Welcome to our Web Site!
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9000
November 2013
Welcome to our web
site. JVA is a firm that specializes in Heritage Interpretation
and Heritage Tourism Planning and Training. 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 new project listings, new services and courses and related updates. The index on the left will take you to other parts of my web site. Thanks for visiting - jv
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John Veverka is a National Association for Interpretation:
Certified Interpretive Planner
Certified Interpretive Trainer.
John is also 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 John 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).
This mix of academic training and years of field experience is an important element in my interpretive training courses as I feel theory must mix with "reality" of what works. And in interpretation and heritage tourism, reality is always changing. For more information on our unique qualifications in interpretation consulting, click here or visit any of our other pages by clicking the blue LINKS on the left. And enjoy your visit! - John Veverka
Scroll down for updates on our new projects, interpretive training courses (dates/locations), new publications in our library, and more.
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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 need some help with developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an interpretive project you want to go out for bid, I have example templates of RFP's for contracting: Interpretive Master Planning, Interpretive Exhibit Design and Interpretive Panel projects. These reflect typical RFP's formats taken from a variety of agencies, including State Parks, The National Park Service, and even non-profit organizations I have worked with.
I originally developed this document for use by members (profit and non-profit) of the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network program. http://www.baygateways.net/index.cfm
These RFP templates include examples of consultant qualifications, scope of work, warranties and other RFP necessities. If you would like a copy of the Interpretive RFP Template document, I would be happy to send you one by e-mail. Just send me an e-mail requesting a copy to: jvainterp@aol.com or if you have any questions in general. - jv
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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).
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 projects for 2008. (For all of our 2008
completed projects click here).
MWH Americans, Inc/US Army
Corps of Engineers, Bonnet Carre' Spillway, Louisiana. JVA will work as a
sub-contractor to MWH Americans, Inc. who
are developing the overall Master Plan for the Spillway, to develop the Interpretive
Master Plan for the site. You can visit Bonnet Carrie' Spillway at: http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Recreation/Recreation_Sites_Bonnet_Carre.asp
This project will begin in June, 2008.
The spillway (highlighted in green) stretches from the
Mississippi River, ,at right, northward to Lake Ponchartrain, on the left of the photo.
Susquehanna Greenway
Partnership, Pennsylvania. JVA has been awarded the contract to develop the
Interpretive Master Plan for the Susquehanna
River Water Trail, a 500 mile long corridor that bisects most of
eastern Pennsylvania, and includes cultural, natural and historic resources and stories
located throughout the corridor. The project will also include: development of a
wayfinding system, site analysis of existing orientation and safety panels, analysis of
potential retrofit of existing panels, an outdoor recreation linkage system, and a model
signage plan for the water trail Phase II. The project will run through
December of 2008. 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 2009
training. 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 Corps.
Participants in last years Interpretive Services Course (field trip to Constitution Hall Village Historic Site and in-class lectures and activities).
Prater's Mill Foundation,
Dalton, GA. JVA has been asked to provide interpretive consulting services,
and interpretive site assessment services for the Foundation, for Prater's Mill in
Whitfield County, GA. February - May 2008. We were also recently awarded a
contract to develop the Interpretive Master Plan for the Mill and its
associated heritage partners within their multi-county region. You can visit this
client at: http://www.PratersMill.org.
Prater's Mill.
The Museum of the
Shenandoah Valley - Glen Burnie Historic House and Gardens Interpretive Plan.
JVA was selected to develop the interpretive master plan for the Glen Burnie Historic
House and Gardens facility within the museum campus. You are invited to visit this
client at: http://www.shenandoahmuseum.org.
The project will run from April 08 - September 2008.
Wisconsin DNR Division of Forestry - Forestry
Education and Awareness Center Interpretive Master Plan. JVA was
selected to develop the Interpretive Plan for the new Forestry Education and Awareness
Center, Milwaukee County, WI. June 07 - May 08.
A general view of the woodlot area (left) and our proposed aerial or canopy elevated boardwalk leading from the Forestry Awareness and Interpretive Center into the forest canopy with discovery stations.
Macomb Community College Cultural
Center, Clinton Twp, Michigan. Provide a interpretive exhibit planning focus
workshop for the Cultural Center exhibition team for their new Great Lakes - Great
Stories exhibition to open this summer. Provide consultation services for upcoming
exhibitions 2007-2008. You can find out more about the Cultural Center and its
exhibition schedule at: http://www.macombculturalcenter.com/
Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program, State of
Pennsylvania - Provide interpretive planning, marketing and visitor survey
consultation services to the six major hubs and State Office, for the state-wide Pennsylvania
Underground Railroad and Pennsylvania Quest for Freedom programs development
efforts. This project will run from 1 July 07 through 2009.
Snowdonia National Park Training
Center, Wales.
New Courses for 2009
4-6 May, 2009. Introduction to Interpretation. This is an "entry level" basic interpretation course for individuals finding themselves working in interpretive sites or positions who have had no formal training in interpretive services.
15-17 September, 2009. Advanced Interpretation. This advanced interpretation course will look at a variety of subjects including interpretive master planning, marketing for heritage sites, interpretive product development, audience development, new technologies, and visitor surveys and evaluation. We will focus on how to attract more visitors and make more income and more cost effective programs and services.
* Contact plas@eryri-npa.gov.uk for more information.
For a listing of all of our 2006 clients click HERE.
For a listing of our 2007 clients, click HERE.
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International Projects for 2008 
See our "JVA Interpretive training opportunities" listing below for our international training programs.
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.
JVA Interpretive Training Opportunities
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New JVA courses for 2008
at Snowdonia.
COURSES FOR 2008
Planning and Design of Interpretive Media, 2-5th September, 2008
Contact plas@eryri-npa.gov.uk or John Veverka jvainterp@aol.com for details.
New Courses for 2009
4-6 May, 2009. Introduction to Interpretation. This is an "entry level" basic interpretation course for individuals finding themselves working in interpretive sites or positions who have had no formal training in interpretive services.
15-17 September, 2009. Advanced Interpretation. This advanced interpretation course will look at a variety of subjects including interpretive master planning, marketing for heritage sites, interpretive product development, audience development, new technologies, and visitor surveys and evaluation. We will focus on how to attract more visitors and make more income and more cost effective programs and services.
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For more information about our world wide services:
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. Check out our 1999-2003 project and client list. For recent projects for 2004 and 2005 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!"