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Welcome to the newsletter of NAI's Wild West Region, serving southern California and southern Nevada.
Featured photo:
Anza Borrego Desert State Park, by Allison C. Barnes
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Dear Wild West Region 8 Members,
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As we kick off a new decade, our Regional Leadership Team invites you to tell us your 2020 wishes. Click for the Membership Survey and Workshop Planning Survey. In addition, if you're interested in learning more about our growing and innovative team, click here. We are currently accepting applications for a Secretary and Director.
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Blythe Wilson and Erin Gates
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We are excited to welcome our newest Leadership Team members Blythe Wilson, Deputy Director, and Erin Gates, Treasurer. Visit our blog to get the inside scoop on their vision, interests, and experience.
Happy New Year!
Kim Loureiro, Outgoing Secretary
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Navigating
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By Danielle Ornelas
M.S. Conservation Leadership
Colorado State University
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The author presents her Capstone Project research as part of her M.S. in Conservation Leadership degree in the Market Place of Ideas.
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The day I found out that I received the graduate student scholarship to attend NAI's 2019 Annual Conference, I was in my friends driveway about to help her start her lawn mower (when I pulled up, she was cutting her grass with scissors). The next thing I recall is being asked why I was crying, as tears of joy rolled down my face. My entire being filled with pride, and I felt that everything that I worked for up until that point was being affirmed by the leading organization in the field of interpretation.
NAI's Annual Conference was three days of 1 -1.5 hour long presentations on the latest, innovative practices within our field. Each session fell under a different track: Research, Tourism, Management, Leadership, and Programming. My goal was to attend at least one session from each track as this was the only way I could wrap my head around all the different offerings.
One of the most informative sessions I attended was meeting the new editors of the Journal of Interpretive Research (JOI), Dr. Robert Powell and Dr. Mark Stern. What I took away from the session is that there are multiple ways to submit a piece for publication that don't have to follow the traditional "research paper" route, such as opinion pieces and innovative interpretive methods. In addition, the editors will provide feedback intended to make your submission better.
The most impactful experience for me was the last session I attended on the last day. The National Park Service (NPS) was implementing new "micro internships" as a way to address the gap in diversity among staff and visitors to our open spaces. What made this session stand out for me was hearing the stories of the interns. Listening to students share their experiences with such vulnerability was mesmerizing. Each individual demonstrated the power and impact that outdoor experiences can have on the trajectory of our lives.
A common thread I noticed between the interns that contributed to their overall experience was the role of a leader at the site. Whether it was their supervisor or fellow staff members, the interns were supported and encouraged to learn and experience new things. As an emerging professional within the field, it showed me how important leadership is, and the type of leader I want to be. In fact, this conference was filled with influential leaders from all across the country and it was an honor to be able to mingle and share stories with them.
Not only did I have the opportunity to attend the conference on a scholarship I was able to present a poster on my research in the Market Place of Ideas. As I am currently on the prowl for jobs, I'm not sure what the future holds. What I do know is that NAI is an organization that I am proud to be a member of, as it gave me the opportunity to be a part of its biggest annual celebration. Thank you NAI!
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The Ripple Effect: A First-Timers Account of the National Conference
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By Erin Gates
K12 Access Project Coordinator
Interpretation & Education Division
California State Parks
If had my own astrological calendar, where each year was marked by some symbol, 2019 would be the year of NAI. I have had the privilege and honor to attend not one but two NAI Conferences this year, the International Conference in Brazil, and most recently, the National Conference in Denver. Besides attending InterpTech for the last 3 years, these are the first two NAI Conferences I have ever attended, and I was a very grateful recipient of two scholarships that allowed me to have these incredible opportunities. So before I continue, I would like to express my extreme appreciation to our Region,the mighty Region 8, for providing me with a scholarship so that I could attend this conference.
The Denver conference was quite an experience. From the moment I walked into the hotel, I could feel the excitement. Walking past people in the halls, stairwells, street corners, all with bright smiles on their faces, and this serene interpretive look in their eyes. Without even NAI badges, I could tell I was standing next to a fellow interpreter, that I was amongst my tribe. I was really proud to see so many of our profession representing themselves, their organizations, and their passions. I was really proud to see how NAI brings all of us together, and creates this space for collaborating, creating, sharing, and building momentum to take back with us. The ripple effect was everywhere. Those 4 days that we all spent together are still making their impacts back in our respective settings all across the country and the world.
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Kicking off the week at the festive Denver Zoo
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The Opening Ceremony at the Denver Zoo was a great way to sprinkle a bit of holiday cheer and sparkle on to the rest of the week. There were several amazing sessions that I had every intention of attending throughout the week, but I found myself with a pretty full schedule acting as the Auction Chair, and trying to figure out how to make it look like I had an idea of what I was doing. Lesson learned - be careful what you commit to at the national conference, and make sure that you either know what you're getting into, or have a co-chair to help lighten the load.
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Excited to receive auction items for the 2019 Conference
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Being that I was a scholarship recipient, and that the auction raised money for scholarships, I figured it was very apropos, and turned out to be a good experience and a way of getting a glimpse behind the curtain. Not only did I get to meet many new colleagues and fellow NAI members, I also had the opportunity to work closely with NAI Staff, who truly are incredible. I had the pleasure of presenting a session as part of InterpCon and it was wonderful to see how many members took advantage of this brand new opportunity to participate in part of the conference from the comfort of their home or office. Ironically, my presentation was about using technology to expand our interpretive reach!
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Interpretive Rangers pointing at the Christmas tree
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Attending both the National and International NAI Conferences this year has been one of the best things I have ever done for my career. I left both conferences being so proud of what I do, proud of my colleagues around the world, proud of my professional organization NAI, and reinvigorated to get back home and keep infusing my passion and love for interpretation into everything I do! If you haven't been to a National Conference before, please go, and please apply for a scholarship so that you can!
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Interested in hosting an NAI interpretive planning course at your site in 2020?
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Each year NAI hosts 3-5 Process of Interpretive Planning (PIP) workshops across the country. During the course, participants learn key essentials in interpretive planning and take part in practicums designed to put new content into practice, utilizing our host site to develop key aspects of an interpretive plan. Host sites must be about to start an authentic planning experience and for hosting, you'll get a free seat in the course and the start to a site interpretive plan in exchange for a free meeting room, some basic AV and a local contact. For more information, please contact Emily at [email protected].
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Upcoming Trainings and Conferences
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Certified Interpretive Guide Train the Trainer Workshop
By NAI
February 3-7, 2020 | Midland, MI
Partner Webinar: Neurodiversity in Museums: Crafting Community for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
By AASLH
January 15, 3-4pm EST
FREE
Coaching Interpreters Workshop
By NAI
January 29-31, 2020 | Eatonville, WA
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| Save the Date |
InterpTech
Pacific Grove, California
April 27-30, 2020
NAI National Conference
St. Augustine, Florida
November 10-14, 2020
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| Regional Officers |
Director
Marissa Llanes
[email protected]
Secretary
Kim Loureiro
[email protected]
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| National Officers |
Jay Miller
President
[email protected]
Tom Mullin
VP for Administration
[email protected]
Parker McMullen-Bushman
VP for Programs
[email protected]
Vicki Basman
Treasurer
[email protected]
Terry Joyce
Secretary
[email protected]
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