Certified Interpretive Guide Training Course

This workshop is being led by Aaron Leifheit, a Certified Interpretive Trainer, Guide and Host. Having been an interpreter for the National Park Service and the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association for 7 years, Aaron is now the Education Director for the Outside Las Vegas Foundation.

The Las Vegas valley, which sits at the center of some of America’s most beautiful natural areas, is literally surrounded by public lands.  These include: 

• Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the nation’s first Conservation Area. Red Rock Canyon is visited by 1.5 million people a year, and is one of the top rock climbing destinations in the world. Red Rock is also home to the Mojave Max, the ‘spokes-tortoise’ for the threatened endangered tortoise, and the Keystone Thrust, a nationally significant geological feature. 
• Lake Mead National Recreational Area, the worlds first Recreation Area, and the 5th most visited NPS unit. Lake Mead is the Southwest’s premier water recreation site, and is visited by 6.3 million people a year.  More importantly, this site provides water and power to the Southwest’s major cities. 
• Desert National Wildlife Refuge, the largest Wildlife Refuge outside of Alaska, established to protect native Desert Bighorn Sheep;
• Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, an island of cool forest among the desert, the NRA rises to 13,000 feet, and protects Bristlecone Pine trees, the oldest living organisms in the world. 

The Las Vegas Valley is a worldwide tourist hub, featuring an extensive variety of food and entertainment options. The Valley also hosts numerous parks and museums, including Clark County Wetlands Park, Henderson Bird Preserve, the Children’s Discovery Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Old Mormon Fort, the Neon Museum, Craig Ranch Regional Park and others. 

 

Course Options

The CIG Program

The nationally recognized Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program is designed for anyone in the interpretive field. Whether you’re a new hire, a professional looking to refresh your skills, or beginning a second career, this course will aid you in improving your presentation techniques. The course combines the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical strategies in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors.

This 32-hour course includes:

• The history, definition, and principles of interpretation.
• Techniques on how to make your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic.
• How to use tangible objects to connect your audience to intangible ideas and universal concepts.
• The 3 certification requirements needed to obtain a CIG (open book CORE Literature Review exam, program outline, and 10 minute interpretive presentation).

Texts Used in the Workshop

During this course, the books on interpretation listed below will be mentioned and some of their ideas explored. They are what the open book Core Literature Review exam covers and are useful texts for any interpreter to read. You are not required to purchase these texts for the course and a loaner set of these books will be provided by your instructor during the class for those who choose to add certification. If you would like to buy your own set for use during the class or for your own library, you can order them from NAI’s online store as individual books or as a package and listed under “Core Review Library Package”.  Click here to go to the NAI Store. 

Member Discount: Those choosing to apply for certification will receive a complimentary one year membership to NAI. Memberships will become active within a couple of days of registration and will allow you to purchase course books and other registrations at the discounted member rate. Once memberships become active, you will receive a receipt via email letting you know that you are all setup. Current NAI members will receive a one year extension on their current membership. If you are registering for $0, your membership will become active when you are certified.

 The texts are:

• Interpreting Our Heritage, by Freeman Tilden (4th Edition, U. of North Carolina Press, 2007)
• The Gifts of Interpretation, by Larry Beck and Ted Cable (Sagamore Publishing, 2011)
• Personal Interpretation: Connecting Your Audience to Heritage Resources, by Lisa Brochu and Tim Merriman (National Association for Interpretation, 2015)
• Interpretation: Making a Difference on Purpose, by Sam H. Ham (Fulcrum, 2013)

Lodging

Dining

Transportation

OLVF offices are within walking distance from Downtown Las Vegas and the Freemont Street Experience.

Further Information

For more information about the course, please contact Aaron Leifheit at aleifheit@outsidelasvegas.org or call (630) 253-1244.

Special Terms and Cancellations

Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by December 17, 2017. A nonrefundable processing fee of $50 will be assessed. Emailed cancellations should be sent to registration@interpnet.com. Cancellations cannot be made by phone.

No refunds will be given after December 17, 2017.