InterpPress Books

In accordance with NAI's mission statement, InterpPress publishes books that improve the profession of interpretation over the long term. Potential titles include books on planning, contracting, design, interpretive writing, the history of the field, trends within the field, management, and interpretive techniques. Creative contributions and fresh perspectives are especially welcome.

All InterpPress books are available through NAI's association store.

Applied Interpretation: Putting Research into Practice

Doug Knapp
2007

Applied Interpretation: Putting Research into Practice offers practitioners, managers, and students of interpretation a source for interpretive theory, techniques, strategies, and experiences that have been shown, through research, to be successful in conveying interpretive messages. This resource is the product of 16 years of research that has evaluated traditional programs, school field trips, and visitor center and campfire programs. The findings, offered through vignettes and case studies, are the product of long-term assessments that range from three months to three years following an interpretive experience.

Coaching Interpreters

Margaret Styles Repath
2018

Performing the role of a coach for interpreters is more than just knowing about interpretation theory and skills. It is about understanding relationships, supporting the agenda of those being coached, listening for cues, and being an accountability partner. Based on more than 200 hours of coaching tour guides and interpreters, this is the first book to provide the profession of interpretation with a precise understanding of what it takes to coach others in a way that will enhance interpretation skills and, ultimately, the audience experience.
 

Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool (eBook)

By Rachel Larimore
2011

Nature-based preschools are powerful programs that fuse early childhood and environmental education to develop a child’s lifelong connection with the natural world. With the number of this unique, cutting-edge program growing throughout the country, many nature centers are asking, Is a nature-based preschool right for us? Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool helps answer that question, and provides a how-to guide to move from concept to implementation.

The History of Heritage Interpretation

Tim Merriman and Lisa Brochu
2006

Where did the profession of heritage interpretation begin? The History of Heritage Interpretation explores significant events in the history of the field, from its origins with the elders of tribal villages through the development of professional organizations around the world, with specific emphasis on the National Association for Interpretation in the United States. Essays are included from noted authors and pioneers in the field including Ted Cable, Cem Basman, Sarah Blodgett, Chris Nelson, Jim Covel and Carolyn Ward.

Interpretation By Design: Graphic Design Basics for Heritage Interpreters

Paul Caputo, Shea Lewis, and Lisa Brochu
2008

Interpreters use exhibits, brochures, signs, websites, site publications, and other visual media to tell their stories. Written for interpreters who have little or no training in graphic design but find themselves responsible for creating or overseeing the production of nonpersonal media, this book focuses on using basic principles of both graphic design and interpretation in nonpersonal media. Interpretation By Design addresses how to make decisions about type, color, and composition, as well as why an interpretive approach may be more effective for communicating with your audience.

Interpretive Perspectives: A Collection of Essays on Interpreting Nature and Culture (eBook)

Larry Beck and Ted Cable
2010

This collection of essays represents some of the best work of two significant, contemporary voices in the field of interpretation, including original pieces written for this publication and reprints of articles that have appeared in National Association for Interpretation publications spanning three decades. Whether you are new to the field or an experienced interpreter, you will be inspired by Larry Beck and Ted Cable’s unique ability to find interpretive lessons in tangential fields, beauty in the everyday, and hope in the future.

Interpretive Planning: The 5-M Model for Successful Planning Projects

Lisa Brochu
2013

This second edition of Interpretive Planning: The 5-M Model for Successful Planning Projects draws from the author’s more than three decades of experience in creating interpretive plans, and explains the process she has taught to hundreds of interpreters. This book can be a valuable tool for those wishing to develop an interpretive plan as well as those aspiring to work as a consultant or planner.

Lisa Brochu specializes in interpretive master planning, interpretive writing, and training. Lisa served as associate director for the National Association for Interpretation for a decade, during which time she was responsible for planning, development, and supervision of programs, products, and services for the organization. Before joining the NAI staff, Lisa was a freelance consultant and completed more than 150 projects for a wide variety of private, municipal, county, state, and federal agencies around the world. She has taught numerous classes and workshops related to interpretation and is recognized as a leading authority in the field. Lisa co-authored Personal Interpretation: Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources and Put the HEART Back In Your Community: Unifying Diverse Interests Around a Central Theme with Tim Merriman and Interpretation by Design: Graphic Design Basics for Heritage Interpreters with Paul Caputo and Shea Lewis. Lisa is a Certified Interpretive Planner and a Certified Interpretive Trainer, and has won numerous awards for her work in the United States and abroad, including the prestigious Fellow Award, the highest honor given by NAI to recognize excellence, innovation, and leadership in the field of interpretation. 

Interpretive Solutions: Harnessing the Power of Interpretation to Help Resolve Critical Resource Issues (eBook)

Michael E. Whatley, MS
2010

Interpretive Solutions will help you harness the power of interpretive communications to improve critical resource protection issues and situations. Matching the right communications approach with the audience most in need of being reached can play a pivotal role in whether a situation stabilizes, improves, or worsens. Appropriate communications can make a positive difference in the role people play in helping to achieve desired resource protection outcomes and results.

The merging of sound interpretive methods with scientifically based resource protection messages is an emerging goal of most, if not all, land protection agencies and organizations. The steady gain of this blended approach is encouraging and, amid climate change, oil spills, unprecedented spread of invasive species, and radical changes to natural fire regimes, it is needed more than ever.

Interpretive Solutions is a joint effort between the National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Office of Education and Outreach, and National Association for Interpretation.

Interpretive Theme Writer’s Field Guide

Jon Kohl 
2018

The interpretive theme is the most important sentence an interpreter inks on paper. Despite its centrality to thematic interpretation, no single work has dedicated itself entirely to the art and craft of strong theme writing—until now. The Interpretive Theme Writer’s Field Guide by Jon Kohl builds on Sam Ham’s 30-year thematic interpretation research legacy. This pocket companion offers writers strong theme examples, worksheets, exercises, inspirational quotes, and techniques. Kohl recognizes that teams, even communities, create heritage themes, and introduces the Interpretive Framework methodology to facilitate community-based theme writing. 

Interpretive Writing

Alan Leftridge
2006

The executive editor of The Interpreter magazine will sharpen your skills for connecting with your audiences. The book introduces you to the strategies promoted by the National Association for Interpretation and the National Park Service for written interpretation, with a focus on developing tangibles, intangibles, universals, and interpretive themes in your writing, while avoiding trite expressions. These strategies and skills apply to your brochures, web sites, exhibits, public service announcements, books, magazine articles and other interpretive projects.

Management of Interpretive Sites: Developing Sustainable Operations Through Effective Leadership

Tim Merriman and Lisa Brochu
2005

New and experienced managers looking for advice and ideas will find InterpPress's Management of Interpretive Sites: Developing Sustainable Operations Through Effective Leadership helpful in developing managerial and leadership skills. Whether you need to write personnel policies, develop a business plan, conduct meetings, or use interpretive efforts to convince visitors to become stewards of your resource, this book contains specific suggestions based upon the authors’ combined 60 years of experience in running not-for-profit, governmental, and for-profit organizations.

Meaningful Interpretation

Edited by David L. Larsen
2011

Meaningful Interpretation: How to Connect Hearts and Minds to Places, Objects, and Other Resources is a training and learning tool for interpreters. Using a personal journaling format, this volume includes questions, text, exercises, and the insights of colleagues. It prompts the reader to explore the relationship of tangible resources to their intangible meanings, the role and purpose of interpretation, and the responsibilities of professionalism. This book is pertinent to all interpreters—brand new, experienced, volunteer, or paid professional. It includes natural, cultural, and historical examples and is useful for parks, refuges, zoos, museums, nature centers, and other places.

Meaningful Interpretation captures the essential philosophy and best practices of the National Park Service Interpretive Development Program (IDP). The IDP was created by hundreds of field interpreters through a series of workshops and training courses, and defines professional standards for National Park Service interpretation through a national benchmark curriculum.

The Nature Center Book: How to Create and Nurture a Nature Center in Your Community

Brent Evans and Carolyn Chipman Evans
2004

The authors of this 216-page book from InterpPress have been studying nature centers since 1996 when they surveyed 100 nature centers and interviewed leaders in the field. The University of Texas Press originally published How to Create and Nurture a Nature Center in Your Community in 1998, when it received first place in NAI’s Media Award Competition. Since then, almost 3,000 copies have sold and traveled as far as Africa, Japan, and South America.This revised edition provides up-to-date information and expanded discussion of topics key to nature center development. It outlines lessons learned since the first edition and important new developments in the field. The new edition includes updated information regarding organizations and resources, as well as expanded coverage of financial and organizational issues and government-based nature centers. The book, printed in full color, features more than 200 photographs.

Personal Interpretation: Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources

Lisa Brochu and Tim Merriman
2008

This is the second edition of the first book published by NAI's imprint, InterpPress. Written in clear, concise language with many examples, Personal Interpretation: Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources employs the most current ideas in the interpretive profession. This 100-page book shares traditions back through Freeman Tilden’s principles and Enos Mills’ thoughtful ideas on nature guiding. It will connect you with more in-depth resources developed by authors such as Sam Ham, Bill Lewis, Douglas Knudson, Ted Cable, Larry Beck, and Joseph Cornell. Featuring more than 30 color photos, this resource shares approaches tested and proven by the National Park Service and many other organizations along with research concepts that back up their approaches. Authors Lisa Brochu and Tim Merriman collectively have more than 57 years experience in the interpretive profession as interpreters, consultants, planners and trainers.

Putting Interpretation on the Map (eBook)

Heidi Bailey
2009

Putting Interpretation on the Map: An Interpretive Approach to Geography is an electronic handbook for front-line interpreters, managers, and planners on incorporating maps and other geographic technologies into interpretive media, exhibits, and programs. This electronic book reviews basic geography concepts and map skills, and introduces resources from simple map activities to the most advanced geotechnologies.