Past Workshop Papers

2019 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Digging Deeper: Mining the Past for History’s Untold Stories
Columbia State Historic Park
April 5-7, 2019

2019 Workshop Presentations and Materials

2018 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
YOU BELONG: Creating Inclusive and Relevant Connections
Camp Loma Mar – Pescadero, CA
March 2-4, 2018

2018 Workshop Presentations and Materials

2017 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Feed Your Mind, Grow Your Heart, Cultivate Your Community
Camp Arroyo – Livermore, CA
March 31-April 2, 2017

Saturday, April 1

• Bones, Feathers, and Fur: Grabbing Visitor Interest with Hand-Held Objects – by Paul Ferreira, Sharol Nelson-Embry, and Nancy Ceridwyn
  • Bones, Feathers, and Fur powerpoint
  • Bones, Feathers, and Fur handout
  • Tilden’s Six Principles of Interpretation
• How Learning Happens: Reflecting on Practice – by Lindzy Bivings and Kathryn Danielson
  • Reflecting on Practice Coaching Workshops
  • Key Ideas from the Literature
  • Ice Cube Science
• Raising Your Communities Voice! – by Jaimee Rizzotti, Phillip Coffin, and Reyna Oceguera
  • Raising Your Communities Voice!
• Building Community Using Environmental Challenges and Games – by Bob Flasher
  • Environmental Games
  • Cooperation
• Lab then Gab: the NGSS Approach to Environmental Education – by Allison Martin
  • Decomposition-Mission
  • Beetles Project – Discussion Map
  • Beetles Project – Discussion Leading Tips
  • Beetles Project – Leading Meaning-Making Discussions
  • Inquiry Project NSF – Talk Moves Goals Reference Sheet
  • BSCS 5E Full Report
  • NGSS Lesson Plan
  • NGSS Information and Resources for Environmental Educators and Resource Interpreters
  • Framework for K-12 Science Education
  • How to Read the Standards Figure
  • NGSS Playbook
  • NGSS DCI Combined
  • Matrix of Science and Engineering Practices
  • Matrix of Disciplinary Core Ideas
  • Matrix Of Crosscutting Concepts
• Reframing the Climate Conversation – by Laura Drath and Kathryn Schulz
  • Reframing the Climate Conversation powerpoint
  • Lesson 4 – reframe cards heat trapping blanket
  • Lesson 5 – reframe cards protection
  • Lesson 5 – reframe cards responsible management

Sunday, April 2

• Interpreting on Your Feet – by Ethan Rotman
  • 5 Stategies For Responding To Questions
• Lessons Learned from the Performing Arts – by Lisa Borok
  • Lessons Learned powerpoint
  • Lessons Learned PDF
  • Drama Games For Interpreters
  • Vocal Warm Ups
  • Resources
• Inspiring Stewardship Through Collaboration, Education and Restoration – by Michelle Jimenez-Holtz and Rob Wade
  • PUSD Fire Restoration
• Our Stories Matter – by Stephen Cote
  • Our Stories Matter handout
  • Our Stories Matter worksheet

2016 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Cutting Back or Cutting Edge, Keeping Interpretation Relevant
Humboldt State University – Arcata, CA
April 1-3, 2016

• Create Your Own Fun And Educational Family Drop-In Events – Brayden Mitchell (resources: event task list – blank, program profile template)
• The Visitor Experience Revolution: Has It Passed You By? – Written by Don Enright, Presented by Brian McCaughey
• Guidelines For Creating Effective Signs – Ethan Rotman

2015 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Building Bridges
Cazadero, CA
March 13-15, 2015

The National Association for Interpretation spent a weekend exploring the connections that are being made and are needed throughout our profession. Front-line interpreters, planners, designers, managers and many more work together to build the interpretive bridges that we use, stone by stone. We discovered the best ways to build these bridges, leverage their strengths, and utilize them over and over again. All workshop papers accessed at 2015 workshop program.

2014 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Growing Interpretation
Chico, CA
April 4-6, 2014

The National Association for Interpretation Region 9 is rich with new ideas and resources that help boost the production of interpreters and the variety of programs they provide. This spring, join us for blossoming discussions on innovative field techniques, best practices in management, and current science, technology, and social movements during the annual Region 9 workshop being held April 4-6, 2014 at the California State University in Chico, California.

• Interpretation’s New Definition – Kevin Damstra
• Make Your Presentations Blossom with Prezi – Alexis Sohlden and Andy Bleckinger
• A Bird’s Eye View of Program Evaluation – David Moore (more resources: visitor survey, docent survey, logic model keyed – pdf, logic model – pdf, logic model – word, rubric elevation)
• Nature’s Classroom – Ashley Elliott (PowerPoint)
• Confidently Enter the World of Producing Interpretive Media – Marianne Emmendorfer
• Communication “Nuggets” for Dealing with Problematic People – Jon K. Hooper
• Half the Park is After Dark – Suzanne Gurton
• Edible Interpretation – Shane Mooneyham, CIG
• Interpreting to Diverse Audiences: Looking Beyond the Obvious – Kathy Schulz
• State Parks and County Fairs: An Unlikely Partnership – Ellen Clark
• Hark Back, Move Forward – David Zuckermann
• The Elephant in the Room: Reaching People You Thought You Couldn’t – David Vago
• What Time Is It? It’s Toddler Time! – Laura Drath (PowerPoint)
• Engaging and Broadening Audiences – Arthur Bart-Williams, Denise Penrose, and Will Hunt (Exercise)
• A Student’s Perspective: The Power of Encouragement in the Field of Interpretation – Gena Wood and Polly Taber
• NAI Recertification Demystified – Emily Jacobs
• How to Cultivate Your Million(ish) Dollar Donor – Allison Meador (resources: ask strategy, worksheet)
• How Different is Interpretation for College Students? – Seth Williams
• CSU, Chico Student Interpretive Displays:
  • Do QR Codes Work?
  • Are Millennial Students Less Equipped to Think Critically?
  • Are YOU Using Google Correctly?
  • How “Millennial” are You?
  • Interpreters, you think you know Millennials…but you probably don’t!
  • Is Your Interpretive Program Missing 3 Millennial Essentials?
  • Social Media…Does it Affect Attention Span?
  • Why Do College Students Love Apps?

2013 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
Rising Tides: Riding the Wave of Change
Oakland, CA
April 5-7, 2013

An evolving world demands innovation in how we interpret changes, both now and in the future. As society responds to rising tides against the shoreline, we must evaluate our skills and techniques. Skillful interpretation will allow us to meet changing demographics, technology, and environmental concerns, so that we may inspire future generations to protect their inherited natural and cultural resources.Through in-depth discussions and training on revolutionary interpretive techniques and navigating the challenges of maintaining relevancy in a shifting society. See presentation papers below:

• Comets In 2013
• Communicating Conservation: Using Volunteers to Spread Your Message
• Finally a Better Way to Get What You Want
• Getting Personal: Storytelling as a Tool for Climate Change Education
• Healthy Parks Healthy People: The Interpreter’s Role
• Professional Curriculum Development
• Taking FOSS Outdoors

2012 NAI Sierra Pacific Region Spring Workshop
On the Shoulders of Giants: Honoring our past as we shape our future
Yosemite National Park, CA
March 16-18, 2012

Region 9’s 2012 workshop theme was “On the Shoulders of Giants: Honoring our past as we shape our future.” Session presenters focused on the rich history of interpretation, as well as our collective impact in the present and in shaping our future. Through engaging workshop sessions, participants had a chance to learn from and share with each other ways to stay on the cutting edge of our profession. See presentation papers below:

• The Creative Art of Storytelling: Breathing New Life into History and Ecology
• Growing Interpretive Staff Through Coaching Online, Individually, and in a Community
• Dr. Steller’s Jay
• Storytelling 101
• How to Reach, Teach, and Manage a Younger Audience
• Leading Nature Programs for Those with Special Needs
• From the Shoulders of Giants to the Decks of Giants: Ships and Companies
• The Sun: The Second Greatest Influence on Earth