Interpretation: A sense of place, park, and theatre.

Park Interpreters have been an important part of Parks Canada for at least 4 decades. They have helped put across Parks Canada's messages that have ranged from "don't feed the bears" to "Haller's Apple Moss is a species at risk." Interpretation uses a great deal of theatrical elements but does not consider itself theatre. A sense of place is central to interpretation. Also, first hand experience with the natural elements is also important. An Interpretation program is built on one theme or idea such as a particular animals such as "bears" or a particular ecosystem such as "intertidal zone." The program usually runs between 40 and 50 minutes and is played throughout the summer season. Each program begins and ends with the interpreter playing themselves. In between interpreters usually don minimal costumes and adopt characters. Most interpreters work alone with little input until very near opening night. Some groups have one or two day workshops that deal with character building and play structure but for the most part interpreters write, build, and rehearse their shows in isolation. A recently initiative by Parks Canada attempted to create an interpretive program with three interpreters. It was a collective creation process that also involved a director. This presentation will examine some of the unique characteristics of interpretation. It will also describe the process of creation of the above-mentioned initiative.