HFC Interpretive Planners have done
outstanding work for parks in the Southeast Region. Mary Mallen has done
great work at Shiloh, Horseshoe Bend and San Juan. Jack Spinnler has helped Gulf Islands with their GMP and in working up PMIS statements due
to the damage from Hurricane Ivan.
Don Wollenhaupt
Southeast Region
February 2005 |
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How Interpretive Planning Assists Parks
Harpers Ferry Center has been providing the National Park Service
with interpretive planning expertise for more than thirty years.
Interpretive planning addresses visitor experiences in parks, including
interpretation, orientation, education, safety, and resource protection.
It is a goal-driven process that recommends strategies to help parks
achieve their mission, protect their resources, and provide the
best service to visitors.
HFC Interpretive Planners assist parks with many types of planning:
- General Management Plans (GMPs)
- Long-Range Interpretive Plans (LRIPs)
- Pre-Design Workshops for Interpretive Media and Facilities
- Visitor Experience Planning
- Value Analysis for Interpretive Media and Facilities
- Assessments of Interpretive Media and Facilities
- Research and Evaluation of Interpretive Media and Facilities
- Special Resource Studies (new area plans)
Funding Sources for Interpretive Planning
Harpers Ferry Center provides interpretive planning and evaluation
services through the entire spectrum of planning through installation
of interpretive media and facilities. There are many sources of
funding that can be used:
- HFC base funding (no charge to parks)
- General Management Planning funds (no charge to parks)
- Fee demo
- Park base
- Cooperating Association, Friends’ Groups, Partnerships
How to Start an Interpretive Planning Project
Harpers Ferry Center interpretive planners are experienced field
interpreters who are trained in visitor experience planning, facilitation,
interpretive media effectiveness, and assessment and evaluation.
Planning teams often include HFC media specialists in areas such
as exhibits, audiovisual programs, digital media, publications,
wayfinding, and wayside exhibits.
How does a park initiate a planning project?
- Assess your needs: What are you planning for? What results do
you want?
- Talk to your regional office of interpretation (especially for
HFC-funded LRIPs).
- Read this and other websites; find out what options are available.
- Call for information. Harpers Ferry Center has an initial contact
point to assist parks with all their planning and media needs.
Call or email us for more information or to obtain HFC assistance
in your interpretive planning needs. Contact
Us »
Interpretive Planning Guidelines
Planning
for Interpretation & Visitor Experience (69 pages - 2MB
- PDF)
– This document describes current perspectives and approaches
in interpretive planning by Harpers Ferry Center. It discusses approaches,
criteria, options, and philosophy. It is not a "how-to"
manual or directive. While interpretive planning comprises a spectrum
from short-range through long-range planning, this document addresses
mostly long-range planning.
Comprehensive
Interpretive Planning (15 pages - PDF)
– Interpretation is about choices. We choose what stories
to tell, whom to tell them to, and how to tell them. While these
choices are rarely easy, an effective planning system can guide
our decision-making and help us to "do the right thing."
This document provides an introduction and overview to the process.
Interpretive Media Selection
Selecting interpretive media solutions is as much art as science.
To reach your audience you may use wayside exhibits, publications,
audiovisual programs, museum exhibits, and personal services. There
is rarely only one way to achieve a goal, and each situation has
its own particular mix of factors to consider. Learn how to determine
which media are best suited to which tasks. Interpretive
Media Selection »
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IN DEPTH:
General Management Plans »
Long Range Interpretive Plans »
Interpretive Media Selection »
WHAT'S NEW:
Media Concept Plan for Pecos NHP »
PDF DOCUMENTS:
Comprehensive
Interpretive Planning »
Planning
for Interpretation & Visitor Experience »
Help With PDF »
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