.gif)
Proceedings
MENU
The Field Of Education In The National Parks
The Educational Program And Its Place In National Parks Administration
Administration Of Park Museums
Scientific Aspects Of The Park Protection Program
The Research Program In The National Parks
Use Of Recorded Scientific Data
Libraries In The National Parks
Photography And Visual Education
General Administrative Problems
|
Proceedings Of The
First Park Naturalists' Training Conference Held At Educational
Headquarters, Berkeley, California:
November 1-30, 1929 |
|
THE FIELD OF EDUCATION IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
THE PARK VISITOR
By Dorr G. Yeager
Since time began, man has inquired into the nature of that which puzzled him. He has attributed some explanation to its cause, either supernatural or scientific.
Every year thousands of visitors are flocking to our national parks eager not only to view the wonders contained therein but to learn what they can concerning them. It is, therefore, our duty to interpret these wonders to the park guests in as single a manner as possible. In order to perform this duty with the greatest efficiency it is necessary for us to understand thoroughly the visitor's point of view.
Let us take the average visitor entering one of our national parks. There is something awe-inspiring about the word "government" to the average person. He knows that ho is on government ground and he feels that he is being constantly watched for the slightest misdemeanor. Our first duty, therefore, is to establish a friendly relationship with the tourist at the outset. This can be done only by the men at the gate. If the tourist is made to feel that he is welcome the battle is half won.
In interpreting park phenomena to the visitor, I feel that the most important thing, at least the thing which I am striving hardest in Yellowstone to avoid, is the practice of "talking down" to him. This tendency is probably the result of attempting to counter a weakness that is equally vicious, that of using language too technical for the average person to understand. In attempting to get away from this a guide or lecturer may make a subject rediculously simple and thereby give his audience the idea that he is "talking down".
I firmly believe that in dealing with a park visitor and explaining the phenomena to him, all things taken into consideration, we should resort to methods used to teach a child of 15 years. This is not intended as an insinuation that the average visitor is mentally deficient. It simply means that the average person, not trained in science must be treated as a 15 year old child when scientific principles are being explained. We must, however, guard against the tourist knowing this. Even though his scientific faculties are of a child he must be treated as an equal an admittedly difficult task but one vitally necessary to the success of the work.
Many other matters should be considered from the point of view of the tourist. My assistant has often said to me that the tourists, as sheep, require herding; and we have all heard the remark from rangers similar to "riding herd on dudes". I am convinced that there is much truth in this statement and that a tourist group, as any group, can be handled best with mob psychology. From the time a tourist enters the park gate, especially be he a rail traveler, he is herded. Necessity demands that these measures be adopted, deplorable as it may seem. In a certain type of guiding which we are attempting at Old Faithful next year we are relying largely on the "herd system". That is, the crowds from one guide party will be fed on to the next guide.
During the past season several complaints came to my office from park operators that the tourist did not have time to do anything all day long and that he was herded from the time he got up till the time he retired. The source of the complaint being in the operators, the cause may be well imagined. The fact, however, remains that tourists are herded. Unless they are pushed from one lecture or guide trip to another they will not attend, either because they knew nothing about it or because they were inclined to sit in the hotel or lodge lobby over a good cigar.
In this discussion I have considered the factor of totals as one of the most important things. The matter of herding can be reduced to a minimum only when the Park Service recognizes quality instead of quantity, as of prime importance in our work.
In closing, I want to read an article in the 1929 Ranger Naturalist Manual for Yellowstone which deals with this problem.
THE TOURIST AS A CRITIC
By Dorr G. Yeager, Park Naturalist
Someone has said that America is not a nation of critics. That we are satisfied with the surface and that we do not investigate. However true that may be of the nation as a whole, I believe that every experienced ranger naturalist will agree with me, and the new men will admit before the coming summer is over, that it is not true of the Yellowstone tourist.
Because the Yellowstone tourist is a critic, because he is interested in his surroundings and because he is very likely to know as much about the subject upon which you are talking as you yourself do. It is the duty of every naturalist to watch carefully the statements which ho makes.
The critical Yellowstone visitor falls into one of two classes: those who criticize for the pure love of trying to make someone else miserable, and those who want to be helpful and give constructive suggestions for the work.
The first is by far the most difficult to handle. He will ruin a lecture or a guide trip if ho possibly can. He will make life miserable for the guide and the party in general. Ho will attempt to belittle everyone in order to display his own knowledge of the subject, which is usually scant. In a previous article I pointed out the necessity of a ranger naturalist being a diplomat. This is especially true with a person of this sort. When one is in your party or audience it is a case of prevention instead of cure, and you can always take it for granted that you have one with you. Pick your statements carefully. Pick those statements that will offend no one nor cast reflections on any creed or nationality. I well remember an incident that occurred a few seasons ago. A naturalist at Mammoth thoughtlessly offered up a prayer to the Devil upon entering the "Kitchen" on the formations. It was a good prayer, too, but it offended certain people and reports kept coming in that the naturalists were sacrilegious. It was necessary to do away with prayer in that case. On another occasion several years ago a naturalist caused a near-riot by speaking lightly of a past president. It was carelessness on his part, as no Government man in uniform should ridicule either present or past administrations. I well remember a story I used to tell at lectures which illustrated a certain point. The story had to do with why it was always the woman who asked the foolish questions in Yellowstone. I soon found out that I must eliminate this story, as it invariably struck home to some woman in the audience.
There is another thing, which has no direct bearing on the subject, but which might well be taken up here. In the above paragraph I used the phrase "foolish question". It is a byword in the Park during the summer. However, I believe all of the men who have spent several seasons in Yellowstone will admit that there is no such thing as a foolish question. When you first hear questions of this type you will likely disagree with me. However, if you stop and analyze it you will find that the person was really trying to find out something and that it was the wording rather than the context of the question that made it sound foolish. Such questions as "Do the hot pools freeze over in the winter?" and "Were the trees in the formations always dead like that?" are really not so foolish if you get down to the thought behind them. Again I say, it is the wording rather than the real context that sounds foolish, Never let a tourist know that his question amuses you. Even though the rest of the audience laughs, keep a straight face and explain what the person really meant to say be fore answering it. Then, after the lecture, you may laugh and nine chances out of ten the person who asked the question will laugh with you.
Then the second type of person, he who criticises from a purely unselfish and helpful motive. One thing I have found. The man who really knows his subject will seldom criticise or argue with you in front of a crowd. He will wait until after the lecture and then come to you quietly and talk it over. You need never worry about this man. He probably knows more about the subject than you do yourself. He may be a renowned scientist, for all you know. Talk it over with him and thank him for making the suggestion. It is from that type of man that we can learn much if we will let ourselves.
I think you will be able to see why it is necessary to lay so much stress on accurate information, as well as statements that will offend no one. It is not an easy job, but it pays in the end and it is the only way that the standard of the Ranger Naturalist Division can be maintained."
2. The Park Visitor. - Dorr G. Yeager
During the discussion which followed the above paper, Park Naturalist Dorr G. Yeager brought out the vital necessity of studying the needs of the park visitor, particularly in parks like Yellowstone where they follow a definite routine schedule which has already been arranged before they enter the park. The question was raised as to whether or not we could eliminate the "herding" necessary under present conditions when such large numbers of visitors wish to take advantage of guided trips. Mr. Yeager reported that he plans to try out a new system at Old Faithful next season; namely, of conducting a guide trip after each eruption of Old Faithful. He states that this is expected to somewhat reduce the number of visitors on each guide trip. The only permanent solution of this problem however which could be suggested by the members of the conference, was a sufficient enlargement of the educational staff, to provide for more guides and thereby increase their effectiveness by diminishing the number of visitors in each park.
Another point brought out by Mr. Yeager was the danger of overdeveloping an educational program. He stated that some persons claim too many lectures are now offered in Yellowstone National Park and that they are almost forced to listen to them. On the other hand, however, an equal or greater number of visitors recommended the further extension of lectures, guided trips, etc. The matter was discussed in detail. It was agreed that it is advisable to hold the lectures in government auditoriums or other points within easy reach of visitors, and that as soon as possible lectures within hotel lobbies and elsewhere on the premises of the public utility operators be transferred so that no visitors have the lectures foisted upon them. Under these conditions, then, a system of lectures can be developed which adequately meets the needs of the visitors; the extent to which the lecture system will be developed shall be determined by a careful study of the situation within the park.
Continued >>>
Top
Last Modified: Mon, Oct 31, 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/proceedings/proceedings1c.htm
.gif){kind=small}