Immerse yourself in an enlightening conversation with Walt Dabney, a distinguished former National Park Service Superintendent, NPS Chief Ranger, and ex-Director of Texas State Parks & Wildlife. Walt's illustrious career spans decades, marked by his significant contributions to both our cherished National Parks and the Texas State Parks system.

Early in his tenure with the NPS, Walt was entrusted with the unique role of accompanying Freeman Tilden, fondly known as "The Father of Interpretation," as his host, driver, guide, and "adjutant" for a year. This transformative experience saw them journey across the National Park System, engaging in profound daily discussions about life, public lands, and the art of Interpretation.

A proud 1969 alumnus of Texas A&M, Dabney dedicated over thirty years to the National Park Service. Post-retirement, he revitalized the Texas State Parks, turning an underfunded system into a well-financed, professional, customer-oriented, and technologically advanced entity. Now, in his second retirement, Walt remains a passionate advocate for the preservation, protection, and enjoyment of Public Lands. Discover more about his insights by watching his video: "The History & Future of America's Public Land with Walt Dabney."

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#timmerriman #heritageinterpretation #NationalParks #TexasStateParks #PublicLands #ConservationConversation #ParksLeadership #WaltDabney #NatureTalks #ParkPreservation

This week on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters our guest is Susan Marie Frontczak. Storysmith® Susan Marie Frontczak's deeply researched Living History programs are the center of her repertoire. In her programs as Marie Curie, Mary Shelley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Irene Castle, Erma Bombeck and Clara Barton, Susan Marie melts, stretches, and reforms the boundaries between theatre, storytelling, and public speaking.

These programs are presented with no imaginary "fourth wall" between the historical figure and the audience. Rather, the audience travels back in time to hear from and converse with the historical personage. Many of these are in the "Chautauqua" format consisting of a monologue in character, followed first by a Q&A with the historical figure, and then a Q&A out of character as the scholar.

Susan Marie has presented over 900 Living History programs in 43 of the United States and nine countries abroad since 2001.

Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Interpreters and Guides was honored to recently interview Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution—and its first African American and first historian to hold the position.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1952 to educators Lonnie II and Montrose Bunch, Dr. Bunch earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in American and African American history from American University. His career began at the Smithsonian while completing his master’s degree, and he has since become a leading figure in museums, education, and interpretation.

Dr. Bunch’s groundbreaking contributions include serving as founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) from 2005 to 2019. There, he led traveling exhibitions and public programs before opening the museum to global acclaim. Previously, he directed the Chicago History Museum, held curatorial roles at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and served at the California African American Museum.

A member of the American Philosophical Society, Dr. Bunch has also contributed to historic preservation, serving on the White House Preservation Commission under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. On May 28, 2019, he was elected Secretary of the Smithsonian, where he continues to shape the future of cultural storytelling.

https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

#timmerriman #heritageinterpretation #AfricanAmericanHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #CelebrateBlackHistory #BlackVoices #BlackExcellence #OurHistoryOurStory #HonoringHeritage #FromSlaveryToFreedom #DiasporaStories #SmithsonianInstitution #ExploreSmithsonian #HistoryUnveiled #MuseumsMatter #SmithsonianAfricanAmerican #DiscoverTheSmithsonian #LearnWithSmithsonian

Juan Castaing, a Chilean Interpretive Guide and Trainer, specializes in heritage interpretation, media and hospitality services. He has been combining ecotourism and communication for more than 20 years. His expertise lies in effectively communicating and managing cultural experiences, particularly those blending nature and culture.

Castaing offers consulting services and workshops to help other guides and organizations develop strong interpretation and destination planning strategies. As a member of various global interpreter associations, he's dedicated to fostering leadership and excellence in the field of heritage interpretation in Chile.

https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #DiscoverChile #ChileTravel #VisitChile #ChileAdventure #ExploreChile #ChileanHeritage #ChileCulturalHeritage #ChileHistory #PatrimonioChileno #CulturaChilena #HistoriaDeChile #ChileNature #ChileLandscapes #ChileWildlife #PatagoniaChile #SustainableChile #EcotourismChile #LocalGuidesChile #ResponsibleTourismChile #GuidedTourChile #ChileanGuides #ChileInterpretation #InterpretChile

Kathe Hambrick is Executive Director of the Amistad Research Center in Louisiana. In this role, Hambrick sees an opportunity to mentor and shape a new generation of curators, archivists, and digitization specialists. The mission of the Amistad Research Center is to "collect, preserve, and provide access to original documents that highlight the social and cultural significance of America's ethnic and racial history, the African Diaspora, human rights, and civil rights.

"Hambrick is also an accomplished author and co-author of several books, including Juke Joint Men, Oh Say Can You See: Flag Paintings of Malaika Favorite, Our Roots Run Deep, and Freedoms' Journey: Understanding the Underground Railroad in South Louisiana. She taught "Introduction to Museology" at Southern University in New Orleans, where she earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies in 2012.

Kathe Hambrick has long chosen the challenging path to truth, using interpretation to tell stories that are often overlooked or deliberately erased.

"Making a Way Out of No Way" has been a guiding principle for Hambrick, who founded and served as the Director of the River Road African American Museum in rural Louisiana, her home state. In this role, she was dedicated to promoting the history of African Americans in the rural parishes along the Mississippi River, relying more on passion and inspiration than on consistent financial support.

Hambrick also served as President of the Association of African American Museums, a demanding, unpaid volunteer position that required significant leadership in historic preservation and public history. Her tenure involved making decisions that shaped the understanding and representation of African American history on a national scale.

Today, Kathe Hambrick is an independent consultant, curator, public historian, author, and public speaker. In April 2021, she founded her consulting business, 2PRESERVE LLC, where she provides expertise in exhibit design, program development, museum governance, and interpretive planning.

Throughout her career, Hambrick has been deeply committed to preserving historic buildings and slavery-era burial grounds, ensuring these sites and their stories are remembered. She has a strong background in community relations, having served as a liaison between corporations, museums, governmental agencies, community leaders, and faith-based organizations.

As Chief Curator and Director of Interpretation for the West Baton Rouge Museum, Hambrick curated over 100 exhibits, including "The Rural Roots of Jazz" and "Rural Black Doctors." Her latest projects include a permanent exhibit about the enslaved people sold by the Jesuits of Georgetown to an Episcopal sugar planter in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

Throughout her career, Kathe Hambrick has used costumed interpretation, exhibits, and interpretive programs to weave together the diverse threads of American history, creating a more complete and inclusive narrative.

While teaching as a Geography Professor at University of Puerto Rico for twenty-two years, Eliezer Nieves-Rodriguez has trained Certified Interpretive Guides, served as an interpretive planner and consultant to local communities as well as international interpretive trainer for the RESERVA Program.

.He grew up in Puerto Rico and has spent his long career devoted to protection of the island’s unique natural areas along with support of local people working in tourism and conservation.

Join us this week on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters as Tim Merriman and Bill Gwaltney visit with Eliezer to reveal his unique journey in the professions of interpretation and education.

https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #heritageinterpretation #DiscoverPuertoRico #ExplorePuertoRico #VisitPuertoRico #TravelPuertoRico #IslaDelEncanto #PuertoRicoAdventures #CulturalHeritagePR #PuertoRicoHistory #PuertoRicanCulture #InterpretationMatters #SustainablePuertoRico #ConservationPR #EcoTourismPR #PreserveNaturePR #NatureConservationPR

Tom Medema, the Associate Director of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers for the National Park Service (NPS), has had an inspiring career journey that began in Muskegon, Michigan. After earning both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, Tom embarked on a 35-year adventure with the NPS, taking on increasingly impactful roles—from interpreter to superintendent, ultimately becoming Associate Director. In this episode, Tom shares the remarkable stories from his career and his recent philanthropic efforts, including his work in providing motorcycles to rangers around the world who lack the means to acquire a motor vehicle. Tune in on your favorite audio platform to hear more about his extraordinary journey.

https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/page/1/

#timmerriman #interpretationservices #interpretation #interpretivenaturalists #interpretivetraining #heritageinterpretation #NationalParkService #NPS #NatureInterpretation #CulturalInterpretation #InterpretationMatters #ConnectingPeopleToParks #TomMedema #ParkLeader #ConservationChampion #RangerStories #NPSLeadership

Today is a special edition of Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters podcast featuring more than one hour of conversation among five very experienced interpretive trainers. Clark Hancock from Austin, Texas, Donna Horton from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Gabriela Plumasseau from Paris, France, Heidi McFarland from Boulder Creek, California, and Lisa Brochu, my wife and training partner, join me in discussing training options that are affordable and time-saving. This is a followup to a discussion I posted on May 24 with a group of trainers.

During this I explain how my new Put the HEART Back in Your Interpretive Communications is designed to serve those who may not be able to afford NAI’s Interpretive Guide Certificate course such as students, docents, volunteers, part-timers, and seasonals.

Join us on your favorite audio platform at https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/

#timmerriman #InterpretationServices #interpreter #heritageinterpretation #interpretivenaturalist #interpretiveguide #certifiedinterpretiveguide