who wish to purchase their own texts, NAI offers a discounted package price of $120 (plus $12 shipping). You may order these from http://www.interpnet.com/store/acatalog/Publications_Page_1.html to have the books shipped directly to you OR order through us and we’ll have the books available for you upon your arrival at the workshop. An order form is 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
Download the registration form here.. Registration or confirmation to attend must be received by November 30, 2009
Further Information
For more information about the workshop please contact Kris Whipple, workshop instructor at kris.w@earthlink.net or call 239-643-7871 or 239-649-7870
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