Northeast Iowa – Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) will be hosting
the workshop “Thematic Writing, Telling Your Story: Interpretation & Planning” on
Tuesday, May 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Farm
House Gathering Room, adjacent to Farm House Bed & Breakfast in Fredericksburg.
The focus of the daylong workshop will be on techniques to help participants tell their
stories more effectively through thematic writing. Topics discussed will include how to
write with a purpose, create a meaningful visitor experience and how to market the
experience. Anyone who works on exhibit development or marketing collateral is
encouraged to attend.
Dr. Dave Smaldone, Assistant Professor in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism
Resources Program at West Virginia University will be the instructor. Smaldone teaches
courses in interpretation, as well as parks and protected areas management. Smaldone
has held a variety of positions within the National Park Service where he worked with
interpretive employees and coordinated visitor center exhibit design teams.
“This is a great opportunity to develop or hone your skills in preparing text for museum
exhibits, signage, brochures and presentations,” commented Don Short, SSNHA
President.
Registration is due May 12 and limited to 35 participants. The registration fee is $49 per
person affiliated with a designated SSNHA site and $69 per person for all other
participants. Registration forms are available online under the “Resources” section at
www.silosandsmokestacks.org.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 49 federally designated heritage
areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The Heritage
Area covers 37 counties in the northeast quadrant of Iowa. Interstate 80 borders it on
the south and Interstate 35 borders it on the west. Through a network of sites, programs
and events, SSNHA interprets farm life, agribusiness and rural communities – past and
present.
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