Merry Christmas

Another Christmas is almost over - time sure does go quickly. My family and I want to wish everyone a great holiday and New Year. We have lots of new projects starting in 2011, so more on that later. Rest, relax and enjoy the spirit of the day. But be careful of what you wish for - I just wanted a monkey!!!

Never Stop Learning !!

Just a quick note. I recently completed two E-courses offered by Illinois University, the Eppley Center and National Park Service:
- Foundations of Interpretation
- Training and Coaching Interpreters.
Even though I have been doing this for 30+ years, I feel that no matter how much you think you know, you can always learn more. These two courses were a good refresher, and the Training and Coaching Interpreters course gave me lots of new ideas I can apply in my next training course, with the Corps of Engineers in January 2011.
Here is the link for Illinois University/Epply center if you'd like to check it out. http://eppley.org/elearning/course-catalog/interpretation. I am starting a new project as well, but can't talk about it yet :) Lots of new work for a business Christmas Present. More news in a week or so. Merry Christmas.

New Environmental Center Project

JVA has been contracted to develop the Interpretive Master Plan for the Brown Family Environmental Center at Kenyon College, in Ganbier, Ohio. The mission of the Center is to support the education goals of Kenyon College providing opportunities for the study of organisms and habitats, and by conserving the natural and cultural diversity and history of the Kokosing River Valley. We will start work on this project right way and target completion in March 2011. You can visit the Center's web site for more information about their on-going program and services at: http://bfec.kenyon.edu/welcomeset1.htm.

Happy Thanksgiving

It has been a while since my last entry. Busy mostly with writing up two draft interpretive plans and finishing up the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (National Park Service) interpretive plan. JVA UK partner Cris Emberson is in Chili now for about 3 weeks working on a variety of project there, and I will be starting the new US Army Corps of Engineers project in Louisiana the week of Dec. 13th. JVA also has several new projects in proposal stage, and new projects on board for 2011. Given the economics of the times, having interpretive projects into 2011 is encouraging. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse - New Project

Working as a subcontractor with Museumcroft, JVA has been awarded the contract to develop the Interpretive Master Plan for the St. Clair Parks and Recreation Commission Fort Gratiot Light, located at Port Huron, Michigan. The project will start in November and be completed in February, 2011. You can find out more about the lighthouse at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Gratiot_Light.

New Corps of Engineers Project

We will be starting a new project, subcontracting to MWH Americas, Inc., to develop the Interpretive Master Plan for the Corps of Engineers Atchafalaya Basin Project (Park), a 833,000 acre Basin Floodway. The Basin is one of the nation's last great river swamps. You can see the site brochure at: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pao/bro/AtchafalayaBasinProject.pdf for more information on the site. We will be starting this project in the next few week.

Hi,
Just back from Costa Rica. A great experience and the rain forests were just amazing. Had some very interesting interpretive experiences as well. A few photos, including an active volcano in the center of the country, Banana beatle found in the banana fields, and an unbrella tree leaf. New projects coming .. more later.