Medvednica Mountain was the unique inspiration for our IE CIW upgrade course, keeping us inspired through stories.
Medvednica Mountain, an iconic mountain towering over Zagreb, served as the creative hub for our Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) trainer’s upgrade course. The nature park fuelled our inspiration and provided a powerful source of material.
This workshop successfully equipped 12 IE certified interpretive trainers – including participants from Croatia, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia – to add the CIW course to their repertoire. With expert guidance we employed a structured methodology that effectively transformed complex tasks into inspiring actions. The hands-on experience enabled interpretive trainers to develop and implement strategies that will distinctly enhance our future courses.
Everything began with a thoughtful gift that boldly proclaimed, ‘Time to write’, and that’s exactly what we did next! We united to explore and rigorously test the updated materials, all centered around the essential practice of value-based heritage interpretation—a potent approach for crafting meaningful and impactful interpretive texts.
Although time was limited for each task, the meticulous planning ensured that every second was used to its fullest. At times, we felt the pressure, with less time than participants would typically have in a real-world setting. This sharpened our ability to think quickly and respond decisively. We seized the opportunity to exchange experiences and collaborate, leading to the creation of exceptional songs and interviews during our tasks.
On the final day, we focused on developing an interpretive panel, engaging in rigorous peer coaching, and critiquing each other’s interpretive writing. We capitalised on numerous opportunities to facilitate first-hand experiences with natural heritage sites and objects through our interpretive writing. We delved into the meanings and relationships of natural and cultural phenomena while underscoring the significance of universal values. Our goal was to derive compelling themes from sites, objects, and factual information. We transformed factual texts into compelling pieces that provoke interpretation. In one powerful exercise, we wrote an interpretive audio script, and we also crafted catchy headings and effectively applied a text hierarchy and layers for graphic panels and exhibit labels.
Practising what we teach is key, and it was great for 12 of our IE trainers to gain more experience in delivering engaging CIW courses for our members.
Ivana Zrilic is an IE certified interpretive trainer, certified interpretive guide and writer. She is a storyteller and tourist guide, and the owner of a private business Zmaj Radionice (www.zmajradionice.com) for education and creating workshops for kids. She is passionate about heritage and interpretation. She can be contacted at: ivana_zrilic@yahoo.com.
To cite this article: Zrilic, Ivana (2024) ‘Let’s continue to inspire through impactful interpretation!‘ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2024, pg.15. Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Newsletter-2024_4.pdf
