So you’ve been on a fine trip. Perhaps you’ve climbed mountains, seen amazing things in great museums, walked through the desert in bloom, watched whales rise, or relaxed on the beach. What makes you remember those good times? I’m not talking about neurons and synapsis firing and re-firing until the pathway through the brain becomes deep and … Continue reading You Can Make A Memory
I recently spoke to Arkansas’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism about nature tourism. Here are notes from my comments. Nature tourism is a huge component in the tourism economy of every state. People are drawn to nature in many ways, ranging from motorcycle touring to weeklong backpacking through a dramatic Wilderness Area, paddling a Wild and Scenic River, … Continue reading Defining and Developing Nature Tourism
The years I have been in the interpretation business have taught me a few things. I had a strange but perhaps typical beginning. I liked the outdoors, liked to hunt and fish, but what made connections for me was canoeing beautiful rivers. Each float was an adventure into wild and beautiful places, and the good fishing … Continue reading Tough Interpretation Training
Historic home tours are a staple in communities on every continent. People want to honor their famous people and point out elegant architecture. Famous people and elegant architecture attract a certain audience, so together, preservation, careful maintenance of historic properties, and well-crafted historic home tours add to the pride and prestige of every community, and … Continue reading Make the most of your Historic Home Tour
A few years ago I was privileged to meet with Michael Jenkins, CEO of Leisure and Recreation Consultants of Dallas. Mr. Jenkins, and his large entertainment company, are/were major consultants to Disney, Six Flags, and Sea World. Plus, he had half a dozen theatre shows touring the country, and he was producing shows in Vegas. … Continue reading What Your Audience Wants
Logan, Utah is a western town built like a western town. The cold water of the Logan River flows through town, mountains rise at the east edge of the small city and the Wellsville Mountains tower over the beautiful Cache River Valley to the west. The town design gives a feeling of wide-open spaces and … Continue reading The Great Elevator Talk
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of The Wilderness Act I’m reposting this blog from two years ago. Join me in celebrating Wilderness. Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries. … Continue reading In Celebration of Wilderness
You may have a special place –a place you can return to and connect to good memories, or have peace and quiet, a place to think and restore surrounded by your favorite comforting things. For some this may be in your room surrounded by memories and books, for others this may be a library, and … Continue reading Use a funnel to find your special place
I saw it on Facebook – and I liked it. I had heard it before, and I’ve heard managers say the first line with heartfelt belief, and I can understand why. What if we spend the time and money to train our staff … and they leave? The statement is a logical outgrowth … Continue reading I saw it on Facebook: What if we spend time and money to train our staff …
I’m pleased that my friend Lari Jo Johnston agreed to write this piece for my blog. You’ll enjoy it. The Best Christmas Gift Ever In January 2008, I was fed up with my life. I wanted a change and gave myself an ultimatum. Within the coming year I was going to find a job that … Continue reading The Best Christmas Gift Ever
Interpretive Communications 