Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters

The Certified Interpretive Guide and Host Courses are no longer certifications through National Association for Interpretation and NAI Certified Trainers have some opinions about those changes. Tim Merriman has Rita Nethersole, Clark Hancock, Mary McCormac, Dr. Phillip Smart and Lisa Brochu as guests in this special edition of Reflection on Interpretation to talk about those changes.  #timmerriman...

Tim Merriman has had a 50 plus year career in the interpretive profession including Executive Director of National Association for Interpretation for 17 years. He has been a Nature Center Director, Manager of Research and Innovations at a National Recreation Area and a Park Ranger/Interpreter at a State Park. He was President of Association of Interpretive Naturalists and led the move to merge wit...

Mark Jordahl, CIG, joins Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation after several decades as an adventure guide, tourism entrepreneur and guest communications specialist with Natural Habitat Adventures. He is now the Communications Manager with Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center in Democratic Republic of Congo, working from Colorado.    Join us at Reflections on In...

James Mazigo is a very experience safari guide working more than two decades in Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya, now guides with Regal African Safaris, our guide company of choice in Tanzania. He tells of his unique journey to being a safari guide and explains how guides are organizing professionally in his nation.    In two weeks Tim talks Story with Mark Jordahl, Communication Manager with Gorilla Re...

Tom Cowper of Snohomish County in Washington state is Timʻs guest today on Reflections on Interpretation. Heʻs been a park ranger, off-road vehicle coordinator, nature center superintendent and park interpreter after a stint in the U.S. Army.   In two weeks on April 18 I welcome James Mazigo is Timʻs guest, a guide with Regal African Safaris in Tanzania.   Join us at Reflections on Interpretation:...

Michael Kirschman, City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Director is talking story with Tim Merriman today on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters.  They will be sharing his unique journey from being a conservation educator to consultant with the EPA in American Samoa and Deputy Director of Nature Preserves for Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. #timme...

Tim Merriman will talk story with Ilan Shamir, interpretive entrepreneur who created Your True Nature and an amazing series of interpretive products sold all over the US in parks, zoos, museums, nature centers and historic sites. They will also discuss his diverse experience as a keynote speaker and program innovator. His unique products and services may be found at yourtruenature.com and myadvice...

Tim Merriman talks story with Dr. Robert “Bob” Hinkle, retired Chief of Outdoor Education with Cleveland Metroparks.  Bob reflects on his early career as a professor of wildlife management, decade as a cruise boat naturalist on the Great Lakes and achievements in more than 30 years of management with Cleveland Metroparks, overseeing the creation of three new nature centers on Cleveland’s famed Eme...

Tim Merriman talks story today on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters with Bradley Block, former Chief of Interpretation at Custer State Park within South Dakota – one of the largest state parks in the country, as well as Chief of Interpretation at Jewel Cave National Monument within the National Park Service – one of the longest caves in the world.  He is cur...

Tim Merriman talks story with Jay Miller, CIT, CIP, who worked 37 years with Arkansas State Parks, most of those years as Chief of Interpretation.  Retired from the parks, he continues to train and plan with clients through his business, Interpretive Communications. He is a recent Past President of the Board of Directors for National Association for Interpretation.    In two weeks, Feb. 9, Tim wil...

Karin Hostetter, CIT, has had a long career working with zoos and museums as an interpretive trainer, writer and planner with her business, Interpret This. She also serves as a Lead Trainer with National Association for Interpretation, training trainers in delivery of the Certified Interpretive Guide and Host courses.  January 26, 2024, Tim will talk story with Jay Miller, CIT, CIP, who worked 37...

Pete Devine, Certified Interpretive Guide, naturalist, and graduate of Colorado College has had a long career with Yosemite Institute and the Yosemite Conservancy in California. He shares his experiences managing a diverse staff in working with people of all ages to explore Yosemite National Park. He also has led nature tours to Chinaʻs National Parks, sister parks to Yosemite National Park, with...

Helena Vicic serves as Managing Director with Interpret Europe, a professional association for more than 900 interpretive professionals in 57 countries, that mainly serves members through their training program and professional conferences. Helena lives and works from, Slovenia, her national home, privately acting also as an interpretive trainer.    Next week Tim will talk story with Pete Devine,...

Ryan Finchum talks story with Tim Merriman this week on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. Ryan is Director of the Center for Protected Area Management at Colorado State University, training managers and rangers from Latin America and Africa in good management practices and interpretation. He is a Certified Interpretive Trainer with National Association for...

Kara Garilao is an interpretive guide, planner and trainer, who lives and works in the Philippines, talking story with Tim Merriman on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. She recently earned the CIG Certificate with Tim Merriman in a Virtual Certified Interpretive Guide Course. Join us on your favorite audio platform.  https://timfmerriman.podbean.com/ Next w...

Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI are tools that guides and interpreters might reasonably use to improve their tours and talks. Tim Merriman talks story with Tobias "Toby" Merriman, his son, who is Assistant Director of Center for Virtual Expression (CVeX) at Southern Illinois University, a program training professors and students to use AI skillfully. Join them on Reflections on Interpret...

Dr. Lucy Long, author of Culinary Tourism, is a folklorist, fiddler, ethnomusicologist and interpreter of food and culture. She and Tim Merriman talk story about food tourism and interpretation on Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters.   Next week, November 10, Tim will be talking story with Tobias Merriman, Assistant Director of CVeX at Southern Illinois Univer...

Tim Merriman talks story on Reflections on Interpretation with Masa Shintani, a Japanese trainer and planner who has worked in 18 countries in Asia and Africa, helping communities develop ecotourism and learn about interpretive guiding. He also has his own ecotour and glamping company in Fujinomiya, Japan.    Next week, November 3rd, I will be talking story with Dr. Lucy Margaret Long, a professor...

Maria Elena Muriel, CIT,  is a very talented interpretive guide, trainer and planner who has worked throughout Mexico and Latin America, carrying the banner of interpretation to new audiences of guides and interpreters. She shares her amazing story of being the very first Certified Interpretive Guide with National Association for Interpretation in January of 2000 while guiding tourists to turtle b...

Colby Brokvist, adventure guide, photographer, author of The Professional Guideʻs Handbook and Board Chair of the Polar Tourism Guides Association talks story with Tim Merriman on the podcast, Reflections on Interpretation: Talking Story with Guides and Interpreters. Colby shares his journey as a guide and how adventure guiding in polar regions such as Churchill in Canada is different and requires...

Jennifer Waithman, CIT, is an interpretive trainer and specialist in Queensland Australia, but originally from the United States, talking story with Tim Merriman. She shares her unique journey in Reflections on Interpretation podcast from interpreting with federal agencies in the Northwest United States to the Sunshine and Fraser Coasts in eastern Australia.    Next Friday, October 13, Tim Merrima...

Claire Savage works through her Savagely Creative business as an interpretive planner and destination marketer. Rusty Creighton, her spouse, is a talented tourism guide working with both land and water based companies in the Margaret River area south of Perth. Tim Merriman talks with them about their journey in the interpretive profession and how the pandemic affected tourism in Western Australia....

Maricar Donato speaks seven languages and guides in five in Washington, D.C. and the Eastern Triangle as part of her Washing Tours and Events business. She and Tim Merriman Talk Story about the importance of interpretive approaches to tourism guiding. She is a Certified Interpretive Trainer with National Association for Interpretation and trains Certified Interpretive Guides. She is also an Execut...

Michael Glen began working in tourism information in Scotland the U.K. more than five decades ago. As Wordsmith, he has been a writing and planning consultant with more than 500 projects, while also being a key figure in design and administration of the professional interpretive organizations in the United Kingdom and Europe. He and Tim Merriman have been friends for decades and talk story about t...

Christian Gernez, CIG, and CEO of Isthmian Adventures joins Tim Merriman to talk about the natural and cultural beauty and diversity of Panama. Christian manages his company with a diverse group of expert guides who know the nation's amazing cultures, birds and other wildlife. Next week Tim will be talking story with Michael Glen, The Wordsmith, in Scotland.  Join us on your favorite audio platfor...