This thought-provoking experience welcomed over 20 participants from 13 European countries, uniting them in the community of interpretive trainers. Organised by Vanessa Vaio, IE’s Country Coordinator Italy, the course unfolded between November 21-25 and was led by trainers Valya Stergioti from Greece and Thorsten Ludwig from Germany.

Capturing the essence of the transformative three-day CIT course, followed by a two-day upgrade for Certified Interpretive Guides (CIG) course, the event was further enriched with a Certified Interpretive Writer Trainer (CIWT) upgrade for a select group of trainers.

Nestled in the embrace of the towering peaks of the Alps, the mountains themselves seemed to elevate the participants’ spirits, despite the inherent humility each participant brought. The bond formed amongst the future trainers was akin to the resilient roots of the pine trees adorning the paths of Viola Valley – a testament to the universal language of the shared passion by all future interpretive trainers.

This remarkable experience was filled with opportunities to learn how to become better interpretive trainers. It included heart-fluttering exercises, insightful presentations, and the warm camaraderie of willing, friendly, and supportive fellow participants from all over Europe.

Barbara Gołębiowska, IE’s Country Coordinator Poland, captured this shared experience, rarely found elsewhere:

“The atmosphere that accompanies Interpret Europe interpretation courses is something extraordinary. Nowhere, never and at any training or workshop have I experienced such joy from learning together and closeness based on a community of passions and values, while appreciating the diversity of our languages, cultures and experiences. This was a place where you can feel the value of the European community at its deepest level.”

The intensity of the week was palpable, from the profound insights shared during presentations to the emotional resonance of the feedback sessions that illuminated the collective journey. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Italian Alps, participants not only honed their interpretive skills but also kindled a shared vision for a more connected and sustainable world.

The training was a sensory feast, nourishing both mind and soul. Beyond Interpret Europe’s overarching goal of shaping the future of our common heritage, the programme inspired a more profound commitment to crafting a sustainable present and future. It ignited a collective desire to enhance individual contributions, stirring the very spirit of humanity.

Amidst the pristine white landscape, the course unfolded in a symphony of vibrant colours, mirroring the richness of the content. Although English wasn’t the native language for any participant, it proved to be no barrier. Instead, it became a catalyst for forging strong connections, much like the sturdy pines revealing themselves along the valley trails.

Iva Silla, author of Secret Zagreb and already an experienced Interpret Europe Certified Interpretive Trainer, took part in the CIWT (Certified Interpretive Writers Trainer) upgrade:

“I enjoyed every step of the process. As always in the IE courses, vivid discussions and meaningful reflections were encouraged by our trainer. I have worked as a CIG trainer for years, and joining a new trainers’ upgrade was a perfect chance for me to work closely with other trainers, get to know their perspectives, and understand our responsibility and the power of facilitation even better. Interpret Europe’s training is skilfully crafted, and highly standardised, but every trainer has their own personal touch, and that could be one of the most precious add-ons. Spending time with my fellow-trainees was eye-opening in many ways.”

Aspiring to make a transformative impact, the upcoming cohort of Interpret Europe trainers seeks to redefine the art of heritage interpretation. Their mission is to cultivate contemplation and dialogue, fostering connections between audiences and heritage through a shared, value-driven approach. This endeavour aims to infuse fresh significance into Europe’s natural, cultural, and intangible heritage, empowering all who inspire meaningful connections. It is through these direct and meaningful experiences that we collectively shape our common future.

Vasilka Dimitrovska is Interpret Europe’s Country Coordinator North Macedonia. She is the director of HAEMUS – Center for Scientific Research and promotion of Culture (www.haemus.org.mk) and the owner of Storytelling Skopje (www.storytelling-skopje.com). She can be contacted at: dimitrovska@haemus.org.mk

Daniela Ruçi works as a grants coordinator for Prespa Ohrid Nature Trust (PONT). She has many years’ experience as an environmental expert and previously worked as a manager for the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. Daniela is IE’s Design Officer, and she can be contacted at: Daniela.ruci@interpret-europe.net

To cite this article: Dimitrovska, Vasilka & Ruçi, Daniela (2023) ‘The training of trainers‘  in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2023, pg.12-13.
Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IE-Newsletter-2023_4-winter.pdf

In October-November 2022, the LLS (Landeslehrstätte für Naturschutz und nachhaltige Entwicklung) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern organised an IE Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) course. The aim was to train more people who are already certified nature and landscape guides (ZNL) and other interested parties in that interpretive approach to guiding. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern we already have about 400 certified nature and landscape guides working in the different National- and Nature Parks (ZNL). After a period of five years, every ZNL guide needs to do collegial consulting in order to get requalified. Therefore, colleagues qualified in didactics are much needed.

The course was split into two parts and took place in two very different locations. At the end of October we spent the first three days of our course in Mueß, an old fishing village now part of the town of Schwerin, and then the last two days of the course, now in November, were spent in Teterow, a small rural town set in the heart of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This way we had the chance to get to know two very different places. In Mueß we could take advantage of an open-air museum as a location to practice.

The museum, with its old traditional houses and objects, made it easy to find interesting phenomena to work with. In Teterow we found them in the nature reserve surrounding the youth hostel.

Our group of 15 was very diverse, from people who have been guides for 15 years to complete beginners just doing the ZNL course (including me). Getting to know the other participants and their very different backgrounds and sharing ideas and experiences was very inspiring.

At first, having done a lot of educational work in other fields, I was very skeptical of the method of interpretation as a part of leadership didactics. I have to admit it took me a while to understand its approach. Just preparing some facts following a central idea, posing open questions to connect with the audience? Really? Is that enough? Will people not be disappointed if I am not lecturing them about everything I know about the great plantain? But after a while, listening and experiencing some short interpretations from our trainer and my course mates, it grew on me. I began to understand the beauty of the concept. Interpretation is an important part of communication. By interpreting phenomena we invite people to make their own experiences with plants, places, and other phenomena and share their own thoughts and questions. people build connections and later on remember stories and details which goes far beyond just memorising some facts they have been told.

As a new ZNL guide and CIG this is what motivates me; to enable people to build meaningful connections with our natural and cultural heritage and by doing so raising awareness for our shared values. During our exams on the last day of the course it became obvious that I was not the only one who grew fond of the new technique. For some of us it was our first IE event but definitely not the last!

Josefine Schulz is a theologian working in human resources development and about to start working as a certified nature and landscape guide in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. You can get in touch with her at: Josefine.Schulz@gmail.com.

To cite this article: Schulz, Josefine (2022) ‘Interpreting the great plantain’ in Interpret Europe Newsletter 4-2022, pg.9

Available online: https://interpret-europe.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Newsletter-2022_4-winter.pdf

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Interpret Europe’s courses. I try to seize any possible opportunity to join one. However, that’s not always easy. While the CIG is often available in different parts of Europe, some courses are less common.

When I see a training announcement, the first thing I do is check out the time and the place. If it all fits, I hurry to reserve my spot. I don’t even think about the content, I know it should be good. This goes so far that I once accidentally applied for an upgrade course before joining the original training.

Earlier this year, a Certified Interpretive Writer (CIW) course was announced in Slovenia. I had kept my eye on that particular course for years, desperately trying to find a chance to join it. This year, it was taking place an hour away from my hometown, and my calendar was free on those dates! A minor setback: I am far from fluent in Slovenian. Minor enough – I applied anyway. My native Croatian has a lot of similarities, after all! Luckily enough, our trainer was very flexible, and we agreed that I would do my assignments in English.

It wasn’t until the day the training started that it hit me. How will I ever go through the dynamics and demands of IE training, if I don’t perfectly understand the language? Was I being too ambitious? But, the second I arrived in the beautiful town of Podsreda, I knew things would work out. It felt like entering a movie set. Podsreda is a small town trapped in time, surrounded by woods, with a mighty castle watching over from a hill. Everything goes according to someone’s plan in movies, I thought. I was eager to see what the director of this movie had in mind.

The director waited in our classroom. There she was, our course leader, confident and calm. The group started gathering. We prepared our computers, still not knowing what to expect.

What followed were five days full of great examples, useful tips, and challenging assignments. Teamwork, hard mental work, no tagging along. Each day, the tasks got more demanding, and our writing became more polished and reader-aware.

Part of the training is dedicated to self-guided tours. I found it particularly useful and inspiring. That is something I’ve been working on for a while. I was pleasantly surprised to get so much insight from this part.

If you’re wondering whether this training is for you, I’d say that it is if you have some experience with writing. Let me tell you where I have already started applying the new findings: in interpretive trails and self-guiding tours – that’s obvious. But also blogs, TikToks, social media posts, and even my CV. Furthermore, I have become more sensitive to the user experience and I’ve developed an eagle eye for good examples. It’s always easy to spot the poor ones. But I am now constantly on the watch for good examples that I used to take for granted. I now use them as a teaching experience, and this tremendously helps me in my writing career. Last but not least, I have grown more confident about my writing skills, and strengthened my decision to work more as an interpretive writer. I am not saying that all of this will happen to everyone who joins the CIW course, but that was the effect on me.

Oh, about the language barrier… Our group was incredibly supportive and accepting. I ended up using my mother tongue. I’d say it was somewhat of an extra challenge for all of us, but it might have helped us figure out some guidelines for interpretive writing in a natural way. A person who doesn’t fully understand the language forces you to use simpler sentences and wording. That’s one of the lessons anyway.

Being a possible disturbance to training also reminded me how challenging a trainer’s job can be. There can be so many unexpected or difficult situations, which can make some participants uneasy. Our trainer dealt with this particular one with such ease, that it didn’t feel like we had an issue at all.

All in all, it happened again! I came back from Interpret Europe training bursting with new ideas and creative energy, wishing I could rewrite all of my former projects, and with a firm goal to implement the new knowledge. I felt once again like I’ve witnessed the perfect recipe for a learning experience. I even distinguished some ingredients: a magical setting, a confident lead, and a group of dedicated participants.

I can’t wait for new training opportunities!

Iva Silla is an IE CIG trainer and now a Certified Interpretive Writer. She is the author of Secret Zagreb walking tours (www.secret-zagreb.com) and the Croatia Underrated podcast (www.croatiaunderrated.com). Contact her at: iva@questoftales.com