Natural and Historical Interpretation

Natural and Historical Interpretation 

Key Program Features: Real-world experience, small class sizes, hands-on learning, professional opportunities, and an engaging faculty.

Since its inception, the Natural and Historical Interpretation program at Hocking College has become renowned for training experienced, confident and talented educators.

As a student in the Natural and Historical Interpretation program, you will be trained to educate others about the environment and human connections to it.

Classes use the backdrop of Southeastern Ohio to extract stories of interest in the natural world and the history of nearby areas. Emphasis is placed on practical experience, leading programs with groups of all kinds, exhibit design and development of interpretive sites. You will also receive unique training in researching and developing living history subjects and techniques.

Hocking Woods Nature Center provides Interpretation students the opportunity to work with captive wildlife, including raptors and reptiles.  We even have a planetarium for learning and teaching about astronomy and night interpretation. Robbins Crossing is a collection of authentic log homes that allows students to practice "living history" presentations in period clothing, designed to engage visitors in the skills and lifestyles of the past including blacksmithing, wood stove cooking and woodworking.

"Interpreters are teachers whose classrooms exist outside the four walls of a building."

The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Applied Science in Natural and Historical Interpretation:

• Interprets accurate information in an interactive, entertaining, and educational fashion to the satisfaction of a variety of audiences.
  
• Demonstrates guiding abilities in group programming situations, both educational and recreational.
  
• Demonstrates ability to match Ohio Academic Content Standards to specific environmental education activities.
• Demonstrates ability to research and gather information from both primary and secondary sources to develop interpretive programs and displays.
• Initiates professional contacts in the interpretation field.