National Association for Interpretation (NAI) National Conference
Description
The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) National Conference is the largest annual gathering of heritage interpreters in the world. The event brings more than 600 professionals to a different corner of the United States annually. This year, the conference will be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, November 11–15. The conference slogan, “Virginia Beach is for Interpreters,” plays off the state’s iconic call to tourists, “Virginia is for Lovers,” adopted in 1969.
Park rangers, environmental educators, living history interpreters, tour guides, docents, and other nonformal educators will convene in an area replete with nature, culture, and history—and names! It’s known as Neptune City, Hampton Roads, Coastal Virginia, and Tidewater. Within just a few miles, nature lovers will find a zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden, a natural history museum, and a state park. For interpreters of culture and history, the area plays host to thousands of years of Indigenous history, Black history, military history, and the colonial establishment of the United States.
The program has been carefully crafted to have broad application for front-line interpreters, managers, planners, and others in the field. More than 70 concurrent sessions will address hot topics in the field and practical skills for interpreters. Opening keynote speakers Yuria Celidwen and Dacher Keltner will present “The ABC of Nature: Awe, Belonging, and Contemplation,” and a closing keynote by André Copeland will address perceptions of truth and facts.
Pre-conference workshops will explore topics relevant to the field, such as partnerships, questioning our perspective, dialogic interpretation, and more, while post-conference field trips will explore the natural, historic, and cultural heritage of the region. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers and learn from cutting-edge vendors and exhibitors throughout the week.
