NATC LRIP

Natchez NHP, HFC, and The Design Minds Conduct Successful Virtual LRIP Recommendations Workshop

Active participant engagement and dynamic conversations that define future visitor experiences are hallmarks of on-site, in-person interpretive planning workshops. Based on the collaborative efforts of Natchez National Historical Park (NATC), Harpers Ferry Center (HFC), and The Design Minds, these measures of success now also apply to virtual interpretive planning workshops. On August 18-20, 2020, this team conducted the very first virtual Long-Range Interpretive Plan Recommendations Workshop. Each day more than 25 staff, partners, and stakeholders used a contractor-provided virtual platform to identify the future mix of interpretive and educational programs, services, and facilities that will be necessary to communicate the stories associated with NATC.

Throughout the planning process, Kathleen Bond, David Slay, Jeff Mansell, and Cheryl Waldrep, the Natchez National Historical Park core team, worked seamlessly with Toni Dufficy, HFC Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), and Michael Lesperance, Ned Reddrop, Mike Spec, and Andrew Hamilton, The Design Minds interpretive planning team. Once the decision was made to go from in-person to online, everyone involved in the planning effort discussed the best strategies for hosting a virtual workshop and reviewed lessons learned from other virtual workshop experiences. To increase participation, especially from the local community, scholars, and partners, shorter (no more than 2-hours) sessions were spread over three days in contrast to the two seven-hour days originally scheduled. The workshop was structured to engage participants based on subject matter expertise so that they didn’t feel pressured to attend every session.

When completed, the NATC Long-Range Interpretive Plan will provide a 5- to 7-year vision for the future of the park’s interpretation and education programs and services. During the virtual Recommendations Workshop, the diverse group of participants suggested and discussed a variety of relevant media, services, and programs to best communicate the park’s significance and themes while protecting and preserving park resources. The recommendations described a blend of existing programs and services that will continue to be offered as well as future opportunities. All ideas were considered using the framework that they must be practical, achievable, realistic, and sustainable.

A few lessons learned that will benefit parks now considering virtual interpretive planning workshops include:

• The ability to dial in without a computer or WIFI access is critical, especially for traditionally marginalized communities.

• People mostly kept their comment brief, respecting the need to hear from everyone.

• Most participants seemed to feel comfortable participating, including many who typically don't say much during on-site meetings.

• Participants took advantage of the chat feature to share thoughtful comments, feedback, and new ideas.

• A skilled technology/virtual platform facilitator is required, or at least someone who is able to manage the process of interacting with all the participants, especially when breakout rooms are part of the agenda.

• The FedRelay captioning service worked pretty well for the large and small group sessions.

• A virtual workshop does not provide any cost savings, because technical and additional facilitation staff are required.

• While a virtual workshop is a viable alternative method, an in-person workshop, when possible, is still preferred.

Director’s Order #6 requires each park to have an Interpretive Plan. The plan outlines goals and actions to create meaningful visitor experiences, meet management goals, and balance resource protection with visitor use and enjoyment. It enables park staff and partners to work together, allows them to make deliberate informed choices, and establishes a foundation for long-term direction, short-term problem solving, and annual work plan preparation.

This workshop is one deliverable within a Harpers Ferry Center interpretive planning contract awarded to The Design Minds in September 2019. HFC provides interpretive planning (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/interpretive-planning.htm)service and support to parks like NATC who have the funding and are ready to hire a professional, experienced contractor. When possible, HFC provides COR services that include drafting the Scope of Work, reviewing proposals, serving as the liaison between the park and the contractor, and reviewing and approving the deliverables.

After three days of large and small group sessions, the NATC, HFC, and The Design Minds planning team was very tired. At the same time, every member was excited to review the ideas and insights shared and to begin the next phase of the planning process.