Looking In Odd Places for Outrageously Good Program Ideas
Prepared by Robert D. Bixler ([email protected])
Clemson University
Does your interpretive program schedule read like every other one? Has most of your program information
come from the first two pages of Google search results and “those books” that every other interpreter reads?
Would your audience tell you that your program was pretty similar to the last one they went to at another
park—because you got many of your ideas from going to that park’s programs?
Finding new program ideas and unique programming content is a little like panning for gold. You have to wade
around and work really hard for that nugget that will make your program shine. Many interpreters with one or
two degrees in the biological sciences get caught in a biological box--or maybe that history degree has cast an
historic hex on you. In many cases we have been taught a single way to think about the world by our professors
who have stressed to us only the disciplinary aspects of the material we now interpret. Programming that
resonates with a range of people’s interests must mix science and history, blend in the humanities and always
be emotionally rich. Like it or not, attending interpretive programs is a form of (serious) leisure—a recreational
activity. Programming has to be new, fresh and intriguing—no one has to come to our programs. And, we need
them to talk about the programs afterwards with family and friends.
Strategies for researching your topic
Looking at your topic from many different perspectives helps in:
• thoroughly learning the topic,
• finding new angles for presenting your topic and thee,
• increasing your ability to recognize perspectives that your audience may already hold,
• developing the depth to adjust to your program to different audiences,
• increasing your ability to answer questions,
• transform audience questions into additional interpretive possibilities.
• Not to mention providing eye and ear catching methods for publicizing and presenting your
program—or even new program ideas.
Getting started
My topic ______________________________________________________________
My theme (written later) __________________________________________________
1) Vocabulary: List the major vocabulary you will use in your talk. Then use a thesaurus and other content
resources to identify formal AND folk terms and euphemisms (for example skunk, Mephitis mephitis, polecat).
This list will grow as you do more research. For instance, once you learn that skunk pelts were used in fur
coats 100 years ago, you will discover that skunk fur was euphemistically called “Alaskan Sable”—a new
search term! Try your synonyms as search terms in computer databases. Be aware of alternate spellings and
British spellings. For instance, “Pokeweed”, a common vascular plant used as food and medicine is sometimes
misspelled “Polk weed”, as in the 1950s rock and roll tune “Polk Salad Annie”. Also look up the Spanish
translation (or other relevant language) of your topic and use it as a search term. As you discover new terms,
repeat your search strategies with these terms. Sometimes all that is necessary to find that “nugget” is a
different search term for your topic!
Once you have done some research on your topic, try to figure out other topics that subsume your topic. For
instance, if you topic is flint knapping (making stone tools), it would be covered in references on archaeology,
Updated and used by NAI with permission, September 2013
survival skills, Native Americans, biographies of famous Native Americans (e.g. Ishi), tools, and weapons
(etc.). Components of a topic also need to be researched such as hafting, flint/chert, the process for
straightening river cane for arrows, spears and atlatl darts. Also important would be developing a general
understanding of Native American lifeways so you can describe the larger context of flint knapping. Write
your search terms down—look for synonyms and alternative terms.
Topic in English and
Spanish + ?
Synonym
Euphemism or common
missspelings
Larger Context(s)
2) Economic value: Find out what your topic is worth. For instance, your research on skunks indicates that
they eat bees at honey hives—a cost to farmers, and they are trapped for pelts. What is a skunk pelt worth
today or in the past? Why did values go up or down over the years?—and oops—I digress--you may start
wondering how in the world anyone can stand the smell while skinning a skunk for its pelt—it’s not economic
information but make a note to find out how this is done. But don’t be too dollars-and-cents with your
economic searches. A question such as “How many candles did a family need in a year in the 1860s?” is an
economic question.
3) Collect novel facts and figures about your topic from anywhere. These are important for designing opening
lines, promotion, attention grabbers, or to make a memorable point. Don’t just learn the biology of skunks—
based on #2 above you suspect that skunk pelts were used in fashion—a topic of interest to some of your
audience.
4) Identify associations or clubs of professionals or hobbyists who address your topic. Do they have
brochures and privately published booklets that may be useful? Can you identify club members to contact for
additional information? Internet searches will often help you find clubs. Contact them directly by phone or
email and ask for assistance. Although club members are amateurs, they will often have a high degree of skill
and lots of impossible to find hard-earned information. Check out the World Atlatl Association
www.worldatlatl.org or http://www.spoom.org for old mills or www.questers1944.org for material history
or….?
5) Search internet auction listings such as eBay and specialty auctions for objects, out-of-print book titles,
games, clothing, etc. related to your topic. eBay is a great source for cultural junk from days past. Don’t buy
the stuff unless you absolutely really need it—eBay should be a source of ideas. A search of eBay with the
term “skunk” turned up board games, lots of children stories, and even black t-shirts with “Got Skunk?” silk
screened in milk-white on the front. There are also specialty auctions. For instance, MJD Tools has regular
auctions of antique and vintage hand tools and reference materials about antique tools.
6) Opinion polls—has anyone asked the general public questions about your topic? Universities have
databases of opinion poll results-but that means driving to a research university. Use Google to see if you can
find an opinion poll that measures what percentage of the US population can define “biodiversity”.
7) Search books and the internet for jokes and humor about your topic. Remember to use formal terms and
folk terms in your search. Do an internet search with your topic/synonyms and the word “joke”. Need a joke
for a winter tree identification workshop? Someone is bound to comment that one of the twigs you are using
just doesn’t seem right. Tell them to take their complaint to the “branch office”. I found that joke on the
internet by searching with the words “Twig Jokes”.
Updated and used by NAI with permission, September 2013
8) Search books and the internet for poems about your topic. Remember to use formal terms and folk terms. If
you can’t find some prose, then write a limerick about your topic—but keep it G-rated!
9) Search for song titles and music lyrics. Remember to use formal terms and folk terms. Amazon.com and
other companies that sell individual songs allow you to search by song title.
10) Look for comic strips, cartoons and other humorous illustrations about your topic or that use a cartoon
character (Pepe Le Pew for a skunk).
11) Find a seminal book about your topic and read all of it, not just the first three chapters. Then skim the
references for additional sources. Use Amazon.com as a resource to identify books. Look for privately
published books and brochures (often out of print) published by clubs and organizations representing a hobby
that encompasses your topic (see #4, 19 & 20 above and below).
12) Does your topic make a sound, smell or have an unusual texture? Can you imitate that sound or at least
obtain a recording of it? Can you capture the smell in a way that you can share it with your audience?
13) Is a demonstration possible? Are there people or videos that could help you learn how to do something,
make a craft, clothing, tools, toys, use scientific equipment, etc. Being able to demonstrate as opposed to just
talk about it lends you credibility and most definitely increases interest for your audience. See #4 for sources of
someone who can teach you a skill.
14) Are there gestures or motions you can make during your talk that help illustrate your topic? Research
behavior and movement related to your topic. Can you act it out, have others acted out or pantomimed your
topic? (Answer: Yes). With animals, research their behavior (ethology or behavioral ecology). For instance,
research on behavior of skunks indicate that they stomp their front paws several times before spraying—you
can act this out instead of just talking about it.
15) How do other cultures approach your topic? What term(s) do they use? How is their culture’s
interpretation the same or different? For instance, search for information about your topic combined with terms
like “Native American”, “Indian” or “Cherokee”. Also, use current and older (non-PC) ethnic group labels in
your database searches. There are many references for stories and other material developed for or about
individual ethnic groups.
17) What props, illustrations, etc. are available related to your topic? Books, museums, contacting clubs, and
Google image searches can help locate novel props and illustrations. Respect copyright.
18) Try YouTube for ideas, remembering to use many and varied search terms just as you would with Google.
19) Is there a local expert (scientist, historian or folk expert, trapper, former moonshiner, logger, etc.) out there
that you could visit with? See #4 above. Many if not most experts are delighted when someone shows an
interest in their area of study or hobby. I guarantee that a visit with one of these folks will be productive!
20) Does the local history society have information about your topic? They will also be able to refer you to
local experts. Every town seems to have a local history museum and most states have a state history museum
loaded with documents.
21) Check the Guinness Book of World Records.
22) Look for stories in the style of storytelling about your topic. There are several storytelling bibliographies
available on the internet that will help you find stories about your topic. Don’t forget to look for stories written
by ethnic groups different from yours.
23) Are there quotes from famous people about your topic? Again, an internet search with your “topic” and
“quotes” is often all that is needed.
Updated and used by NAI with permission, September 2013
24) Search for misinformation, use terms like “superstition” and “misconceptions” with your topic.
Interpreting misconceptions can be as valuable (and interesting) as the facts. You may also find that your
accurate information is not so accurate.
25) Use the formal research literature (science, history, archaeology) to find out how scientists or historians
came to know something to be “true”. This often requires a yearly trip to a research university to look up
information. But tell friendly professors and researchers what you are interested in and to let you know about
new findings. Also email researchers and ask them for a copy of their paper on your topic. Many researchers
will email you a PDF of their article(s)—no need to pay those fees requested by publishers.
26) Find out what was the process that led to knowing an historic or scientific fact—sometimes the story of
how a phenomenon was identified or discovered is more engaging than the actual fact. (See Niko Tinbergen
“The Animal in Its World” as an example).
27) Find old books and really old books about your topic. For instance, you could learn about mammals from
the perspective of the trappers in the 18th and 19th century. Once you get back to pre-science periods,
information gets weird—really weird! eBay, antique stores and www.bookfinder.com are a source for old
books. I first discovered that skunk pelts were called “Alaskan Sable” by reading through a book from the
1880s on fur trapping. Google now has many very old books scanned and available at no charge.
28) Search for newspaper stories about your topic. Newspaper stories are often written from a human interest
perspective. Some newspapers will send you emails when something about your topic appears in their pages if
you register your topic and email address. Use Google’s “News” feature to search through newspapers around
the country. Sign up to have Google news searches on a particular topic sent to your email address.
29) Look at hobby magazines that deal with history or natural resource topics. Better yet, subscribe to a
different one each year! For instance, wood working magazines are full of practical information about the
qualities of wood. Magazines for antique dealers often have articles about identification of old objects and the
stories that go along with them. (“Spinning Wheel” is an older antique dealer magazine that should be useful
for historians).
30) Identify internet forums. Often experts and hobbyists can quickly answer your questions and point you to
relevant resources. I found out how skunks are skinned and their scent is harvested by posting my question on
a trappers’ forum. But be careful, every anonymous person on the internet sees himself as an expert.
31) Look for relationships between your topic and famous people. Did you know that George Washington had
more than 400 types of pickles in his home and that Cleopatra attributed her looks to pickles?
32) There are many references in well known books (Alice in Wonderland, Grimm Fairy Tales) to cultural,
historic and natural resources. Quoting from these in an oratorical style adds a refreshing dimension to a
program.
33) Google now offers a search feature for US patents. This feature may be useful at times to historic
interpreters. If you have an item with a patent that you need to know more about just search with the patent
number on Google. Census records can provide you information about the patent holder.
34) Google’s many channels (new, video, books, patents, etc) allow a quick method for reducing the number of
hits your search produces. Sign up to have Google news searches on a particular topic sent to your email
address. Working on invasive species? Find out how to limit your Google search to just documents from the
country where the invasive species originated. You may find information about how it was used and valued in
that country, providing richer and different information than the typical government extension bulletins that
show up in the first ten pages of Google hits.
Copyright is waived and permission is granted to use this paper in not-for-profit, government and educational
settings. Help this list and our profession grow! Email: [email protected] with other search strategies.
Updated and used by NAI with permission, September 2013