We completed our COE June training program a few weeks ago.  Just catching up on postings.  Here is a video of one of the interpretive programs one of the groups put together as part of the course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v66l2RiFb3Y&feature=youtu.be that you might enjoy.  What a great and creative class.  The group photo is provided.  More workshop photos at:  http://pinterest.com/jvainterp/
Cheers, John V.

Interpretive Services Course - COE

This coming week I'll be spending with the US Army Corps of Engineers for our Interpretive Services course in Huntsville, Alabama.  This is a 4-day introductory course that covers many aspects of interpretation, including interpretive theory and principles, planning and designing interpretive panels and exhibits, and presenting live interpretive programs.  The above photo is from the January IS course with participants at the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge (our project site) working on interpretive panel projects.



May Update

Hi folks.  Things have been a bit busy writing proposals for new projects, completing projects on the books, and starting new projects, such as the Old Baldy Lighthouse Interpretive Plan.  I started a new post on "Pintrest", where you can post photos on any topic.  My Pintrest page has photos of curent and past projects, including a collection of Lighthouse Pics. from our lighthouse projects.  You can see my pintrest page at: http://pinterest.com/jvainterp/lighthouse-interpretation-projects/.   Updates on our Korea Nati onal Arboretum Training project will be coming in June (one of the Korea BG displays - top photo).  We also have joined an internation team for a major interpretation project in Croatia!  Fingers crossed on that one.  Cheers, JV

May update and Old Baldy Lighthouse.

Old Baldy Lighthouse and Museum Interpretive Plan, Bald Head Island, NC.  http://www.oldbaldy.org/  JVA, working with Matt Kaser of Kaser Design, was awarded the contract to develop the interpretive plan and exhibit concept plan for the Old Baldy Lighthouse and Museum.  You can visit this site via their web site link.  The project will start in May and be completed by August, 2012.  The photo is the Old Baldy Lighthouse.  What a great location to be working in during the spring and summer :).

April Update

Hi folks,
March was a slow month for travel but a huge month for writing. We are about 1/2 way through the writing for our new "Interpretive Writing" text book. I was also busy finishing writing up interpretive plan drafts for several projects, and preparting for a trip back to Korea in May/June to work on our National Arboretum training program. I was also just asked to write a new interpretation text book for Korea, working with Prof. Ju-hee Lee who will do the translations and insert Korean photos and analogies.

A few days ago I had the pleasure to providing a lecture at the University of Michigan, Flint Campus for their history department on Careers in Heritage Interpretation, which was fun.

Right now we are getting ready to finish up the fabrication for all the interpretive panels and exhibit materials for the COE Bonnet Carrie Spillway, which we hope to have wrapped up by June. I'll post some of the photos when everything is in place.

I have a new newsletter I just started "INTERPnews". If you would like a copy send me your e-mail address.

That's it for now. JV (jvainterp@aol.com)

JV Book News

Hi folks. We're thrilled that my recent MuseumsEtc book "Interpretive Master Planning" has made Museum Education Monitor's Top 10 Museum Education Books of 2011: They've been voted by the hundreds of worldwide readers of Museum Education Monitor as books which will "fuel our work and imaginations in the years to come". Of the top 10, Interpretive Master Planning was ranked #4. Thanks for everyone that voted for my book - this was a nice surprise. You can order the book from: http://museumsetc.com/products/interpretation, or from Acorn Naturalists here in the US.

Just finishing up some projects and waiting to hear back on some proposals. Also working on a new e-interp web based training module. That's it for now - happy valentines day.
jv

January Update

Hi folks, Hope you had a great holiday. Looks like the new year will be a busy one. I have my US Army Corps of Engineers 4-day interpretive course at the end of January, and was just awarded the contract to teach the COE Advanced Interpretation Course for Supervisors and Managers, this May. My newest book "The Interpretive Training Handbook" should be released this month or early February, and I launched my e-interp web based training courses with "Introduction to Interpretation", and "Planning Interpretive Panels" as the first two courses. I am working on the third e-interp course "Planning Interpretive Exhibits" now, and hope to have it on-line by the end of the month. You can check my website for the details on the new books, training courses, and projects - www.heritageinterp.com. jv