New JV Interpretive Books

Hi folks, I am pleased to announce that my new two-volume text-book set on Interpretive Master Plannning has been officially released. You can find out more about the books or order a set at: http://museumsetc.com/products/interpretation

Right now just finishing up some projects. We completed the St. Clair Light Station Interpretive Plan and are finishing up some some others too. My second new book on "Teaching Interpretation to Others" - a train the trainers book, is now in production. More on that later.

Happy November -
John V.

Slovenia Habit-Change Workshop

Back from the Habit-Change workshop in Slovenia. They had representatives from many different EU National Parks and agencies. There is a group photo of the workshop participants. I had a chance for the National Park folks to take me on a quick tour of some of the outstanding sights of Triglav National Park in Slovenia. We did some interpretive sign crituques as well. All-in-all a great trip and I had the chance to meet some wonderful people.

Sweden Trip

Hi folks. Just returned from my Sweden workshop with the Sweden National Property Board. We had a great workshop on using interpretation and interpretive planning for the interpretation of their historic buildings and landscapes nationally. Here is a pic from the workshop, attended by managers and staff from their marketing and communications divisions (bottom photo).

I also had a chance to meet over an extended lunch with staff from the Swedish Centre for Nature Interpretation (top photo) to talk about their work in developing interpretation skills and research projects. You can visit their website at http://www.scni.se/. Today is Friday, and I am off to Slovenia for the Climate Change workshop with EU National Park participants. More about that next week. Cheers, John Veverka

Off to Sweden and updates

It's been mostly a quiet few weeks of writing reports and a new article on useing mass customization in interpretive planning - posted at my web site. My new interpretive master planning two-volume text book set should be out this month too - anxious to see them with all the updates.

From the 26th - 29th of Sep. I will be in Sweden, then the following week in Slovenia. Will do some posts from both locations. The Fort Gratiot Light Station project in Port Huron, MI (photo of the Light Station) is almost competed with the final draft sent off for reveiw. So that's about it for now. More at the end of September. - John Veverka

National Property Board - Sweden

It looks like it will be an interesting autumn. I've been invited to present a seminar on interpretation to the National Property Board of Sweden. They're responsible for the palaces, royal parks, embassies, wild nature and historical buildings in Sweden. I will be doing the seminar for them at the end of September. You can visit their web site at: www.sfv.se/cms/english.html.

Lakeshore Museum Center Training

We completed our 3-day workshop with the Lakeshore Museum Staff/interpreters and what a great group. At the end of the workshop the final presentations included staff trying their hand at 2nd and 1st person historical interpretation - and did they excell. With an average score of 95% on the course post test, and outstanding presentations, the staff at the Lakeshore Museum diserve a standing ovation. Here are some photos - including a depression era housewife talking about the challenging times of the depression, and meeting a "hobo" who talked about losing his job and being on the searh for work while his family stayed with relatives - and outstanding presentation.

UK Association for Heritage Interpretation Annual Conference

I am honored to have been asked to provide a keynote presentation at the upcoming Association for Heritage Interpretation annual conference to be held in Huby (near York, UK) from 19-21 October 2011. The theme for the conference is "Interpretation - A survival guide" - My presentation will look at ways heritage sites can generate more new and repeat visitation using innovative interpretive planning and marketing strategies. Working smarter, not harder.
For more information on the conference and AHI, visit their web site at http://www.ahi.org.uk/. Hope you can make it - should be an important conference.