2024 National Workshop and Conference: Sustaining Wellness

Interpretation Canada 2024 National Workshop and Conference: Sustaining Wellness

September 23 to October 2, 2024, online

We are proud to bring you this event in partnership with the Interpretive Guides Association.

Sustaining Wellness includes 3 days of virtual inspiration from September 24–26, 2024, plus 3 days of optional virtual workshops (on September 23, October 1, and 2).

Opening Keynote: Barbara McKean on Nature’s Superpowers

Interpretation Canada is pleased to announce that Barbara McKean is delivering the opening keynote address this fall at our National Workshop and Conference. Barb is an award-winning nature interpreter and outdoor educator, and the Director of Education at Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario. In a career spanning well over four decades, she has also worked for conservation authorities and provincial parks, taught interpretation at Sir Sandford Fleming  and Humber Colleges, and consulted on environmental education and interpretation projects for national parks, museums and school boards. Barb also spent many years as an IC executive member, including terms as Ontario Section Chair, National Chair, and Chair of the National Training Committee.

Many interpreters are fortunate enough to work at sites where greenspace is close at hand (even if you do find that there aren't enough hours in the day to get out there and enjoy it!). A growing body of research shows that making space in our schedules for time in nature has enormous positive impacts on many physical and mental health indicators, from stress hormone and blood pressure levels, to our creativity and ability to sustain focus. There’s a lot more than just exercise happening during a walk in the woods; this presentation will explore what the research says about how nature can help and heal us, and ideas for sprinkling awareness about this into outdoor programming.

Your conference fees provide: 

• Access to 18 inspirational sessions offered in 9 concurrent time slots on September 24, 25, and 26. Session will be led by colleagues from across Canada.
• The opportunity to register for any of the three optional workshops offered on September 23, October 1, and 2 (additional costs apply). These additional workshops are available only to participants of the 2024 National Workshop and Conference, and are being offered at a discounted rate.
• Access to the recordings of all sessions for 90 days, so you can catch anything you might have missed.
• A dynamic keynote address by Barbara McKean about the power of nature to keep us well regardless of where we work.
• The ability to network with fellow interpreters throughout the conference.
• The opportunity to add on coworkers at your site to your registration and participate in Workplace Crews.
• An online conference experience through an event platform.

Optional Workshops

Enhance your learning with three exciting extras. We are pleased to offer optional workshops on dates before and after the concurrent sessions. 

On September 23, join InterpActive to learn how to offer participatory and dialogic interpretation that is engaging to your participants. On October 1, earn an Apprentice Interpreter Certification through the Interpretive Guides Association. On October 2, kickstart your own visitor study with TM Visitor Studies. These workshops are scheduled on different days so you have the opportunity to attend all three.

Workshops require an additional fee, which has been discounted by the presenting organizations. Please note that workshop registration is open only to those participating in the 2024 IC National Workshop and Conference. Sign up and pay for your workshops when you register for the conference.

All workshops are virtual and conducted via Zoom. The minimum number of attendees is 5 and maximum is 12. Sign up early to avoid disappointment. 

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Workplace Crews

Get a work crew together to participate as a group in the conference. Add on up to 5 coworkers at your site to your registration for $60 each. This includes a 1 year membership or membership extension. First registrant should be your interpretation team’s supervisor/manager/lead/credit card holder as the receipt for registration will be sent to this first registrant ONLY. To register additional Workplace Crew members, select “guest” and enter the additional names and email addresses. Please ensure you enter a separate email for each team member, so they receive their connection links and information. Note that additional team members must be from the same site* as the first registrant. During the conference, all Workplace Crew registrants are encouraged to be in a room together with one main computer log in for the group (encouraged but not required). Additions and changes to crew members may be made until 48 hours before the conference starts and will incur an administrative fee.

*A ‘site’ is a physical site of the same company, organization, or association (e.g., museum, park, garden, science centre). It may have staff stationed at multiple visitor centres, kiosks, trailheads, boats, etc. Management units featuring a cluster of sites must register each site individually. 

AQIP and IGA Registration Codes

To get your AQIP code, reach out to Marc Andre:

coordonnateur.aqip@gmail.com

To get your IGA code, reach out to Amber:

members@interpretiveguides.org

Cancellation Policies  

National Workshop and Conference (Sept. 24–26)

Registration for online events is non-refundable since participants will have access to the session recordings for at least 90 days after the conference end date.

A registration name change is permitted prior to the conference by submitting a written request to membership@interpretationcanada.ca. Administrative fees will apply.

In extenuating circumstances only (e.g., death, extreme weather event, serious illness), requests for a partial refund may be considered. Such requests must be submitted in writing with appropriate documentation and will be considered post-conference, when volunteer capacity allows.

Add-on Workshops (Sept. 23, Oct 1 and 2)

If Interpretation Canada has to cancel a workshop, you will be given a full refund. 

If you cancel three weeks or more prior to the workshop start date, you will receive a full refund, less a $30 administration fee.

If you cancel between two and three weeks prior to the course start date, you will receive a 50% refund.

If you cancel with less than 2 weeks' notice, no refund will be issued for any reason.

A registration name change is permitted prior to the conference by submitting a written request. Administrative fees will apply.

Volunteer  

Our conference is organized and run entirely by volunteers! If you would like to get involved with this conference or future ones, or assist Interpretation Canada in other ways, please contact us. 

2025 National Conference  

Our 2025 National Conference will be in person. Watch for our location announcement soon, and the call for proposals early next year. 

Connect with us on social media!

Please use #InterpCanConf in your conference-related social media posts.