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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for protecting, preserving and enhancing Missouri’s natural, cultural and energy resources.  An important part of that responsibility is educating Missourians about those resources.

The department has been working to reinvigorate their department-wide education strategy.  The person hired to the Natural Resource Education Coordinator position will have the opportunity to assist in that process.  The Department’s education strategy provides information and tools to teachers, youth leaders and students statewide, promoting the department’s mission, stewardship of Missouri’s natural resources, and encouraging a healthy and enjoyable outdoor lifestyle.

For more information on this job opening, see full job description.

The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City will be hosting “The Art of Interpretive Writing” on Friday, October 25.  The workshop will be led by Alan Leftridge, author of Interpretive Writing.  See below for more details:

Write compelling interpretive messages! This workshop offers you the basics of interpretive writing that apply to signage, exhibit labels, brochures, websites, public service announcements, books, and magazines. You will understand how to create clear, dynamic, and concise interpretive texts, reveal meanings, and ways to excite visitors about your site, whether it is a museum, park, zoo, nature center, or aquarium.

Topics include:

• The Interpretive Writing Process
• Concept Mapping 
• Universal Concepts
• The Five Elements of Interpretive Writing
• Meeting Your Audience’s Needs
• Concise Wording
• Keeping Your Reader’s Attention
• The Importance of Fluency
• Redundant Wording
• Understanding Readability Indexes
• Using a Human Interest Scale
• Capturing Your Reader’s Attention
• What to Avoid
• Connecting with a Narrative
• The Editing Process
• Evaluation

The fee is $275 and includes instruction, refreshments, handouts, and a copy of the Interpretive Writing textbook.

Contact Alan Leftridge, leftridge@blackfoot.net, 406.754.2940 to register.

“The Art of Interpretive Writing” flyer (pdf)

There’s still five days to get the early registration rate for our upcoming workshop in Branson, Missouri!  After August 20, the cost will go up.

Registration forms are included in the 2013 AMI Workshop Registration Packet.  So are all the details on field sessions, lodging, and costs. 

If you have any other questions, please contact Workshop Committee Chair John Miller at john.miller@mdc.mo.gov or at (417) 334-4865, ext. 0.

We hope to see you in Branson!

The 2013 Association of Missouri Interpreters Workshop will be held September 12 – 14 in Branson, Missouri.  The workshop theme is “Interpreting New Heights in the Depths of the Ozarks”.  Details are just now begining to be announced, but here’s your quick-&-easy guide to everything you need to know:

First off, visit the Conference Page.  This page will always have the most recent news and updates about the workshop.

Want to present a session at the Workshop? Session proposals are due June 15.  Here’s the Call for Papers (Adobe pdf).

You should seriously consider nominating one of your colleagues for AMI’s awards.  Recognizing outstanding interpretation is a big part of what we do.  For more information, download the Award Criteria and Nomination Form (Word doc).  Awards nominations are due July 15.

Are you a college student?  Then you should think about applying for one of our George Kastler Interpreter Scholarships.  Scholarship Applications (Word doc) are also due July 15.

If you need a little financial assistance to attend the Workshop, you might check out AMI’s new Professional Development Stipends (Word doc).  Stipend applications for the upcoming Workshop are due August 11.

Need some help convincing your supervisor or organization that the AMI Workshop in worthwhile?   Share these two articles by John Miller: “Sharpening Your Saw” and “How to Get Management Approval to Attend the AMI or NAI Regional Workshop” (Adobe pdf).

If you have any other questions, please contact Workshop Committee Chair John Miller by e-mail or at (417) 334-4865, ext. 0.

See you in Branson!

Pardon the recent rash of NAI Region 6 postings– the region’s website is temporarily down, and they need a little help getting info out about their upcoming workshop.  And I didn’t think you guys would mind learning about a really awesome professional training opportunity taking place right next door to us.  Here’s the details:

EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE is more than the answer to the question, “Which rock group had the 1970s hits Shining Star and Boogie Wonderland”.  Earth, Wind, and Fire are the forces that shaped the Flint Hills of Kansas and it is the theme of the 2013 NAI Region 6 Workshop to be held in Manhattan, KS from February 24-27. As the gateway to the Flint Hills and the world’s largest remaining track of tallgrass prairie, Manhattan might not be a boogie wonderland (although after this workshop it may be known as that!), but you certainly will see many shining stars in the brilliant Kansas night sky as well as your colleagues who are the shining stars of interpretation.

For full information on the workshop, please take a look at the registration packet (Word)

Are you interested in attending the 2013 NAI Region 6 workshop in Manhattan, Kansas — but need a little financial aid? Thanks to generous donors and funding from the members of NAI Region 6, financial assistance for the Region 6 Workshop is available in the form of a Free Workshop Registration. These stipends are open to any current NAI Region 6 member (not just students and volunteers, but also professionals, seasonals, and vendors) demonstrating need and service to the field of interpretation.

Please see the information and application below. Questions? Direct them to John Miller, Region 6 Director.

• NAI Region 6 Financial Assistance Application (Word document)
• NAI Region 6 Financial Assistance Application (Adobe PDF)

This summer, the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources will once again be hosting its Conservation Careers Academy (formerly known as the Conservation Honors Program).  The five day course is open to high school juniors and seniors, and offers hands-on training in natural resource conservation.  College credit from MU is also available for the course.  This looks to be a very cool program, so pass the word on to any students who might be interested!

• Conservation Careers Academy 2012 Flyer