Wildlife interpretation workshop Queensland September 2016

Enjoyable, Memorable, Meaningful:  Using wildlife interpretation to do it all

Exploring the forest at Binna Burra: photo courtesy of Araucaria EcotoursThursday-Friday 15 – 16 September 2016

This was a very successful and active workshop, and a summary will soon appear

A two day workshop in the mountains near the Gold Coast, nestled between subtropical rainforest and eucalyptus forest, providing some great opportunities for gentle interpretive walks interspersed with presentations and discussions.

The main workshop will run from 10.00am to 4.00pm both days, with additional forest walks and networking Thursday evening and Friday morning (optional, and no additional cost).

Well-presented interpretation, especially if interactive, can greatly add to the enjoyment and satisfaction of visitors, whether on a tour, visiting a wildlife park or staying at an eco-lodge, encouraging visitors to return or recommend the vene/tour to others.

It can also be an effective tool for management of visitor behaviour, helping them realize how their actions could affect wildlife and their habitats during their travels, and also encourage environmentally sound behaviour after returning home (e.g. choosing sustainable products, reducing waste that could harm wildlife and habitats, contributing by donations or direct involvement to conservation projects).

birwatchingBinnaBurraThis is a workshop for tour operators, staff of ecolodges, wildlife parks and national parks, members of natural history associations, students, researchers, biology teachers and others interested in catching up with recent research and ideas for quality interpretation.

We’ll be looking at research  on what really works in not only capturing visitor interest and attention but influencing their perspectives of wildlife and their habitats and their conservation needs, also hearing from experienced tour guides who know the local forests very well (and enjoying short walks with them), discussing ideas and information from various perspectives. This will be an interactive workshop, and delegates are warmly encouraged to share their experiences and ideas with all.

Our keynote speakers and main discussion leaders are Professor Betty Weiler and Associate-Professor Rosemary Black, providing a wonderful opportunity to learn from and interact with these long-term and well-published researchers on effective interpretation, and with other experts from both academia and the tourism industry.

Betty has worked in Canada and Australia (and elsewhere) on interpretive tourism for many decades and

Betty Weiler, speaking as keynote at a WTA event in NSW in 2015is author of over 150 publications on the topic. The Southern Cross University, where she is currently employed, states: Within Australia, Betty is particularly well known for her contribution to visitor management and communication in protected areas, zoos and heritage attractions, and more recently on research aimed at influencing visitors’ on-site and post-visit behaviour.  For a list of publications please see: https://works.bepress.com/betty_weiler/

Rosemary has had wide experience outside academia, having  worked for the Ministry of Conservation in Victoria, St Kilda Council, National Trust, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and World Expeditions, in places such as Kosciuszko National Park, Myall Lakes National Park, Nepal, India, China, Tibet and Fiji.

From http://www.csu.edu.au/ses/staff/profiles/academic-staff/rosemary-black: Rosemary joined CSU in 1995 and has taught a range of subjects, but specialises in interpretation, guiding, outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. Her research interests are interlinked with her teaching, with a focus on sustainability, sustainable behaviours, environmental communication, tour guiding and adventure tourism. She has published over 49 refereed publications and edited 4 books…Rosemary maintains strong links to the professions through her involvement and contribution to Interpretation Australia, Guiding Organisations of Australia and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. She is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Ecotourism and Journal of Interpretation Research. Rosemary holds a Ministerial appointment on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Southern Ranges Regional Advisory Committee.

Accommodation at Binna Burra ranges from basic camping through safari tents and original log cabins to luxury units, and registration costs will be kept to affordable levels.  Visit the Binna Burra accommodation/camping website

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Photos: Araucaria Ecotours