Informal Visitor Contacts

Competency Core

Developed by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Interpretive Development Program

National Park Service

What is an informal visitor contact?

An encounter between a visitor and an interpreter during which the progression is based on the visitor’s needs and responses.

The contact is highly personalized. The interpreter must be able to evaluate,

respond and adjust to the visitor’s needs during these spontaneously initiated interactions.

Why are informal visitor contacts so important?

Perhaps the visitor’s only opportunity to interact with a park representative.

The “visitor-centered” approach communicates respect and helps build constituency.

Well-crafted, responsive interactions offer visitors just what they need, just when they need it.

What types of informal visitor contacts are there?

The Interpretive Continuum

How do informal visitor contacts help fulfill the NPS mission?

Orientation provides for the safety and security of park visitors and park resources.

Information enhances visitor enjoyment by increasing understanding of the park resources and policies.

Interpretive informal visitor contacts provide opportunities for the visitor to form emotional and intellectual connections to our site, increasing their enjoyment and encouraging preservation of resources.

What are the pieces of an informal visitor contact?

Providing Quality Customer Service Assessing Audience Needs Knowing Your Site Selecting Appropriate Techniques