Certified Interpretive Host Training Workshop
March 10-17, 2018
Oxley Nature Center
6700 Mohawk Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74115
Instructor: Donna Horton
Registration Cost: $130 (Certification is an additional $150)
The Certified Interpretive Host Program
Oxley Nature Center, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), is offering a training course designed for staff or volunteers who have contact with the public, but do not necessarily lead interpretive programs. Anyone age 16 or over with a desire to increase their knowledge and skills related to customer service and interpretation may participate. This course will meet on March 10 and March 17, 2018
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 Host (CIH). You will pay an additional fee for certification and you must complete the open book CIH Literature Review. The CIH 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.
Why Become a Certified Interpretive Host?
A positive first impression of your site can leave a lasting mark on a visitor. Many times, that first impression is made by a campground host, maintenance worker, fee booth attendant, site steward, trail monitor, law enforcement ranger, or front desk volunteer. If you interact informally with visitors, this course will teach you easy ways to strengthen your public interactions while supporting the mission of your organization.
Specifically, this 16-hour course covers:
- Customer Service Skills
- Hospitality and Communication Skills
- Tips for Handling Difficult Visitors
- History and Importance of Public Lands
- History, definition, and principles of interpretation
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 CIH Literature Review exam covers and are useful texts for anyone in the field 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 you own library, you can order them from NAI’s online store as individual books or as a package and listed under “CIH Literature 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:
- 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)
- Interpreting for Park Visitors, by William J. Lewis (Eastern National, 2001)
Instructor
Donna Horton is an active member of the National Association for Interpretation. She was senior staff naturalist when she retired from Oxley Nature Center in Tulsa. Donna has also worked as an interpretive naturalist for Oklahoma State Parks, and as a teacher-naturalist at two resident outdoor education centers in Ohio. She has experience in classroom teaching, grade 4-12.
Workshop Venue
Located in Mohawk Park just north of the Tulsa International Airport, Oxley Nature Center has a busy staff of full-time, part-time, and volunteer interpreters carrying out its mission: "Inspire the Wonder." The Interpretive Building provides interactive exhibits and information about the area, as well as classroom space for the workshop. Ten miles of trails wander through 800+ acres of prime wildlife habitat. To get to the Interpretive Building, you will drive through Mohawk Park for a mile and a half and along half a mile of entrance road from Oxley Nature Center’s gate. Allow yourself time to slow down, to decompress, and to enjoy the beauty of the drive. You will be watched by wildlife as you arrive. Web: http://www.oxleynaturecenter.org
Further Information
For more information about the course, please contact Donna Horton at donnahortoncit@att.net or call (918) 587-0522.
Special Terms and Cancellation
Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed, postmarked, or faxed by February 25, 2018; a nonrefundable processing fee of $50.00 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 25, 2018.