Chinese speaking interpreter needed

March 22nd, 2012

Unique Opportunity for Mandarin Speaking Interpreter

 

On August 3-10, 2012 a small group of Chinese nationals will be taking an Alaska cruise. The tour company wishes to hire a Chinese-speaking interpreter to explain the natural and cultural history.

 

The tour operators are currently building a core team of Expedition Leaders to provide this strong educational element on future expeditions.  Right now they need someone who speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently.

Candidates should possess an all around knowledge of the natural and cultural components that make up the various destinations on the trip plus have excellent tour director experience and skills to handle groups from a variety of organizations.

Candidates will:

• provide Program Guiding, Leadership and Guest Service.

• present lectures as agreed upon between the tour company and themselves in pre-program discussions.

• provide in-field interpretation as set forth in accordance with the program itinerary and guest inquiry.

• provide necessary feedback to the tour company to ensure guest issues are handled in a speedy and effective manner.

• coordinate with local suppliers to support itinerary inclusions.

The tour company supports their field staff with extensive pre-trip information as well as ongoing communication throughout each expedition. They offer an attractive independent contractor daily rate and travel expense package.

If you are interested in either the one-time Alaska cruise or a more permanent position, contact Duane Fast (duane@internationalinterpretation.org).

 

Events Coming Up

June 16th, 2011

Comments and proposed contributions to session and proposed follow-up publication welcome!
Proposed Symposium: Society for Historical Archaeology Annual Meetings
“Toward an Archaeological Agora Revisited: Using Collaborative Approaches in facilitating public participation and creation of archaeological knowledge and understanding”
Organizer(s): John H Jameson (National Park Service), jhjameson@yahoo.com; Harold Mytum (Centre for Manx Studies), H.Mytum@liverpool.ac.uk
Sponsors: National Park Service; ICOMOS Committee on Interpretation and Presentation (ICIP)

Abstract:
Public archaeologists are increasingly using collaborative approaches in working with the public in devising effective strategies for conveying translating archaeological information and significance in both academic and public arenas. Successful programs empower and motivate lay persons to more active involvement. We are moving beyond the concept of the public as recipients or “customers” of interpretation to focus on active public participation in archaeological and interpretation processes. Using interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches, this conceptual shift facilitates analysis of public participation in the production of knowledge. Emphasizing collaborative approaches, this session expands the discussions from a similar 2011 session. Examples are presented of this new focus: how non-academics or lay persons create, use, and react to this new knowledge. In these variable relationships, how do professional and lay researchers interact? What sorts of past are being created? How do these interpretations complement or compete with traditional archaeological knowledge claims?
—————————————————————————————–
EFFECTIVE INTERPRETATION OF ARCHEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES
WORKSHOP, OCTOBER 23 – 28, 2011
Class web page: http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/course-of-study/presidio2011/index.htm:

Training Partners:

NPS Southeast Archeological Center
Yosemite National Park
The Presidio Trust Archaeology Lab
University of California, Berkeley

Contributors:

Yosemite National Park, Rosie the Riveter / WWII Home Front NHP, John Muir National Historic Site, Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

DESCRIPTION: This 5-day workshop will enhance interdisciplinary communication skills for using a team approach to developing and carrying out effective public interpretation and education programs and products. Interpreters and educators will gain knowledge of archeological and cultural heritage sites for developing presentations and media about cultural heritage resources. Cultural resource specialists and archeologists will gain knowledge and skills in interpretation for developing interpretive presentations and media about cultural resources. All groups gain knowledge and skills through increased dialogue and interactions between cultural resource specialists and interpreters for joint development of effective interpretation of cultural heritage products. With multi-agency instructors and students, the program augments the mission of federal agencies to provide interagency technical assistance and information exchange.

COMPETENCIES: The course will use National Park Service’s Archeology-Interpretation Shared Competency Course of Study training module (NPS Module 440), “Effective Interpretation of Archeological Resources.” Information about the module is posted at URL: http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/course-of-study/final.htm. The scope of the workshop encompasses cultural heritage sites, including archeological and other cultural heritage resources.

PURPOSE AND GOALS: To understand the present and move toward the future, we must analyze, understand, and learn from the past. The goals of this training are to strengthen the relationship between archeology and cultural heritage interpretation and to enhance the presentation of archeology to the public. Among the main precepts for the course are the needs for interdisciplinary communication and for sensitive interpretation to multicultural and ethnically diverse audiences. Two major goals of the course are to create opportunities for audiences to (1) learn about cultural resource interpretations and how they are made, and (2) to ascribe their own meanings to cultural and archeological resources, helping to increase public understanding and concern for preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites.

All nominated applicants must send (email preferred) a nomination form (download from class web page at http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/course-of-study/presidio2011/) to John Jameson, Southeast Archeological Center, e-mail: john_jameson@nps.gov, fax 850-580-2884, by COB, September 19, 2011.

New International Interpretation Blog on Facebook

April 7th, 2011
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jon-Kohls-HeritagePatrimonio-Interpretation-International/133256493413817?sk=wall

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jon-Kohls-HeritagePatrimonio-Interpretation-International/133256493413817?sk=wall

As members of this section know, very often interpretation information can be lacking in developing countries. I  just created a Facebook blog that draws on international interpretation in the news, my extensive list of published articles on interpretation, and experience in international areas especially as related to tools, training, relevance, and interpretation’s big picture. Several years ago I wrote a column in Legacy Magazine called “The International Interpreter.” Please join me in promoting interpretation in developing countries. This English-Spanish blog currently has fans representing 14 countries. I hope to meet members in Panama.

Jon Kohl, Costa Rica

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jon-Kohls-HeritagePatrimonio-Interpretation-International/133256493413817?sk=wall

International Cooperation

April 4th, 2011

The SWEDISH CENTRE FOR NATURE INTERPRETATION (Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) is looking for possible guest professors in the fields of heritage and nature interpretation. They are also looking to develop international cooperation networks for the purpose of sharing research within this field.

Reply to this blog if you are interested in this initiative.

ICOMOS Interpretation Initiative

December 20th, 2010

Initiative to establish integrated international guidelines for cultural heritage interpretation:

Our goal in this work is to reach a consensus on definitions and principles that relate to visitor and stakeholder experience while tying this to the principles of interpretation and presentation as expressed in the 2008 ICOMOS Charter on Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites.

We want to work toward a producing a document supplement to the Charter that addresses visitor and stakeholder experience, to be endorsed and promoted by the ICOMOS Interpretation and Presentation Committee (ICIP). Our plan is to produce a final draft of this document in time to be presented during the ICOMOS General Assembly in September 2011 in Paris.  By May 2011, we hope to have a draft document to present during the May 2011 NAI International Conference in Panama.

As an initial action, we agreed that each Task Group member would:

1)    send statements on definitions and principles of interpretation and presentation as pertains to visitor and stakeholder experience;

2)    send examples of best practice as it relates to items in #1 and tie these to cited relevant principles as expressed in the ICOMOS Charter.

We request that colleagues send comments to help expedite the work of the Task Group.  We will post and distribute these statements and examples and provide feedback.  Use this blog site to post your comments and ideas for the task force.

What’s happening in 2011 around the globe:

December 20th, 2010

2011 SHA Annual Meeting, Austin,

Texas – January 6, 2011

Session: “Toward an Archaeological Agora: the Public as participants and creators of archaeological knowledge and understanding,”

Presentations in this session address examples of this new focus – how non-academics or laypersons (including but not only members of descendant communities) create, use and react to this new knowledge. The public may be operating alongside either professionals and students in projects, or on their own; they may be carrying out fieldwork, giving or collecting oral history accounts alongside archaeology, or may be interpreting archaeological finds themselves. In these variable relationships, how do professional and lay researchers interact? What sorts of past are being created, and for what purpose? How do these interpretations complement or compete with traditional archaeological knowledge claims?

6th International Archaeology Conference of Calafell, 10-12

March 2011, Calafell, Catalonia – Spain

Theme: “In Situ Reconstructions: arguments both for and against”

Many researchers consider the experimental archeology and archeological reconstruction as interesting ways of working that help to go beyond the knowledge obtained from past societies through the excavation, as well as in the past to disclose society, the final repository of this legacy. Moreover, the archaeological reconstructions have also its detractors. The aim of the meeting is to propose to face views and arguments both for and against, so that generated a rich debate on this topic. The results will be subsequently published in monographic series “Arqueomediterrània” of the University of Barcelona.

National Association for Interpretation

International Conference

May 4–7, 2011

Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the Chagres River and Panama Canal

Soberania National Park, Panama

http://www.interpnet.com/ic/

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) will host the sixth annual international conference on the subject of heritage interpretation in Panama. The conference will bring together 150 to 200 delegates from 30 to 40 nations in an effort to create opportunities for professional development for attendees and establish a network for professional associations and individuals involved in heritage interpretation around the globe.

This capacity-building network will allow the exchange of ideas and facilitate working partnerships between nations with established interpretive organizations and developing nations that need assistance with the promotion and instigation of interpretive facilities to enhance tourism experiences, benefit local economies, and sustain sensitive cultural and natural heritage resources.

Interpretation: Making a Difference in the Triple Bottom Line

Interpretation helps create change – change in attitudes, change in knowledge, change in behavior. Imagine the power of being able to address all the elements of the triple bottom line (social, economic, and environmental) by using interpretive techniques to address issues of concern in your country. NAI’s international conference will provide the opportunity to discuss and share ideas for making positive impacts on the triple bottom line with academicians, researchers, site and agency managers, interpreters, commercial vendors, tourism operators, and others. Join us in Panama and be a part of positive change.

Curso de Certificación Profesional CIG

“Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop”

27 – 30 de mayo de 2011

Centro Ambiental Santa Ana, Parque Nacional Julio E. Monagas

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Eliezer Nieves-Rodríguez, CIT

rezeile@hotmail.com

Centro Ambiental Santa Ana (787) 740-4200

Interpreting across borders: June 2011

a workshop on current international standards in the interpretation and public presentation of cultural sites, Chersonesos, Crimea, Ukraine

An evaluation produced by U.S. National Park Service (NPS) personnel in 2008 found that existing interpretive programs of the National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos can be modified to enhance visitor experience. This workshop will be led by NPS personnel with a broad range of specific interpretation and interpretation-training skills, who are recognized as superior interpreters and trainers by their peers. Participants in the workshop will include members of the Preserve’s administration, supervisors and workers in the museum and guided-tour departments, field archaeologists, and other local stakeholders. We will also invite representatives from Olbia, Tyras, and Kerch, three other, similar National Preserves on the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, and representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Olbia, Tyras, and Kerch are all large sites where ancient Greek colonists founded major cities, where the worlds of the Mediterranean and the steppe intersected, and where long human occupation left very substantial and visible archaeological remains.

At the same time, despite their similarities to Chersonesos, each of these sites has taken a quite different approach to interpretation and presentation, and the four together offer a broad spectrum of current practice in Ukraine. The inclusion of representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Tourism will help put the discussion into a national context, and will help the workshop address issues related to Ukraine’s involvement with ICOMOS and UNESCO. workshop would be the initiation of a discussion about the theory and practice of site interpretation and presentation. While the Park Service staff will not be imposing a specific view of interpretation on the Ukrainian cultural-heritage managers, they will take the opportunity to introduce US and international presentation standards and the new ICOMOS Ename Charter, and discuss their role in the success of a World Heritage nomination (and the success of international grant applications).

Interpret Europe meeting in Freiburg, Germany July 2011

Our first annual conference will be held from 11 to 14 July in Freiburg, Germany. This will be an important event for IE and for interpretation in Europe and we are keen that members make proposals as soon as possible for presentations or workshops – again, use the website to register your interest. Freiburg is easy to get to by rail, road and air – or even bus or bike!. We look forward to seeing many of you there to enjoy Black Forest hospitality and perhaps a slice of cake too!

www.interpret-europe.net.

Organization of a ICOMOS/OPW Endorsed Seminar and Workshop on the Public Interpretation and Outreach Challenges at Megalithic Sites and Monuments

Dates: Proposed date for Seminar: September 2011, to coincide with autumnal

Equinox; Date for follow-up Workshop: TBA. Venue:  Dublin Castle, Bedford Hall

John Jameson, US National Park Service (NPS) and ICOMOS ICIP; and Clare Tuffy, Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (Newgrange WHS) and ICOMOS Ireland; in association with Republic of Ireland Office of Public Works (OPW) and ICOMOS International Committee for Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP)

Goals: The Seminar and Workshop programs are designed to support OPW in its core missions of managing, maintaining, and preserving national monuments, managing Historic Properties, and providing quality interpretative facilities and services. The outcome of the Seminar will be a best practice standards document. The outcome of the Workshop will be a set of recommendations to management for alternative interpretive strategies at specified Megalithic sites, with broader application to Megalithic sites and monuments in Europe and elsewhere.

Initiative to establish integrated international guidelines for cultural heritage interpretation:

Our goal in this work is to reach a consensus on definitions and principles that relate to visitor and stakeholder experience while tying this to the principles of interpretation and presentation as expressed in the 2008 ICOMOS Charter on Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites.

We want to work toward a producing a document supplement to the Charter that addresses visitor and stakeholder experience, to be endorsed and promoted by the ICOMOS Interpretation and Presentation Committee (ICIP). Our plan is to produce a final draft of this document in time to be presented during the ICOMOS General Assembly in September 2011 in Paris.  By May 2011, we hope to have a draft document to present during the May 2011 NAI International Conference in Panama.

As an initial action, we agreed that each Task Group member would:

1)    send statements on definitions and principles of interpretation and presentation as pertains to visitor and stakeholder experience;

2)    send examples of best practice as it relates to items in #1 and tie these to cited relevant principles as expressed in the ICOMOS Charter.

We request that colleagues send comments to help expedite the work of the Task Group.  We will post and distribute these statements and examples and provide feedback. We are creating a Task Group web site and will post individual comments on the web site. We are looking into possibly setting up group management software such as Base Camp. Contact John Jameson at jhjameson@yahoo.com if you like to participate. Comments may be submitted to the ICOMOS section of this blog site.

NAI International Conference in Panama

December 1st, 2010

NAI International Conference
May 4–7, 2011
Gamboa Rainforest Resort at the Chagres River and Panama Canal
Soberania National Park, Panama
www.interpnet.com/ic

The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) will host the sixth annual international conference on the subject of heritage interpretation in Panama. The conference will bring together 150 to 200 delegates from 30 to 40 nations in an effort to create opportunities for professional development for attendees and establish a network for professional associations and individuals involved in heritage interpretation around the globe.

This capacity-building network will allow the exchange of ideas and facilitate working partnerships between nations with established interpretive organizations and developing nations that need assistance with the promotion and instigation of interpretive facilities to enhance tourism experiences, benefit local economies, and sustain sensitive cultural and natural heritage resources.

Interpretation: Making a Difference in the Triple Bottom Line
Interpretation helps create change – change in attitudes, change in knowledge, change in behavior. Imagine the power of being able to address all the elements of the triple bottom line (social, economic, and environmental) by using interpretive techniques to address issues of concern in your country. NAI’s international conference will provide the opportunity to discuss and share ideas for making positive impacts on the triple bottom line with academicians, researchers, site and agency managers, interpreters, commercial vendors, tourism operators, and others. Join us in Panama and be a part of positive change.

Interesting websites

February 9th, 2010

1) The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) has launched a new website featuring a particular park or protected area around the world each day. This is a great way to learn about some of the now over 100,000 parks and protected areas around the world.

Visit the site online here:

http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/pa/pa_paday/

(link courtesy NPS)

2) Wild Australia

This is a very cool blog by Australian students about their National Parks.

http://mrrees.com/2010/02/25/preserving-our-national-parks/comment-page-1/

3) National Parks of the World

National Parks of the World features National, Provincial,
State, Marine, Wildlife Reserves and World Heritage Areas.

Photographers, Artists, and Writers may share their personal experiences
had within National Parks of the World, Provincial, State, Marine, Wildlife
Reserves ,Wildlife Refuges and World Heritage Areas. Anything relating to
the wonders of these parks may be submitted.

If you have a passion for the outdoors , and the importance of protecting
our wonderful parks and being one with nature – please take the time to
join and become a part of our online community.

http://67.219.156.194/groups/ontario-provincial-parks-art

International Opportunities

February 9th, 2010

South African National Parks Internship

Durations of Program: 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: Visit our website for upcoming start dates

http://www.sanparks.org/groups/internship.php

Description:  This  program provides trainees with an intensive 2 week training  course  in  Kruger National Park that covers a vast range of topics and is delivered by industry specialists. On completion of this course   trainees   gain  high  profile  work  experience  working  on conservation  and  environmental education initiatives in one of South Africa’s  20  National  Parks.  Having been placed with the People and Conservation (P & C) department you will work alongside park staff and focus  on  the  development  of  environmental education and community development  projects  aimed at integrating the local communities into conservation  efforts  and  development programs. Although no specific experience is necessary, each park has its individual requirements and GVI  will  match  applicants to the appropriate parks. This program is ideal for any trainee seriously considering a career in conservation.
Interns will arrive in Johannesburg before attending a 2 week training course   at  Kruger  National  Park.  After  the  course  interns  are transferred  to  their allocated park, any of 20 National Parks in the country.  A  list  of parks follows; Kruger, Table Mountain, Marakele, Golden  Gate,  Camdeboo,  Mountain  Zebra, Addo Elephant, Tsitsikamma, Knysna,  Wilderness,  Bontebok,  Agulhas,  West Coast, Karoo, Namaqua, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld,   Augrabies,  Kgalagadi,  Mapungubwe  and  Tankwa
Karoo.  The  parks  vary  in  size  and  the  flora  and fauna is very different depending on your location.
South African National Parks Internship
Highlights:
-   Live   in   the   most   spectacular  locations  in  South  Africa
-   Learn  about  conservation  in National Parks
-   Two week training in Kruger National Park
-   Five day tour of parks
-   Working with local communities
-   Amazing wildlife encounters
-   Camping, hiking, bush walks and canoeing
Qualifications:  No special training or qualifications are required as
you will receive training in the field.

Languages :  English

Cost in US$: $5,190 for 6 months

Cost  Include Description:
The  volunteer  contribution  includes  all  your food, accommodation, training materials and project equipment.
Experience Required: no

Volunteer Types :
agriculture
animal welfare
biological research
community centers
community development
community organizing
conflict resolution
consciousness-raising
conservation
eco-tourism
environment
ground patrol
historic preservation
natural resources
parks
trail building
tree planting
volunteering

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.
Participants Travel to South Africa Independently
Typically Participants Work in Groups
Application Process Involves:
Online Application plus Application Assessment
Global   Vision   International’s  Mission  Statement:  Global  Vision International   aims   to   promote  the  advancement  of  sustainable development  through  the creation of partnerships, promotion of local and  global education, opportunities and via direct financial support. GVI  remains  committed to its local partners by ensuring they receive full credit for any research undertaken or achievements reached.
Year Founded: 1998

Interp Europe

January 22nd, 2010

Hi All;

This section of the blog can be used to communicate about the European interpretation association plans. This is your home, you may communicate freely.

Duane