ALL ABOARD!

Interpreting

New Frontiers

National Association for Interpretation | Region 6

Grapevine, Texas | February 25 – 28, 2018

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We look forward to sharing the interpretive controversies, challenges, and achievements of this ever-changing region of Texas. In 1995, the Texas congress ex-pressed its admiration for the nine-banded armadillo, which first pushed the bounda-ries of its frontier over 150 years ago. We think it says much about how we view the pi-oneering spirit, wherever it may arise. We hope you return to your home sites with a little armadillo in you and a lot of new ideas for exploring your own frontiers.

WHEREAS…the armadillo is a hardy, pioneering creature that chose to begin migrating here at about the time that Texas became a state; and

WHEREAS, the armadillo possesses many remarkable and unique traits, some of which parallel the attributes that distinguish a true Texan, such as a deep respect and need for the land, the ability to change and adapt, and a fierce undying love for freedom; and

WHEREAS, as proud and indomitable as the state from which [it hails]…the armadillo will serve as [a fitting symbol] of Texas’ unique heritage; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the 74th

Legislature of the State of Texas herby designate the…armadillo the official Small State Mammal of Texas.

Sincerely,

Lisa Cole and Elizabeth Bittner Workshop Chairs

WELCOME TO

GRAPEVINE!

WORKSHOP COMMITTEE

Chairs Elizabeth Bittner & Lisa Cole

Registration Liz Palfini

Program Katie Raney, Tara Humphreys, Alisa Kozlowski

Off-Site Sessions Pam Tooley, Danielle Bradley, Linda Dunn

Logistics Danielle Bradley

Hospitality Elizabeth Garzone

Scholarship Auction Lori Spencer

Volunteers Hannah Buschert, Diana Moy, Holly Platz

Interpreters Quiz Clark Hancock, Jerrel Geisler

Special Thanks to Cassie Cox, Shelley DuPuy, Chris Pistole,

TPWD Buffalo Soldiers, Mel Zabecki Harvey

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SCHEDULE AT

A GLANCE

Sunday, February 25 12:15pm - 5:45pm Pre-conference field trip to

Fort Worth Stockyards 3:00pm - 6:00pm Registration & Auction item

drop off at Grapevine Con-vention Center (GCC)

3:00pm – 5:00pm Region 6 Board Meeting at GCC 7:00pm - 10:00pm Opening reception at Palace Arts Center 10:00pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

Monday, February 26 7:00am Registration Open 8:00am Welcoming Remarks Presentation of the Colors 8:15am Opening Speaker: Walt Davis 9:30am – 10:30am Concurrent Session I 10:45am – 11:45am Concurrent Session II 12:00pm – 1:15pm Lunch & Business Meeting 1:30pm – 2:30pm Concurrent Session III 2:45pm – 3:45pm Concurrent Session IV 3:45pm—4:30pm TPWD Agency Meeting 6:15pm Shuttle to CR Smith Museum

Begins

6:30pm - 9:30pm Silent and Live Scholarship Auction at CR Smith Museum 9:30pm-12:00am Hospitality Room Open

Tuesday, February 27 All day Off-site sessions 6:00pm - 10:00pm Texas movie night | Interp-O-Lympics at the Palace Arts Center 9:00pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

Wednesday, February 28 7:00am Registration Open 8:00am – 9:00am Concurrent Session V 9:15am – 10:15am Concurrent Session VI 10:30am – 11:30am Keynote Speaker: Lance Tahmahkera 11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch 1:15pm-2:15pm Brian Barnette All-American

Interpreters Quiz Visit with exhibitors

2:30pm – 3:30pm Concurrent Session VII 3:45pm – 4:45pm Concurrent Session VIII 6:30pm – 9:00pm Awards Banquet at GCC

Post awards acoustic guitar performance and sing-along

9:00pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

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FEATURED

SPEAKERS

Opening Speaker Walt Davis

Walt Davis began his career as a summer intern at

the Dallas Museum of Natural History in 1959. After a

brief time at the Houston Museum of Natural

Science, Davis returned to the Dallas museum where

he worked as exhibits curator and assistant director

for 25 years before becoming director of the

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon,

Texas and retiring in 2004. He has consulted with

many Texas museums including the Bullock Texas

History Museum, Old Jail Art Museum and Witte

Museum. Now retired, he lives in Campbell, Texas

with his wife, Isabel. After retirement, the couple set

out to circumnavigate the Lone Star State and wrote

about that experience in the book Exploring the

Edges of Texas. In 2016 he published a history of the

Dallas Museum of Natural History entitled An Ark for

Texas: The Evolution of a Natural History Museum.

Keynote Speaker Lance Tahmahkera

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Lance Tahmahkera

has been with Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort

Worth for the past 39 years and is currently the

Imaging Department Manager at TH Harris

Methodist Outpatient Center – Burleson. He is a

great-great grandson of Comanche Chief Quanah

Parker. With his parents staying close to the

Comanche traditions, much of his youth was spent

at pow-wows and learning stories of ancestors and

the tribal ways. For the past 25 years, he’s been

asked to share these family stories with various

schools/universities, historical groups, and

organizations. The stories shared vary from the ori-

gins of the tribe, life on the plains and reservation,

Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker to current day

events.

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GENERAL

INFORMATION

Registration

Find the registration table in the lobby of the

Grapevine Convention Center on Sunday

afternoon, Monday, and Wednesday.

Getting Around Grapevine

Most workshop activities will take place at the

Grapevine Convention Center, which is located

0.3 miles north of the main hotel, the Comfort

Inn. The convention center’s address is 1209 S

Main Street. The convention center

features ample free parking.

The opening reception on Sunday night and

Tuesday night’s activities take place at the

Palace Arts Center, located 1.1 miles north of

the Comfort Inn in downtown Grapevine. Free

parking is available behind the Palace Arts Cen-

ter, just west of Main Street. The center’s ad-

dress is 300 N Main Street.

Scholarship Auction

Thank you for supporting students! Please limit

your scholarship auction donations to no more

than four items. On Monday night, you’ll have

the opportunity to bid in both silent and live

auctions for a wide range of items, including

books, interpretive supplies, arts and crafts ma-

terials, experiences, and much more.

The scholarship auction will be held at the one-

of-a-kind CR Smith Museum – don’t miss it!

Exhibitors

We’re fortunate to have several exhibitors and

vendors on hand on Monday and Wednesday.

Please make sure to visit with these workshop

supporters and find out how they can advance

interpretation at your site.

Interp-O-Lympics

On Tuesday night, try out your improvisational

interpretive skills with the Interp-Olympics

competition, similar to Battledecks or PowerPoint

karaoke. Teams of three to five members will

have a topic and be given ten slides to give an

off-the-cuff presentation. As we all know, good

interpreters need to think on their feet, so

the teams will not see the slides before they start.

You can sign-up for a team and a topic at the

Registration table at the GCC.

Brian Barnette All-American

Interpreters Quiz

Named in memory of a great naturalist, inter-

preter, and Region 6er, the Brian Barnette All-

American Interpreter’s Quiz is a fun competition

we hold every year. The quiz aims to provoke

new and veteran interpreters to learn, share, and

connect by answering specific questions related

to our natural and cultural heritage. This year’s

quiz will have segments related to the

interpretive profession, natural sciences, and a bit

of cultural whimsy. The top scorer is honored at

the awards banquet and each state’s highest

scorer will also be recognized. You are invited to

participate in this fun and challenging experi-

ence.

Hospitality Room Socialize with fellow workshop attendees at the

Hospitality Room, located in the Mustang Room

at the Comfort Inn, open after each evening’s ac-

tivities have concluded. Some food and drinks

provided, but please bring your own treats and

libations to share.

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SUNDAY,

FEBRUARY 25

G R A P E V I N E C O N V E N T I O N

C E N T E R L A Y O U T

12:15pm - 5:45pm Pre-conference Field Trip | Pre-registration Required Fort Worth Stockyards Meet: Comfort Inn Lobby

3:00pm - 6:00pm Registration Open | Auction item drop-off

Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Back Lobby 3:00 pm – 5:00pm Region 6 Board Meeting Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Chancellor 7:00pm - 10:00 pm Opening Reception | Buffet Dinner Location: Palace Arts Center, downtown Grapevine 10:00pm- 12:00am Hospitality Room Open Location: Mustang Room, Comfort Inn

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MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 26

7:00am Registration Open Location: Grapevine Convention Center Lobby 8:00am Welcoming Remarks | Presentation of the Colors by the Texas State Parks Buffalo Soldiers Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Concord I 8:15am – 9:00am Opening Speaker: Walt Davis Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Concord I 9:30am – 10:30am Concurrent Session I Meet the Board Room: Champanel

Meet your NAI National Board and learn how you can get more involved with NAI. Board members will talk about what is going on at the national office, upcoming projects, and take questions.

Building New Stories through Voices of the Past Room: Concord III

Discover how to integrate the diversity of voices from the past to build an interpretive character for living history and historical interpretation programs. Modeling our Buffalo Soldier Heritage outreach program activities, we will provide participants with strategies to build out their own historical character and program “hook” based on their own reflections and life experiences.

Luis Padilla, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Allen Mack, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Ricky Dolifka, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Interpreting in the Aftermath Room: Concord II

How would you continue to meet your mission if you were suddenly unable to use your site(s)? Join us to learn how the interpretation continued for the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. We will discuss the challenges we faced and the unexpected advantages we discovered along the way. Finally, we will work together to create action plans for each site, in the event of an unexpected closure.

Amanda Taylor, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute and Mission- Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Nicole Pringle, The University of Texas Marine Science Institute and Mission- Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Concurrent Session I offerings continued on next page

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An "Out of the Box" Partnership: Room: Chenin Blanc Interpretation and High School AVID Classrooms When creating partnerships, be sure to think outside the box. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program's educators have partnered with High School AVID Classrooms. These students are learning interpretive skills in high school. By the time they are seniors, they are teaching interpretive programs on the preserve. Come learn about the program and experience several of the hands-on interpretive lessons they get over the 4 years. Lari Jo Johnston, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program’s Nueces Delta Preserve Leigh Perry, Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program’s Nueces Delta Preserve

10:45am – 11:45am Concurrent Session II

Let’s Talk: Room: Concord II An Open Conversation about Interpretation Join this gathering of colleagues to explore the underpinnings of our profession. Starting from issues you and other participants wish to explore, we will explore aspects about the nature of interpretation and the role it plays in our society. Where we will wind up is anybody's guess. Be part of the conversation—you are invited! Clark Hancock, Interpretive Consultant Roving Interpretation: Principles and Practice Room: Concord III Want to reach new audiences? Try roving interpretation! Join two TPWD interpreters and learn all about roving interpretation. We’ll discuss what it is, and share some real-world examples of successful roving interpretation. When you leave our presentation, you’ll not only be more familiar with what roving interpretation is, but you’ll also be comfortable, prepared and ready to take it back to your site. Danielle Bradley, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Jenn Menge, Dinosaur Valley State Park

When Strengths Collide: Room: Chenin Blanc Fostering Community Alliances Collaboration comes in all shapes and sizes. In 2017, the Great Plains Nature Center partnered with the Wichita Art Museum to offer joint field trips. Learn important features to consider when exploring partnerships, and develop a strategy for a new, unique collaboration.

Amanda Alessi, Great Plains Nature Center

MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 26

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MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 26

12:00pm – 1:15pm Lunch | Business Meeting Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Concord I 1:30 pm – 2:30pm Concurrent Session III

The Not-So-Insignificant Seed Room: Concord II What do a Cold War assassination, coffee, and Silicon Valley all have in common? Why seeds, of course! From breaking through the barriers of evolution to the fron-tiers of human culture, no other resource has had greater impact than the seemingly-insignificant seed. Come to this session to develop a greater appreciation for these natural wonders, and take away an idea you can use in your own programming. Those with severe nut allergies need to consider they may come in contact with nuts. Delia Lister, Pittsburg State University

Animal Senses + Board Books = Room: Chenin Blanc Naturalist Camp for Kids Summer means camp time! Rangers at Red River National Wildlife Refuge used Stan Tekiela’s adventure board books to guide theme development for a Naturalist Camp for children ages six and seven. Over three days, campers learned about their five senses and compared their own senses to animals. We will give an overview of the Naturalist Camp, engage workshop attendees in several camp activities, and give tips to making story time a valuable asset for interpretive programming. Terri Jacobson, Red River National Wildlife Refuge Dave Young, Red River National Wildlife Refuge

Introverts vs. Extroverts: Room: Concord III Does There Have to Be a Battle? Introverts, have you ever wondered if you can truly thrive as an interpreter? Extro-verts, have you ever wondered why some of your coworkers want to be left alone? Despite the fact that interpretation is seen as a career for extroverts, introverts are often drawn to this profession which can lead to some misunderstandings. This ses-sion will help you understand how all personality types contribute important aspects to the workplace. Heather Runyan, Village Creek State Park Mel Zabecki Harvey, Arkansas Archeological Survey

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MONDAY,

FEBRUARY 26

2:45pm – 3:45pm Concurrent Session IV

How to Bring Shelter Dog Hikes to Your Park Room: Chenin Blanc At Cleburne State Park we recently partnered with a local animal shelter to offer a Homeless Dog Hike. This program was a fantastic experience for our visitors and the shelter dogs. In this presentation, we will cover some of the challenges we faced, how to plan and prepare for a shelter dog hike, special considerations, and our successes. Dawn Yanez, Cleburne State Park Amanda Zumwalt, Cleburne State Park Exploring New Frontiers in Special Events Room: Concord II Bring the EXTRA to the “Ordinary”! Meet the Poop Emoji and Portabella the Fungus Fairy who will share the four steps of creative thinking and how to tap into the talents, skills, and passions of your peers. Design and pitch an idea for a special event. Share inspiration, discuss challenges, and triumphs. Whether your event is a one-time production, or an annual tradition, special events are a great interpretive showcase! Molly Postlewait, Ernie Miller Nature Center Regina Wasson, Ernie Miller Nature Center Diana Bliss, Ernie Miller Nature Center

The Ghost: Room: Concord III A Bridge Between the Past and Present Historic sites often use third and first person interpretation during programs, tours, and presentations. These approaches are recognizable and proven but both ap-proaches have limits. Those with the latitude to do first person modified interpretation may find the ghost can be the bridge between past and present. You’ll see how to portray historic characters first person modified, including an interpretation of several original antiques from the days of Daniel Boone. Robert Pecoraro, The Historic Daniel Boone Home at Lindenwood Park Shirley Pecoraro, The Historic Daniel Boone Home at Lindenwood Park

3:45pm – 4:30pm Texas Parks and Wildlife Department agency meeting Room: Concord III 6:15 pm Shuttle to CR Smith Museum begins Departure Location: Comfort Inn and Super 8 6:30pm - 9:30 pm Silent and Live Scholarship Auction | Heavy appetizers Location: CR Smith Museum 9:30 pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

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TUESDAY,

FEBRUARY 27

Pre-registration required for all off-site sessions. Please plan to arrive at the

departure location at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your trip.

Dinosaur Valley State Park | 7:30am - 2:30pm Suggested gear: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, binoculars

Lunch: Included

Meeting Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge | 8:00am - 3:00pm Suggested gear: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, binoculars

Lunch: Included

Meeting Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

Fort Worth Botanic Garden & BRIT | 9:00am – 3:00pm Suggested Gear: Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing

Lunch: On your own in the Garden Restaurant

Departure Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

Amon Carter Museum & National Cowgirl Hall of Fame | 9:00am—3:00pm Suggested Gear: Comfortable walking shoes

Lunch: On your own at the Kimbell Art Museum

Meeting Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area | 9:00am - 2:00pm Suggested Gear: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, work gloves

(if you have them), and binoculars

Lunch: Included

Departure Location: Comfort Inn, rear parking lot

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza | 9:30am – 1:30pm Suggested Gear: Comfortable walking shoes

Lunch: On your own at the Museum café

Departure Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

Farmers’ Institute at Nash Farm | 9:30am - 3:30pm Suggested Gear: Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing

Lunch: Included

Departure Location: Comfort Inn, front parking lot

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TUESDAY,

FEBRUARY 27

6:00pm - 10:00pm Texas Movie Night | Interp-O-Lympics Location: Palace Arts Center

Interp-O-lympics - Watch as teams think on their feet to interpret PowerPoint slides

they’ve never seen before. Vote on the one that makes you laugh the most. Sign up

in advance at registration (as an individual or as a team) to play, or just show up to

watch. See page 5 for details. Starting at 7:30pm.

BioBlitz: The Tandy Hills Story - On April 22 - 23, 2016, dozens of the top scientists

from across the state descended on Tandy Hills, a 160-acre remnant prairie in Fort

Worth, to conduct a biological diversity inventory of all living species. They were aid-

ed by area students, volunteers and citizen scientists. This video documents the event

with interviews, aerial footage and photos. Screening courtesy of John Tandy and the

Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area. Showing at 6:15pm (25 minutes long).

Wall Street of the West - Discover the real history of the Fort Worth Stockyards Na-

tional Historic District, now a famous tourist attraction, through interviews, archival

documents, and charming re-enactments featuring local talent. Narrated by ac-

claimed western actor Barry Corbin. Screening courtesy of the North Fort Worth Histor-

ical Society. Showing at 7:00pm (60 minutes long).

Dancer Texas, Pop. 81- Texas born director and writer Tim

McCanlies (Iron Giant, Secondhand Lions) shot this movie in

scenic Fort Davis, Texas with many locals as extras. Since we

may never get to host a workshop in the Big Bend region, we

invite you to enjoy this little taste of the landscape and cul-

ture. Four best friends are about to graduate from high school

in their tiny West Texas town. The boys have a longstanding

pact to escape their small-world upbringing and head for Los

Angeles once they get their diplomas. Although each boy has

dreamt of a more exciting life elsewhere, all are struggling to

take the plunge, especially as the townspeople try to convince

them all to stay. Rated PG. Showing at 8:15pm (90 minutes

long).

9:00pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

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WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 28

7:00am Registration Open

Location: Grapevine Convention Center Lobby

8:00am – 9:00am Concurrent Session V

TPWD Ambassador Program: Room: Champanel

Creating Young Stewards During the past three years over 200 young people have become the next generation

of stewards through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s State Parks Ambassador

Program. Join us to discover exactly what Parks Ambassadors are, how they make a long-lasting and positive impact on their partner sites, and some of the ways your

organization can implement a similar program.

Joel Janssen, Lake Livingston State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Ted Pick Jr, Huntsville State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Facebook for Interpreters Room: Concord III

More than any other social media site, Facebook will reward you for being good at

social media—and punish you for being bad at it. Learn how an interpretive approach to social media will help you attract the right followers and increase engagement on

your page, and learn how to dig deep into Facebook's metrics to see whether you're

doing it well!

Paul Caputo, Deputy Director, National Association for Interpretation

Seeing Native Plants with New Eyes: Room: Chenin Blanc

State Park Success Story "You keep planting that plant. I do not think it does what you think it does." In 2017,

our park's volunteer group redesigned the majority of Mount Magazine State Park's

gardens using native plants. The use of native plants to attract pollinators is a new frontier in landscape design- a trend that has been gaining steam for several years. In

this session, our plan and planting will be discussed, as well as the "cross-pollination."

Lori Spencer, Mount Magazine State Park

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WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 28

9:15am – 10:15am Concurrent Session VI

The Impromptu Hike Room: Concord II

The guided hike is a staple in an interpreter’s tool box. Are we creating memories with

each hike we give and leaving them inspired and wanting more? We’ll share and learn the techniques and success stories of a guided hikes that will help you connect your

visitors to your resource, whether planned or on a moment’s notice. Dress for the

weather -- we will be going outside.

Jay Schneider, Hobbs State Park

Campfire Chronicles: Room: Concord III

Storytelling in the Age of Cyberspace

This hands-on session will prepare you to create engaging storytelling programs that thrive despite having distracted audiences. Come prepared to learn and partake in

storytelling techniques that will survive the ambush of the digital frontier.

Lisa Henderson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The Monument Debate: Room: Chenin Blanc

Challenges and Opportunities

In the past year, the public conversation over monuments has substantially grown. This opportunity to better educate the public on monuments and their place within

the American landscape should be taken by interpreters at historic sites and muse-

ums. This session will provide a brief history of monument building and offer some ideas for how public sites can address the current debate in constructive ways that are

beneficial to your site’s mission and objectives.

Dr. Boyd Harris, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site

Creating Successful and Sustainable Room: Champanel

Internship Programs

Ever heard this at a staff meeting? “….Let’s get a college intern to do this program!” Learn the foundations for creating a successful internship program at your interpretive

site in this interactive and engaging workshop. Case studies, round robin discussions,

resource development, and sharing, as well as traditional presentation, will be meth-

ods of delivering the best practices.

Tom Mullin, Unity College

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WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 28

10:30am – 11:30am Keynote Speaker: Lance Tahmahkera

Location: Concord I

11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch

Location: Concord I

1:15pm-2:15pm Brian Barnette All-American Interpreters Quiz

Location: Concord II

2:30pm – 3:30pm Concurrent Session VII

Maslow and Me Room: Concord III

Balancing the needs of the audience and the needs of the interpreter can be a tricky

equation. We will discuss how to think about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in

different situations including before/during/after programs, and how it applies to balancing your stress. Participants will come away with new ideas for how to apply

Maslow’s to their programs, their sites, and their level of self-care.

Rebecca Sellers, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center

Slow Down, Look Around, and Room: Chenin Blanc

Capture the Moment

Slow down, look around and capture the moment - in this hands-on outdoor session, learn how to capture the moment using a variety of art techniques,

including watercolor painting, pencil drawing, nature journaling, printmaking and

digital photography. Participants will leave the session with a postcard size watercolor painting.

Kim Sorensen, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Lisa Reznicek, Galveston Island State Park

Fishing in the Garden Room: Champanel

A proverb states, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and

he eats for a lifetime.” In Marble Falls, Texas, Master Gardeners have embraced this adage by showing the local food pantry clients how to garden. This session will

demonstrate how creative interpretation can positively define a community charita-

ble resource using the Helping Center Garden as an inspirational and innovative

model.

Beth Mortenson, Master Naturalist

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3:45pm – 4:45pm Concurrent Session VIII

Using the Legend of Bigfoot to Introduce Room: Chenin Blanc Visitors to Northeast Texas Heritage Regional legends have been employed to instill conservation messages throughout

the world. Folklore connects individuals and is a powerful teaching strategy. In East

Texas, the legend of Bigfoot provided a spark of excitement to present Daingerfield

State Park’s stewardship message to a wider regional audience through a planned

interpretative event. In this session, discover how we introduced new visitors to the

natural world using the legend of Bigfoot.

Steve Killian, Daingerfield State Park Tammie Posey, Daingerfield State Park Onlie McGee, Daingerfield State Park

Partnerships for Outdoor Play Room: Concord III

This presentation will illustrate the efforts made by several nature centers to attract

and engage the local population in the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley,

with its population hovering around 1.5 million people, is 90-95% Hispanic. Hispanics

are not traditional users of nature sites. This presentation will outline some of the at-

titudes Hispanics have toward nature sites and nature in general and discuss some of

the efforts (unsuccessful and successful) of these sites to attract locals.

Javier de León, Estero Llano Grande State Park Jose Uribe, Estero Llano Grande State Park

Interpreting Controversial Subjects Location: Champanel

This panel discussion features short presentations from each panelist of an incident

in which they interpreted a controversial subject in natural or cultural history and

their view of how the audience responded. Questions from the audience are

encouraged. Topics have varied slightly from session to session but have included

issues such as interpreting climate change, evolution by natural selection, the Battle

of San Jacinto and the history of slavery in Texas.

Walt Bailey, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Nicole Gilbert, Dinosaur Valley State Park Jennifer Carpenter, TPWD Historic Sites and Structures Program Katelyn Shaver, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site Lisa Reznicek, Galveston Island State Park

WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 28

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WEDNESDAY,

FEBRUARY 28

6:30pm – 9:00pm Awards Banquet

Post awards acoustic guitar performance and sing-along featuring Vinnie Bean Garbanzo

Location: Grapevine Convention Center, Concord I

9:00pm – 12:00am Hospitality Room Open

SCHOLARSHIP

WINNERS

Leif Nordstrom is pursuing a M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Re-source Management at the University of Missouri. Leif is interested in envi-ronmental education and outreach, and seeks to connect people to the outdoors through effective communication and sound science. Following graduation, Leif would like to find a position working in the public/non-profit sector.

Ashley Kelly is an international graduate student at Kansas State University from Australia with a passion for education and interpretation with a wild-life conservation focus. Her thesis is a collaboration with the Taronga Con-servation Society Australia and evaluates the effectiveness of an innovative Sumatran Tiger exhibit at inspiring pro-environmental behavior change in the context of sustainable palm oil advocacy.

Andrés León-Reyes is an Ecuadorian graduate student at Kansas State University pursuing his Ph.D. in Park Management and Conservation. His current research encompasses the use of social media and its influences on visitor's preferences in iconic destinations such as the Galápagos Is-lands. When Andres is not analyzing data or writing manuscripts, he en-joys conservation photography and guiding nature-base groups into the different ecosystems.

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CONCURRENT SESSIONS

AT -A -GLANCE Tear out Monday and Wednesday’s sessions by day and tuck them behind your name-

tag so you don’t have to tote the conference program around.

MONDAY Champanel Concord II Concord III Chenin Blanc

Concurrent Session I 9:30-10:30am

Meet the Board Interpreting in the

Aftermath

Building New

Stories through

Voices of the Past

An “Out of the

Box” Partnership

Concurrent

Session II

10:45-11:45am

Let’s Talk About

Interpretation

Roving Interpreta-

tion: Principles &

Practice

When Strengths

Collide: Communi-

ty Alliances

Concurrent

Session III

1:30-2:30pm

The Not-So-

Insignificant Seed

Introverts vs

Extroverts

Animal Senses +

Board Books =

Naturalist Camp

Concurrent

Session IV

2:45-3:45pm

Exploring New

Frontiers In Special

Events

The Ghost: A

Bridge Between the

Past & Present

How to Bring Shel-

ter Dog Hikes to

Your Park

WEDNESDAY Champanel Concord II Concord III Chenin Blanc

Concurrent Session V 8:00-9:00am

TPWD Ambassador

Program

Facebook for

Interpreters

Seeing Native

Plants with New

Eyes

Concurrent

Session VI

9:15-10:15am

Creating Successful

& Sustainable In-

ternship Programs

The Impromptu

Hike

Campfire

Chronicles

The Monument

Debate

Concurrent

Session VII

2:30-3:30pm

Fishing in the

Garden Maslow & Me

Slow Down, Look

Around, and Cap-

ture the Moment

Concurrent

Session VIII

3:45-4:45pm

Interpreting Con-

troversial Subjects

Partnerships for

Outdoor Play

Using the Legend

of Bigfoot

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THANK YOU TO

OUR SUPPORTERS

Additional Support Provided By

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau

Comfort Inn of Grapevine

Super 8 Grapevine-DFW Airport

CR Smith American Airlines Museum

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Cooksey Printing

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area

John Tandy & The Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Artwork courtesy of Shutterstock

Locomotive Sponsors

Lewisville Convention & Visitors Bureau

iZone Imaging

Jetliner Sponsor

Kaser Design

Vendors & Exhibitors

Kaser Design

iZone Imaging

Texas Master Naturalists - North Texas Chapter

Walt Davis

Direct Embed Coating Systems

Museum Fabrication Group, LLC

Stephen F. Austin State University

Covered Wagon Sponsors

Texas Master Naturalists- North Texas Chapter

Texas Master Naturalists- Elm Fork Chapter

Hogeye, Inc.

Acorn Naturalists

Natural Grocers of Hurst

North Fort Worth Historical Society

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