Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation, is offering a professional certification course for individuals who have public contact at interpretive sites.

The CIH Program
The Certified Interpretive Host program is designed for new hires, seasonals, docents/volunteers, maintenance workers, receptionists, law enforcement or anyone who has public contact but does not deliver interpretive programs to the public. It covers the basics of interpretation, customer service and hospitality, and using informal interpretation to support the agency mission.

This 16-hour course includes:
• History, definition, and principles of interpretation
• How to provide great customer service
• Hospitality and communication skills
• NAI Certification requirements (open book exam; video exam)
• All materials and workbook

Your Instructors will be Dr. Bob Hinkle, Chief of Outdoor Education, Cleveland Metroparks and Foster Brown, Manager of CanalWay Center, Cleveland Metroparks

Sessions begin at 8am and end no later than 5:00pm daily. Meals are not included; there are lunch possibilities nearby or bring a bag lunch. To save resources, please bring a water bottle and a coffee cup. Classroom sessions will be held at the Leonard Krieger – CanalWay Center.

Leonard Krieger CanalWay Center
Located on 300 acres in the heart of Cleveland’s industrial “Hidden Valley,” Leonard Krieger CanalWay Center in Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation offers unique opportunities for discovery. CanalWay Center is accessed by the entry drive off 49th Street, which leads into the heart of the reservation and includes land donated by Aluminum Co. of America (ALCOA), Cleveland Electric Illuminating a First Energy Company, Birmingham Steel, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and BP AMOCO. Visitors will pass picnic areas and play fields as they approach the visitor center, its design is reminiscent of a 19th century factory. There visitors will find panoramic views of the historic CSX railway trestle, pipelines, and steel mills of industrial Cleveland as well as the lush fields and forests of the Cuyahoga River Valley. The reservation offers hiking, birding, picnicking, fishing and biking and is linked to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by the towpath.

Lodging
If you’re coming from out of town and need lodging while attending the training, the following motels are within 1-2 miles of CanalWay Center.

Holiday Inn   
6001 Rockside Road
Independence Ohio 44131
877-863-4780
holidayinn.com

Comfort Inn
6191 Quarry Lane (off Rockside)
Independence, OH 44131
216-328-7777
comfortinn.com

Red Roof Inn
6020 Quarry Lane (off Rockside)
Independence, Oh 44141
216-447-0030
redroof.com

Cost:
Fee:    $250 (includes instructor fee, certification, NAI membership, and materials)
            $200 – if you are already a member of NAI
            $170 – training without certification plus NAI membership
            $120 – training without certification and already a member of NAI
           
Requirements for the CIH Course
Anyone age 16 or over with a desire to increase their knowledge and skills related to customer service and 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.

Interpretation Library
Three texts are necessary for completion of the open-book exam and will be provided for student use during the workshop. If you wish to purchase your own books, NAI offers a discounted package price of [include current cost plus shipping]. Visit www.interpnet.com/store/ or call NAI at 888-900-8283, order the "CIH Certification Library" and have the books shipped to you now. I highly recommended reading the material in advance as it is a lot of material to cover and this will free up your evenings and allow you to focus more on class activities.

The texts used are:
Personal Interpretation by Tim Merriman and Lisa Brochu;
Interpretation for the 21st Century by Beck & Cable;
Interpreting for Park Visitors by Bill Lewis

Registration
Download the registration form here.

Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact Dr. Bob Hinkle at rdh@clevelandmetroparks.com or call  216-341-9225.