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     Welcome to our web site. JVA is a firm that specializes in Interpretive Master Planning and Interpretive Training courses and workshops.    We are one of the few firms offering interpretive consultant services that is staffed by "professionally trained" interpreters. We bring a strong academic interpretive background mixed with lots of field experience with 30 years of "doing" interpretive master planning and staff interpretive training as well as teaching university courses in interpretation. Scroll down for more details on what we do.

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My new BLOG: http://interpretationflypaper.blogspot.com/    I created this new JVA blog as a place where folks find out where we might be, what projects we are working on, ask questions and keep in touch.  I call it "Interpretation Flypaper".  Take a look.

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         Credentials and Qualifications

The first question you should always ask a perspective consultant in interpretive planning or training, is "how did you learn how to do it in the first place"?  What qualifies you to be a consultant anyway and what makes you an expert in interpretation? This is the first page you should look for when visiting any interpretive consultants web site - their qualifications.

That's a question I get asked from time to time - and it's a fair question.   So to learn more about JVA Credentials and Qualifications to be a interpretation "consultant" - CLICK HERE.

I'm also a National Association for Interpretation:

          Certified Interpretive Planner  

           Certified Interpretive Trainer.  

and a Certified Heritage Interpreter - Canada. This is a National Certification authorized by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council

All of the above certifications are based on both written exams, reviewing a video of JV conducting an interpretation training course, and personal interview (Canada).   The NAI Certifications also require a review of interpretive products (examples of completed interpretive plans or training lesson plans).

But every consultant looks good on the web and with a resume..  I feel our projects speak for themselves which is why I post links to our clients - you can ask them how we did. And if you're sending your project out for a bid, always ask the bidder to send you a sample of their product - like a recent interpretive plan. I bet you'll be surprised at the differences in what some consider an "interpretive plan".  If you would like an outline of what goes into one of our interpretive plans (content outline) Click Here.

 So scroll down to see what's new, and check out our 2009 projects and clients. We do keep busy!  The index on the left will take you to our LIBRARY and other pages as well.

And when you search for - or interview -   an Interpretive Consultant for a project, don't forget to ask the question of "what qualifies you to be one"?  It's one of the most important questions you may ask,  for the success of your project really may depend on that answer.

Well, enjoy your visit and e-mail me if you have any questions at all: jvainterp@aol.com   And if you want to see some of our products to review and compare against others, just ask.   Our products speak for themselves.

Cheers - JV

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                        JVA Interpretive Training Update for 2010.  

New interpretive courses for Snowdonia National Park Training Center, Wales, UK.  For the rest of our  2010 season will include: September 2010: Interpretive Master Planning.  Details on our upcoming 2011 workshops will be coming in a few weeks.  Note that these training courses bring in an international market, with participants in past courses coming in from as far away as South Africa (Director of the Nelson Manduela Museum), Sweden and the Channel Islands, Ireland and even the USA.

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JVA is pleased to have M. Kaser & Associates as part of our Associates network team.  Matt is an outstanding interpretive designer and a Certified Interpretive Planner as well.   Located in Coppell, Texas, Matt works on a variety of projects from interpretive sites to theme parks.  You need to visit Matts web site for an overview of his talents and abilities.  You can visit Matts website at: http://www.kaserdesign.com.

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NEW - Request for Proposal Example Templates for "Interpretive Master Planning, Interpretive Exhibit Planning, and Planning/Design/Fabrication for Interpretive Panels and wayfinding systems" available from JVA.  If you would like a copy just send me an e-mail and I can send you a copy.   This was originally developed for members of the National Park Service Gateways Program.

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Great News - New Books - JV's Interpretive Master Planning text book has just been published in Chinese and soon to be published in Italian as well.

John Veverka is pleased to announce that his text book Interpretive Master Planning has just been published in Chinese.  This was a project coordinated with Peking University, Center for Recreation and Tourism Research and the China Travel and Tourism Press. "It is hoped that the publication of this book in Chinese will help advance interpretation in China as well as serve as a planning guide for further developing China's cultural and natural treasures for its expanding tourism markets." CTTP.

The Languages of Live Interpretation- Canadian Museum of Civilization

John was asked to write a chapter/section in the book "The Languages of Live Interpretation" (shown above right) edited by Jean-Marc Blais of the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Quebec.   The book focuses on a variety of live interpretation methods in museums (theater, animation, etc.) with examples from several different authors.  John's chapter, "The Language of Live Interpretation: Making Contact", focuses on  basic interpretive planning, learning concepts and interpretive techniques for the planning and delivery of live interpretive programs.  The book is available from: The Canadian Museum of Civilization. Here is the link to their book store if you're interested in getting a copy. http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/cyberboutique/the-Books-scln--scln--cln-Museum-publications--dsh--Museology/Categories

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   JVA partners with HDC to form international heritage destination and interpretation development firm.

JVA is pleased to announce its association with HDC, a new international firm specializing in planning and training for  developing or existing heritage destinations.    We can help plan and develop both the total heritage site (resort, fishing lodge, cruise ship, historic community or city, historic region, etc.), and its interpretive/heritage programs and services, train staff, developing marketing strategies, do visitor surveys, develop support services and more.    Visit our HDC web site http://www.heritagedestination.com for more details on how we can help bring you more visitors while preserving the natural and cultural heritage they are coming to see and experience.

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              Need Interpretive Training for Docents, Seasonal Staff, or Full Time Staff?

Photos from some of our international training courses (graduates of our 5-day interpretation overview course on Malta - top left; Planning/presenting Live Interpretive Programs course in Wales - top right, and graduates of our 5-day Interpretive Master Planning course in Slovenia - bottom left), Parks Canada and Dawson City Museum Interpretive training - Dawson City, Canada, and our BEGN - Botanical Garden Education Network - England workshop (bottom left).  Bottom right, participants in our "Introduction to Heritage Interpretation - Interpreting your Geological Heritage" developed for the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Athens, Greece (2007). Bottom  left- Natural England Interpretive Guide Training, England, 09. Bottom right - participants in the Snowdonia National Park Training Center - Introduction to Interpretation Course, May 09, and participants in our May 2010 Interpretive Media Course at SNP.

Plan for your  interpretive training programs now.  I provide 1 day  to 5- day interpretive training courses for parks, historic sites, museums and related heritage attractions.  From skill training in how to plan and deliver an interpretive walk, tour or program, to the basics in interpretive communication. My training courses PROVOKE, RELATE and REVEAL - and add in some magic to ensure participants can DO what we teach.  Lots of hands on as well as "minds-on" experiences.

Some of our courses include:

- An introduction to basic interpretive services.

- Planning and conducting guided tours and programs.

- Developing themes, objectives and programs with sparkle.

- Interpretive Media Planning and Design.

- Interpretive Master Planning

- Marketing for heritage sites and attractions.

- Museum/historical society guide/docent training - provoke, relate, and reveal your story.

- Evaluation strategies for interpretive exhibits, programs or related services.

- Visitor center exhibit planning, design and evaluation.

- Market survey research and audience analysis - who are your visitors, and who do you want them to be?

- Interpretive writing that provokes, relates, and reveals (Tilden was right)!

- The art of teaching interpretation to others (Train the Trainers workshops).

COST: $800/day of training plus travel expenses. 

I also provide advanced courses on interpretive planning, exhibit and visitor center planning and evaluation of interpretive programs and services as well.

All of our courses are based on years of "doing" interpretation, not just theory.  Contact me if you have any questions at: jvainterp@aol.com.   You can also go here for more information on our training services.

Some of our recent/current interpretive training clients:

* Blue Badge Guides, London, England

* National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program

* US Army Corps of Engineers

* Parks Canada

* Snowdonia National Park Training Center - Wales, UK.

* Florida State Parks

* The Countryside Counsil of Wales, UK.

* Norfolk Tourism, UK..

* Plus a bunch more.

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JVA News -  Recently awarded/current projects for 2010.    For our 2010 completed projects click HERE.

City of Dalton, Georgia - Interpretive Master Plan for the City of Dalton Civil War Landscape Museum project.     JVA was awarded the contract to do the Interpretive Master Plan for the City of Dalton (Georgia) Civil War Landscape Museum. The Landscape Museum concept is a fairly new one. Think of the city, region of County as "the museum", and each historic site or facility within it as the "exhibit galleries". Then each of the exhibits in that facility as the gallery exhibits. We will begin this new and innovative project in August with an extensive inventory of Civil War sites (historic homes, depots, battlefields, cemeteries and other related locations) within and just outside of the City Limits of Dalton. Having done a few other projects in the area for Prater's Mill, I am familiar with many of the historic sites that will be included in the plan. Ultimately a driving tour "museum guide" will be developed as part of the heritage tourism plan for the city. The photo is of a civil war Confederate Army Artillery cannon emplacement earth work site located near Dalton, and a graphic of how the site would have looked when active.  This is one of many locations to be included in the Landscape Museum plan.

Santa Fe de Antioquia - Interpretation, Columbia, SA.  JVA has been invited to present some sessions at the Congreso de la Red de Pueblos Patrimonio de Colombia for the historic town of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Columbia. All of the town is a historical site; the architecture that has survived through the years gives Santa Fe de Antioquia the aspect of a city "suspended" in the colonial era, which is the reason the city was declared a National monument. My sessions will focus on heritage site interpretation for the town. I will be working there from the 27th of July to the 2nd of August. You can learn more about this historic town at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Fe_de_Antioquia. Here are a few pics of the town.

American Chestnut Land Trust, Calvert County, Maryland.  JVA was awarded the contract to develop the Interpretive Plan for the American Chestnut Land Trust.  The Trust protects over 3,000 acres of wetlands, forest and farmland in rapidly developing Calvert County, Maryland.  The crown jewel of the land trust is Parkers Creek (photo below), as well as other important ecological areas.  A new visitor center/office is also being planned.  The interpretive planning will begin in June, 2010.

Parkers Creek - part of the areas protected by the ACLT.

JVA was awarded the contract to develop the Interpretive Systems Plan for the Open Space District, Los Altos, California.  The District has 25 preserves as part of their system and are looking at using the Interpretive Systems Plan to help plan for new interpretive services for the preserves in the future.  The process will include an interpretive analysis of each preserve and developing a mass customization matrix to review the interpretive assets for the total OSD - and develop a 5-year phasing strategy for future interpretive services implementation.  To find out more about the Open Space District you can visit their web site at: http://www.openspace.org/.

US Army Corps of Engineers,  Bonnet  Carre Spillway (St. Charles Parish, Louisiana), Interpretive Plan Implementation.  JVA, subcontracting with Gulf South Research Company, and working in association with MWH Americas, Inc., will be continuing our work on the interpretive services and media development as recommended in the Interpretive Master Plan developed by JVA last year.  The interpretive plan implementation project will include: design and fabrication of numerous interpretive panels, interpretive kiosks, several interpretive exhibits for the Project Office, development of the recommended self-guiding auto tour with guide booklet, and a self-guiding birding trail brochure with recommenced watchable wildlife stops and blinds.  Also included is cell-phone interpretation set-up for the total site.  This project  began in late October 2009 and continue through summer of 2010.  You can visit this site at: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/recreation/rec_bonnetcarre.asp

A view of the Bonnet Carre Spillway (left) and a general view of one of the many fishing ponds in the extensive recreation area of the spillway basin.

National Park Service, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site.  JVA has been awarded the contract to develop the Interpretive Master Plan for this NPS historic site, located in Hodgenville, KY.    The project began in October and will run through Summer of 2010.  To learn more about this important historic site you can visit their web site at:  http://www.nps.gov/abli/index.htm

Susquehanna Greenway Partnership, Pennsylvania.  JVA will again be working with Susquehanna Greenway Partnership in developing many of interpretive services and media that were recommended by JVA in the Susquehanna River Trail and Susquehanna Greenway Interpretive Master Plan, completed in December 2008.  Funded by a National Park Service Gateways Grant, this new work will include: developing several new River Town interpretive kiosks, developing approximately 10 new interpretive panels at select locations, developing a new self-guiding auto tour route with self-guiding booklet, and master digital audio auto tour guide, and assisting in the improvement of the Greenway Web Site for enhanced interpretive services.  The project will also include pre testing evaluation for the new interpretive services.  This project began in November 2009 and will run through 2011.  You can visit this client at: http://www.susquehannagreenway.org .

US Army Corps of Engineers - Interpretive Training.  JVA was awarded a  new 5-year interpretive services training contract for teaching two 3-day "Interpretive Services" courses each year for the COE at their Huntsville, AL training center.  We are now planning for our January 2011 training course.   JVA has been providing this interpretive training course for the Corps of Engineers for the past 20 years, and is pleased to be able to continue providing this valuable training for the COE.

Participants in the January 2010 Interpretive Services course - one team (on right) working on the design for a draft interpretive panel - another team (left) working on an interpretive trail planning exercise at our field trip site - Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge.  We had 25 participants for the January2010 course from Army Corps of Engineer Project sites from around the US.

Snowdonia National Park Training Center, Wales.

Some general views of the training center grounds and gardens.

New Courses for 2011 are being planned now - Our Sept. 2010 course is noted below.

   September 2010 - Interpretive Master Planning.

Course details and dates will be available later on this year for the 2011 training offerings.

*   Contact plas@eryri-npa.gov.uk for more information.

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Some of our past years projects:

For a listing of all of our 2006 clients click HERE.    

For a listing of our 2007 clients, click HERE.

For a listing of our 2008 clients, click HERE.

For a listing of our 2009 clients, click HERE.

For a listing of our 2010 clients, click HERE.

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             Recent Articles/publications

    We have added new articles to our LIBRARY:

Using interpretive themes and objectives will make your
program planning easier and more effective.  This is a short 3-page article/handout great for interpretive training workshops for seasonal interpretive staff, docents, or anyone involved in planning for interpretive programs - for any subject content.

Is Your Scenic Byway Interpretation Sustainable? Published in Vistas (the publication of America's Byways Resource Center, Duluth, MN), January/February 2003 issue.

Exhibit Evaluation for Children’s Exhibits -The Kirby Science Center Experience. (Published in Interpret Scotland, Issue 4, Autumn 2001).

Planning for Interpretive Training Courses. (published in Interpscan, the national journal of Interpretation Canada, Vol. 28, No. 3 March 2002.)

"Interpretive planning for the new millennium - The "product of the product", "outcome based planning" and the "experience economy".  Click HERE to go to this article in our library. (Note: This article was published in Legacy, the magazine of the National Association for Interpretation, May/June 2000 issue.)

"Why Heritage Sites Need Interpretation For Their Long Term Survival."  This paper was prepared for the National Trust for Scotland for an interpretation seminar presented to NTS staff, October, 2000.  To read this article, CLICK HERE.

To view the other articles in the interpretation library, click HERE.

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A photo scrapbook of some of our international projects.   Visit our UK office web site for our new international projects and offerings world-wide. http://www.heritagedestination.com

Isle of Lewis Standing Stones.

Stonehenge, England

JV at the Mayan city of Chichen-Itza, Yucatan, Mexico.  The "observatory" is in the background.

JV at one of the seven world heritage sites located on Malta (left) and at the Haida Heritage Center, Graham Island, Skidegate, Canada.

John Veverka, President of JVA.  John provides interpretive consulting  services world-wide, from England (top left and middle photo) to Korea (top right) and in Europe, Canada, Mexico (second from bottom photo), on the Island of Malta (bottom photo)  and the  United States.   For recent projects for 2007 and 2008 click the year in the index on the left at the top of this page.                                                                                                                        

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me at:

John Veverka & Associates, 2069 Ashland, Okemos, Michigan, USA    48864 (517-347-2166; fax: 347-2064) or E-Mail me at:  jvainterp@aol.com.

        At JVA "Our product is YOUR success!"