Certified Interpretive Guide Training Course
October 2-5, 2018
Oxley Nature Center
6700 Mohawk Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74115
Instructor: Donna Horton
Registration Cost: $240 (Certification is an additional $150)
Oxley 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.
The training takes place onsite in Oxley Nature Center’s classroom, surrounded by nearly 3,000 acres of parkland and nature center. Plan enough time for your drive in, so that you can mosey through the watchable wildlife in Mohawk Park and along the entrance road to the nature center. Bring a sack lunch to eat each day, and wear comfortable walking shoes so that you can explore a nearby trail during a break.
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)
Instructor
Donna Horton teaches both CIG and CIH workshops through the National Association for Interpretation. She has worked as an interpretive naturalist at Oxley Nature Center and at Oklahoma State Parks, and as a teacher-naturalist at two Ohio resident outdoor education centers: Glen Helen OEC and Woodland Altars OEC. She has experience as a classroom teacher in grades 4-12.
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact Donna Horton at donnahortoncit@att.net or call (918) 587-0522.
Special Terms and Cancellations
Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by September 16, 2018. 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 September 16, 2018.