Interpretation for Children Montana Napier

Tilden’s Principles of Interpretation 6 “Interpretation addressed to children should not be a dilution of the presentation to adults, but should follow a fundamentally different approach. To be at its best it will require a separate program.” What do you think Tilden means?

Goals for a kid’s programming: Get children interested in a subject

Teach them about a subject

Involve them with a subject

Encourage stewardship

Make them want to know more!

Something to note: KIDS GET BORED! Which style of teaching is the least effective for engaging children? There are many ways to lead a Junior Ranger program, but some styles will have more of an impact on kids than others. Children under 12 generally need to be involved in an activity to stay focused on the subject.

Something to note: KIDS GET BORED! Which style of teaching is the least effective for engaging children? LECTURE! There are many ways to lead a Junior Ranger program, but some styles will have more of an impact on kids than others. Children under 12 generally need to be involved in an activity to stay focused on the subject.

So how do we keep kids engaged?

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

Deception Pass State Park = an environment So park education = experiences in the park

We’re teaching through hands-on action, imagination, and play motifs. We, as interpreters, are guiding experiences, or exploration, of a place. We’re teaching through hands-on action, imagination, and play motifs. The interpreter who uses questions and answers to lead a discussion draws on the child’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm for new ideas and experiences. Kids don’t attend a program to memorize facts – they’re outside and want to have fun!

7 Common Play Motifs Making forts or special places Playing hunting and gathering games Shaping small worlds Developing friendships with animals and each other Constructing adventures Creating fantasies Following paths and figuring out shortcuts Identified by David Sobel in Childhood and Nature

Interacting with school groups is your chance to get kids hooked on nature and its exciting discoveries. The sad truth: your program may be one of the FEW chances a child has to experience nature.

It is our job to facilitate guided discovery in nature, so that they are able to fully experience and appreciate it, to have that sense of awe and wonder. Programs that get children active in nature, both physically and mentally, are especially important in our modern world!

“I like to play indoors better, ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” This child’s viewpoint is swiftly becoming the norm. In the last ten to fifteen years, there has been a major decrease in children’s exposure to nature.

Education leads to stewardship. The goal of our program is for people to enjoy the tide pools without negatively impacting them. Every time you have a positive, educational experience with someone, you’ve paving the way to stewardship.

Education ➡ Appreciation/Understanding ➡ Stewardship

Interpreting Tips in the Intertidal

Information alone is not interpretation Remember, we’re guiding experiences and providing opportunities for children to make their own connections to nature.

Try to inspire and not to instruct Ask provocative questions. For example: Have you ever wondered why sea stars are not covered with barnacles or algae?

Illuminate the whole and not just the parts It is more important for a child to recognize the relationship an animal has to its environment than the scientific name or random facts.

Find ways to make information relevant to their own lives and experiences How many children have seen Finding Nemo or Finding Dory? (a lot)

Children typically love animals Point out an interesting creature and kids will go nuts! Add an element of “eye spy” for additional fun. Younger children especially love hermit crabs.

Get on their level When talking to children, think about squatting to meet them at their eye level. Vs.

If someone is misbehaving… Ask the teacher or parent for help. Remain in control (of your emotions, actions, the situation, etc.) Reward positive actions (dumdums are ). Assign them a task. Let them know the consequences of their actions. If it continues, do not be afraid to have them sit out.

If someone asks a question you don’t know the answer to… Don’t be afraid to say, “That is a great question but I do not know the answer. Let’s see if we can look it up.” If you have an educated guess say, “I don’t know the exact answer but my guess would be…. Because of…”

These are the types of activities we lead for field trip stations! Menu of Activities These are the types of activities we lead for field trip stations!

Beach Activities Beach and tidepool scavenger hunt Animal make-believe (ex. pretend to be barnacles or hermit crabs) Songs and dances Adapt-A-Critter activity Where’s Your Home activity

Forest Activities Nature Journaling and Sit Spots Forest Scavenger Hunt Guided hikes Forest succession rock-paper-scissors Make-a-forest, and “Oh Deer!” game Mammals of Deception Pass fur table and activities

Art Activities Make-your-own-tidepool craft Animal face masks Butterfly and bird crafts Bark and plant rubbings Make binoculars Create an animal home

And we are always looking for volunteers for the Rosario Field Classroom!

Open June – August Saturdays and Sundays from 12 – 4pm

This year we’d love to host Junior Ranger activities and book readings

And during the spring we’ll open it up as a field trip station!

If you are interested in leading any of these activities… View the templates on the Deception Pass Foundation website www.deceptionpassfoundation.org/beach-naturalists Email dpbeachnaturalist@gmail.com Shadow Montana or Jackie and then lead the activity yourself

And remember - if you’re having fun, the kids are likely to have fun, too.