Education and Interpretation within the Potomac Region

Education and Interpretation within the Potomac Region
Glenn Eugster
November 28, 2004

Goals:
· Interpret the past, present and future of the Potomac Region
· Provide life-long learning/ education services to residents and visitors, young and old.
· Use interpretation and education to keep agency personnel in close touch with public values.

Approaches:

Access the Potomac Valley through the Potomac National Heritage National Scenic Trail, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, and the George Washington memorial Parkway.

· NPS and park-partners could work together, through existing and new programs, to provide interpreters, interpretive services and events at strategic locations as a way to share and learn about the Potomac Region.

· Possible sites, which could be recognized as “gateways” include:
Point State Park Visitor Center, PA
Laurel Highlands Visitor Center, PA
City Museum, DC
C&O Canal Cumberland Visitor Center, MD
National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park
Anacostia Museum
Hard Bargain Farm, MD
Great Falls Visitor center, VA
Stratford Hall, VA
Prince William Forest Park Visitor Center, VA
Others

· Conduct joint interpretive training between NPS, park-partners and Herbert Driesietl and his associates (i.e. story of water)

· Conduct education demonstration projects (i.e. George Washington Memorial Parkway)

· Collaborate more with private recreational water transport companies (i.e. Spirit Cruise, Cherry Blossom, DC Duck, etc.)to improve/ upgrade the interpretive services and educational information provided to users.

· Hold a Potomac Region Youth Summit to learn more about the activities and opinions of young people.