Continuing Studies - Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG)

CERTIFIED INTERPRETIVE GUIDE (CIG)

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, in partnership with Bald Eagle
the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, is offering the
National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) professional certification course for individuals who will be delivering interpretive programs or having public contact at interpretive sites.

The CIG Program

The Certified Interpretive Guide program is designed for anyone who delivers interpretive programs to the public. It combines both the theoretical foundations of the profession with practical skills in delivering quality interpretive programming to visitors. The certificate is applicable to a wide variety of interpretive venues, including culture, heritage and history, arts, and environmental and wildlife.

For more information about the Certified Interpretive Guide certification and the National Association for Interpretation, click here to be taken to the NAI website.

The Cape May County fall 2010 CIG course is scheduled for 8:30 - 5:00 each day on 4 consecutive days in November:

Thursday - Sunday, November 4-7, 2010
Note that this is NJEA convention weekend to better accommodate K-12 educators who wish to participate in this certification program.
The Cape May County course will take place at the Two Mile Beach Unit of the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge on Diamond Beach at the south end of Wildwood Crest, off of Ocean Drive (exit 0 of the Garden State Parkway).

A wide range of lodging accommodations are available within a short distance of the courses, from large casino hotels in Atlantic City to lovely inns and B&Bs in beautiful, historic Cape May. reasonably priced hotels and motels are available locally also.

WHAT PEOPLE SAID ABOUT LAST YEAR'S CIG PROGRAM
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“It was informative, educational and engaging.”

“Lots of great information, history, techniques delivered by enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructors! Very energizing, inspiring, mind and life expanding!”

“Both instructors are packed with knowledge and insight. Both provided inspiring perspectives on the interpretive enterprise that really brought lessons home!”

“I learned a lot. I have done interpretation before and I learned many ways to improve on my technique. It’s not just about naming everything.”

“Great experience! It was nice getting to know the group so well. It promotes us contacting each other later regarding each other’s areas of expertise.”

“Great content. One of the best experiences of my life.”

“The certification is an important credential for my profession/resume. The professors really made interpretation interesting and informative.”

“Both instructors were patient, knowledgeable and good teachers.”

“I learned a lot of skills that will benefit my walks and talks that I give.”

“Art and Barry are fun and amazing. They are wise and respectful in the best of ways.”

“This 4-day course was a great time as well as a gratifying learning experience!”

“This program is invaluable in teaching skills and techniques to enhance interpretive programs.”

“Thank you for an exceptional learning experience.”

“The course was excellent, offering plenty of realistic scenarios in which to employ the skills we learned. Great texts were used.”

“I feel very fortunate that I had the opportunity to take this course.”

Local accommodations

Click here for a print friendly sheet with complete information about the CIG program.

Click here to download an application form

This intensive 32-hour course includes:

• History, definition, and principles of interpretation
• Making your programs purposeful, enjoyable, relevant, organized, and thematic
• Using tangible objects to connect audiences to intangible ideas and universal concepts in interpretive programs
• Presentation and communication skills
• Certification requirements (open book exam; program outline; 10-min. presentation)

Requirements for the CIG Course

Anyone age 16 or over with a desire to increase their knowledge and skills related to interpretation may participate. Membership in NAI is not required, but NAI members may pay a discounted fee to participate in the program. You can also elect to take the training without becoming certified.

Interpretation Library

Six texts are necessary for completion of the open-book exam. There are a limited number of these texts available for student use during the workshop. If you wish to purchase your own books, NAI offers a discounted package price of $120 plus $12 shipping. Visit www.interpnet.com/store/ or call NAI at 888-900-8283, order the "Certification Library" and have the books shipped directly to you now.

We highly recommended that you purchase the set of texts and begin reading the material in advance as it is a lot of material to cover and this will allow you more time during the course. These texts are also excellent reference sources that you will want to have in your own home library.

For those who do not wish to purchase the texts, a set of these books is available at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey School of Graduate and Continuing Studies for your review.

The texts used for the CIG course are:

Beck & Cable, Interpretation for the 21st Century
Cornell, J., Sharing Nature with Children
Ham, S., Environmental Interpretation
Knudsen, Cable, & Beck, Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources
Lewis, B., Interpreting for Park Visitors
Tilden, F., Interpreting Our Heritage

Tuition for the spring 2010 CIG program

With certification:
$420 For Certification and one year Membership in NAI
$370 for Certification as a current member of NAI
Without certification (course only)*:
$340 for course only and one year Membership in NAI without certification
$290 for course only without certification or membership
* Students not wishing certification will not be responsible for outline, oral presentation, or the final open-book assessment.

In an attempt to keep this tuition down as low as possible, the cost does not include lunches; please bring a bag lunch and any desired snacks with you each day of the program. Tuition includes the cost of certification. You may elect to take the course without the certification or NAI membership for $290.

The Certified Interpretive Guide program is taught only in small groups, so seats are extremely limited; to register for the fall 2010 course, click here to download an application form. You can also contact the Division of Continuing Studies at cs@stockton.edu or 609.652.4227 to receive an application by mail.

Click here for a print friendly sheet with complete information about the CIG program.

Click here to download an application form

Stockton College also offers the Volunteer Master Naturalist (VMN) program. The VMN is a 40 hour program of classroom and field-based learning based on the national Volunteer Master Naturalist model. For more information about the Stockton VMN, click on the title above or contact the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies at cs@stockton.edu or 609.652.4227.

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is an equal opportunity college. It does not discriminate in admission or access to its programs and activities or in treatment or employment of individuals on the basis of race, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, religion, disability, affectual or sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, and/or liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States.