Greetings!

We look forward to your arrival.

We, the Interpretive Team, are entrusted with the awesome task of helping people discover their connections to this vast intact ecosystem -- a place where we can still be intimidated by bears, discover fresh wolf tracks and listen to the hoots of a great horned owl as we walk to work. If you are a returnee, you already know that Denali is a special place. If you will be new to the park, be prepared to fall in love with a wild landscape.

My advice for the summer:

• Be prepared to learn a lot about this place, the people and yourself.
• Be open to challenges and change. And please note: some of that change may occur within you.
• Laugh a lot -- life is short.

I am honored to be working with such unique talented people. Travel well and see you soon.

Ingrid

Ingrid Nixon
Chief of Interpretation

Orientation Information, Training Materials and Resources for New Park Staff and Partners

• Denali Employee Handbook, (PDF 1.6 MB)
• Interpretation Training Manual
• Interpreter Reading List
• Interpretive Development Program (IDP) Home Page
• Highlights of NPS Messaging Policies (PDF 33 KB)

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Want to learn more about interpretation? This site is the result of an innovative partnership between the NPS Interpretative Development Program and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands of Indiana University.

The following three courses are free and recommended for all Interpreters:

• Foundations of Interpretation
• INPS: The History of NPS
• INPS: The NPS and the Federal Government
  

Visit www.interptraining.org to register.

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• Resources for Activity Leaders
• Park Education Packet (PDF 300 KB)
• Wildlife Notebook Series from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
• Plant Card Project, 2006 (PDF 32.1 MB)

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• Download the latest park newspaper, "The Alpenglow"   
• Backcountry Camping Guide (PDF 4.37 MB)
• Explore a variety of park maps
• Learn about park statistics and download the latest "fact sheet," a breakdown of visitation, budget, and major park resources
• Park movies, including "Heartbeats of Denali"

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• Murie Science and Learning Center
• Alaska Geographic bookstore

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RULES OF THE ROAD Safety Video (Time 25:22)
Windows Media (60.2 MB)

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NPS PHOTO/KENT MILLER

Ranger Elizabeth Beavers on the Alaska Railroad

PROGRAM EXAMPLES:

Here are video highlights of three kinds of programs that interpretive rangers lead at Denali.

• Conducted Activity (Ranger Jennifer Rafaeilli)
  Time 13:23, 26.7 MB
• Sled Dog Demonstration (Ranger Jori Welchans)
  Time 07:50, 14.1 MB
• Campground Program (Ranger Yolanda Chandler)
  Time 06:50, 13.6 MB

TEMPORARY LINKS...

CATERPILLAR WORKSHOP
(Time 55:25)

• Windows Media (111 MB)

This is a test of a link to a video from Lake Clark uploaded through a backdoor FTP Akamai server.

This is a temporary link to the 2009 summer Alpenglow.

(This is a link to the actual, active dena_xml_feed for iTunes.)