Interpretation renders the natural and cultural heritage of a place in personal, easy-to-understand terms for either first-hand programming or non-personal, on-site delivery in, for example, brochures, exhibits and trails with a self-guiding CD. Enjoyable visitor experiences interpreted well become learning experiences about the management and protection of the national park.
Visitors become more aware of their role as stewards of the natural and cultural heritage right there. They start to care. They get more actively engaged in conscious learning about nature and culture around them in their own natural areas. with this kind of engagement, influence on policy and more active participation in policy at the local, municipal, regional and national level may be invited by simply showing them the way to enjoy themselves through caring more for a natural heritage area.
Interpreters' personal missions should be to grow in personal understanding him- or herself about their own role in the larger ecosystem they live within, to grow in greater appreciation of it, so that they can be better stewards of it themselves. So they undertake continuous learning and serve as models of lifelong learning to the visiting public, by sometimes simply saying "I don't know - let's find out together" or "I will find out and get back to you with that information."
Interpreters present multiple points of view about an issue because resources have multiple intangible meanings. A tree is not just a tree - it is a home, an income, a food source, a refuge, part of a larger system, a sacred object, and it plays many other important roles in its place. Talking about a tree from multiples perspectives allows the visitor to widen their own point of view, to think a new thought about trees seen anywhere, perhaps.
Audiences have multiple points of view - affected by fear, joy, curiosity, fatigue, and distraction and everything in between. Interpreters must clearly inform the audience when they are presenting a variety of viewpoints. Then the audience is aware and can make better distinctions themselves. The interpreter can connect with the audience more clearly, facilitating and motivating audience dialogue about controversial issues, not necessarily to conclusions but touching the emotions and intellects of people, leaving them with unforgettable memories.
Interpreters evaluate the effectiveness of programs, the audiences' needs and capabilities and constantly make adjustments to improve effectiveness. This includes constructive self-evaluation.
And interpreters participate in park operations outside the Communication, Visitor Experience, Heritage Presentation area. Integration in park operations is the responsibility of the interpretive staff, and this is done in part by actively soliciting input from others within the park, and external stakeholders too, on all aspects of interpretive projects or programs.
What role can interpreters play in implementing the park communication plan?
A communication plan at the park level requires programming to visitors, directly from parks staff and/or from others who serve the interests of visitors. Such programming includes delivering messages to visitors about the:
- System of protected heritage areas across Canada;
- Significance of Canada’s natural heritage in this place;
- Unique opportunities to learn and enjoy the history, geography and beauty of this part of Canada as well as the substantial challenges to managing and protecting the natural heritage too;
- Ways to enjoy, care for and get involved with Canada’s natural and cultural heritage at Parks Canada’s places.
Interpreters deliver enjoyable and educational visitor experiences during the seasons. They can help improve the quality of educational services that others deliver, through orientation and training, evaluation and feedback. Creative services in design, layout and writing and editing also serve to improve both the communication of non-personal media the national park uses to enlighten the audiences about a subject.
An interpreter must always know their audience: who they are, what they need and how their curiosity is peaked. Although with today's tendency to adventure travel experiences, reducing risk and ensuring public safety is still important work for interpreters and for visitor experience to be enjoyable and memorable.
As noted in the first question, interpreters play a vital role in helping park managers convey to visitors the importance of the place and their role in protecting it, as stewards. Interpreters tell the stories of what’s being done in terms of conservation efforts in the national park, what the threats to habitat or species may be, why these threats exist and what can be done about them by people like visitors or communities around the park. They open people’s minds and hearts to getting involved with nature and culture in the national park and perhaps farther afield, in their home community.
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