Barz Media, the force behind the smartphone app that we use, has added a new enhancement. We are now able to feed the application to the web. In other words, you can now access all of the SmartTrail information, including audio and Google maps, on our website. Check out the Beyond the Beach Discovery Trail here.
Category Archives: Fermata
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Report Completed
The Fermata appraisal of recreation and entertainment opportunities in East Park, West Park, and the Wissahickon is final. For the past 18 months we have been exploring this most historic park system, and our recommendations are now complete. The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department (PP&R) has been an honor and joy to work with, particularly Commissioner Mike DiBerardinis and his assistant Kathleen Muller. The entire staff has been unwaveringly supportive, and we thank all of them for their invaluable assistance. We have posted a PDF of this report in the Fermata library.
NAI Presentation in Panama
As promised, here is Ted’s presentation from NAI in Gamboa. There will be more information on the NAI meeting to follow.
Ted also photographed many of the scenes and wildlife in the area. Many of these photographs were taken on the grounds of the resort or boating about Gatun Lake. Click on the photo to access the entire gallery.
For those interested in the current data from Pew Internet about cell phone use, we have included a presentation from their most recent newsletter.
Cell phone ownership and trends
View more presentations from Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project
Our Friends, the National Association for Interpretation
For the past several years Fermata has been a supporter of NAI, the National Association for Interpretation. Ted met Lisa Brochu, NAI’s Associate Director, while in Texas. Yet over the years our involvement has been limited to participating in national events and the like.
Last year, however, Ted became interested in NAI’s certification process. There are only a few certification programs in our field available internationally, and NAI’s is the only one that focuses on interpretation. Given the importance of interpretation to our work, Ted decided to participate in NAI’s program and to become certified himself. As with so much that we do, unless we have actually done the work ourselves it is hard to recommend a program to our clients.
Ted learned yesterday that he has completed all of the requirements for certification in interpretive planning and in heritage interpretation. Both of these are professional certifications, where the work completed is reviewed by peers in the profession. Ted is completing the final requirements to be certified in interpretive training, and should have that certification in hand by fall.
The more we are involved in NAI the more we are impressed with the program and the people. Fermata has been involved in a number of organizations that relate to our work, and with NAI we truly feel at home. If you are interested in learning more about NAI, or about the types of work and projects for which Fermata is certified, please contact us directly.
Laurel Highlands Summit
The Laurel Highlands, in southwest Pennsylvania, is the second of the Conservation Landscape Initiatives (CLIs) for which Fermata developed a strategic plan. We worked under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and were partnered with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) in this initiative. On Monday, April 4, Ted spoke at the second Laurel Highlands Summit in Latrobe at St. Vincent’s College. Over 200 people attended, a testament to just how far this CLI has progressed.
Ted spoke about interpretation in the digital world; specifically, he talked about the new Great American SmartTrail app as well as Space for Place. His PowerPoint from the talk follows.