Interpretation Recruitment Toolkit
Photo Courtesy of Mary Helen
What’s Interpretation?
Interpreters connect visitors to important natural, cultural, and historical resources at parks, nature centers, historical sites, aquariums, zoos, and anywhere that people come to learn about places.
Definitions for interpretation vary. Examples include:
Freeman Tilden
“An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and
relationships through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience, and by illustrative media, rather then simply to communicate factual information.”
Dr. Sam Ham
“Interpretation is an approach to communication…it involves
translating the technical language of a natural science or related field into terms and ideas that people who aren’t scientists can readily understand.”
National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
“Interpretation is a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us.”
Photo Courtesy of Jim Malusa, University of Arizona
National Park Service (NPS)
“Interpretation facilitates a connection between the interests of the visitor and the meanings of the resource.”
Photo Courtesy of Lian Law, National Park Service
Recruitment Support Tool
This web tool, created by the National Association of Interpretation’s (NAI) Student Pipeline Task Forces, aims to spread awareness related to the field of interpretation through exposing high school and college students to the profession of Interpretation through the creation of Interpretation Career Recruitment Media.
This web tool was developed to provide parents, teachers, mentors, career centers, and others with media and relevant information about the field of interpretation as well as additional resources when possible. From there, it is encouraged that users reach out to groups like the National Association of Interpretation for additional information.
The interpretation recruitment tool kit is broken down into sections. Users can either search recruitment media by media type (e.g.: testimonials, videos, etc) or by pre-generated social media content ready to use for individual social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook).
The intended use for this media is to spread awareness of the field of interpretation to youth and young adults. The use of this media for any other purpose is prohibited.
Depending on the type of content the user is looking for. Navigate to either the “Recruitment Media” or “Additional Resources” tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Within both of the tabs there are numerous types of ready-to-use recruitment media organized by type of content. Click on the relevant type of media to browse relevant content.
Download relevant media or email pjc@interpnet.com to request access to the content.
Use the content and media gathered from this site to engage youth and young adults in the field of interpretation.
About the Tool
This interactive tool was built Student Pipeline Taskforce Members in Spring 2022. The tool supports the The National Association of Interpretation.
About National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
NAI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the profession of heritage interpretation, currently serving about 7,000 members in the United States, Canada, and over thirty other nations. Individual members include those who work at parks, museums, nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, historical and cultural sites, commercial tour companies, and theme parks.
Photo Courtesy of Pima County, Arizona
Interpretation Recruitment Media Toolkit 