Certified Interpretive Guide Training Course
This course is full!
March 3-6, 2020
Carson Nature Center
3000 W. Carson Drive, Littleton, CO 80120
Instructors: Phil Waltz, Skot Latona, and Cindy Seefeldt
Registration Cost: $230 (Certification will be an additional $150)
The Carson Nature Center, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), is offering a training course for individuals in the field of Interpretation. It is designed for individuals who deliver interpretive programs or have contact with the public at interpretive sites.
Course Options
There are two options for this course.
Option one: take the course without obtaining certification.
Option two: take the course and add certification as a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG). You will pay an additional fee for certification and you must complete an open book Core Literature Review exam. The CIG lasts four years and comes with a complimentary one year membership. If you are already a member of NAI we will add your complimentary membership onto the end of your current membership.
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)
Instructors
Skot Latona is a Certified Interpretive Trainer and Certified Heritage Interpreter, and managed the Interpretation Program at South Platte Park for 12 years, before becoming the Park Manager overseeing all operations including education programs. Prior to that he worked as an interpreter for Colorado State Parks, and represented NAI for an interpretive design project on the Great Wall in Beijing, China. He received the National Interpretive Manager award from NAI in 2014.
Cindy Seefeldt became a Certified Interpretive Guide in 2009, and completed the Certified Interpretive Trainer program in 2018.She has been an interpreter at South Platte Park for 17 years. Cindy has a technical IT backgrounds and loves exploring the great outdoors with her family and with groups at South Platte Park.
Phil Waltz is a Certified Interpretive Trainer, and has managed the Nature Center at South Platte Park as well as the international trips, ecotours, and outdoor recreation programs of South Suburban since 1998. Phil was an interpreter for Colorado State Parks, and consults on interpretive sign projects throughout the region. Skot and Phil have team taught many great CIG courses over the past 10 years, and look forward to working with you!
Lodging
South Suburban manages the luxury Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel, about 10 miles from the Nature Center. They have given us a price of $89/night for a room there, which includes breakfast! It’s a great deal as it’s normally $111 – 185. It is a very nice facility with a small workout room, sauna, and of course a great golf course. There is also a café bar and grill with reasonable prices on meals. The hotel is in a residential area, so it’s about a half-mile to other food options. To take advantage of this rate, call 303-790-0202 to register and say that you are part of the Certified Interpretive Guide course through South Suburban’s Carson Nature Center.
While it is only 10 miles from the hotel to the class, plan around 30 minutes to drive in morning and evening traffic in the area. Don’t have a car? It would be about a 3 block walk to Lincoln Ave where you can catch a bus to Mineral Station (45 mins) near the nature center. Plan your routes and times in advance on RTD’s website!
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact Phil Waltz at philipw@sspr.org or call (303) 730-1022.
Special Terms and Cancellations
Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by February 17, 2020. 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 February 17, 2020.