Welcome to Denali Interpretation

The information on this page is for seasonal employees working at Denali as park rangers.

 

Evening light on mountains in the Alaska Range

NPS Photo / Ken Conger

Greetings!

We look forward to your arrival.

Together, as the Denali Interpretive Team, we are entrusted with the awesome task of helping people discover their personal connections to this vast, intact ecosystem -- a place where we can still be awed by the immensity of the landscape, discover fresh wolf tracks and listen to the hoots of a great horned owl as we bask in the midnight sunlight. 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 place that is still wild and dynamic.

Our 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.
• Take care of each other and listen to your intuition. If you think something is unsafe, don't do it. If you see something unsafe, report it to your supervisor.
• Laugh a lot -- life is short and time is a gift.

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

 

Orientation Information, Training Materials and Resources

• Denali Employee Handbook
• Interpretive Development Program (IDP) Home Page

Want to learn more about interpretation? InterpTraining.org is 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

After taking the Foundations of Interpretation course there are three courses that are particularly useful for front-line Interpreters: Interpretive Talk, Conducted Activities, and Informal Visitor Contacts. After taking the online course and passing the evaluation you are awarded a "Basic Certificate". Next, you may choose to continue to develop your skills by completing site-based activities and receiving feedback from a coach in order to achieve an "Advanced Certificate".

• Tools for People Who Work with the Public (A collection of information for all Interpreters, naturalists, and guides working around Denali)
• Wildlife Notebook Series from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game
• Check out backpacking information
• 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
• Watch park movies, including "Heartbeats of Denali"
• Murie Science and Learning Center
• Alaska Geographic park store

 

Example Programs

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

• Conducted Activity (Ranger Jennifer Raffaeli)
  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