Thanks to the Challenge Cost Share Program, seven volunteers from Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge attended a nationally accredited interpretive training, Certified Interpretive Guide.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the Friends of the Minnesota Valley teamed up to increase and improve the Refuge's public interpretive programs by providing an interpretive training workshop to existing and new volunteers through the Service's Challenge Cost Share Program. This nationally accredited training, Certified Interpretive Guide, was a 32-hour workshop conducted through the National Association for Interpretation. Park Ranger, Mara Koenig, a trained instructor, presented the workshop.

The workshop included an open-book exam, writing an interpretive program outline, and presenting a 10-minute interpretive program. Volunteers learned the history of the interpretative profession, foundational interpretive theories, and delivery and communication techniques. They went through a step-by-step guide on how to develop an interpretive program and where to find knowledgeable resources for program topics.

After completing the training, the volunteers will each present six interpretive programs for Minnesota Valley NWR during the year.

For more information contact Mara Koenig at 952.858.0710 or by email at mara_koenig@fws.gov.