Dr. Carolyn J. Widner Ward

Associate Professor, Interpretation
Editor, Journal of Interpretation Research

Contact Information:

Office: Natural Resources (NR) Building, Rm. 212

Phone: (707) 826-5639

E-mail: cjw5@humboldt.edu

Personal Statement

I was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. With my first job as an interpreter at Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia, I fell in love with being an interpreter. After a couple of years working in the field, I decided that I could reach more people by teaching others how to interpret natural and cultural sciences. I have been teaching at Humboldt State University since 1996 and feel very lucky to be at such a wonderful university. There are only a handful of programs in the nation that teach interpretation and few have a program that rivals the one here at Humboldt State.

Although I am a teacher at heart, I also conduct research. I consider myself a teacher and a student of the discipline. My research focuses on how to demonstrate and tangibly measure the effectiveness of interpretive efforts, in other words conduct defensible interpretation. In addition to conducting my own research, I also serve as Editor for the Journal of Interpretation Research.

I am an active member of the community through the numerous student projects I oversee and the boards on which I serve. Teaching is only the first step in the learning process. It is through doing and applying that we actually come to know and understand. Students in the interpretation program not only learn in the classroom but in the living labs of our community. By applying the skills they acquire to meet real needs in the community, interpretation students learn by doing.

Courses Taught:

• NRPI 340 – Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
• NRPI 350 – Introduction to Natural Resource Interpretation
• NRPI 352 – Natural Resource Public Relations
• NRPI 351 – Natural Resource Interpretation Field Trip
• NRPI 353 - Interpretive Graphics
• NRPI 450 – Advanced Natural Resource Interpretation
• NRPI 453 – Interpretation Practicum

Education:

• B.A.: 1990, Geography, Emory and Henry College, Emory, VA
• M.S.: 1994, Forestry (Outdoor Recreation), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
• Ph.D.: 1998, Forestry (Outdoor Recreation), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Links:

• Redwood Chapter of Interpreters
• NRPI Lab
• Course Syllabi:
  • NRPI 340
  • NRPI 350
  • NRPI 352
  • NRPI 353
  • NRPI 450
  • NRPI 453

Publications:

Ward, C.J. and Wilkinson, A.E. (2006). Conducting Meaningful Interpretation: A Field Guide for Success. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden: CO.

Tarlton, J.L. and Ward, C.J. (2006). The Effect of Thematic Interpretation on a child's knowledge of interpretive program. Journal of Interpretation Research. Vol. 11 (1).

Ward, C.J. and Roggenbuck, J. W. (2004). Understanding Park Visitors’ Response to Interventions to Reduce Petrified Wood Theft, Journal of Interpretation Research. Vol. 8.

Ward, C.J. and Wilkinson, A. (2004). Basic Interpretive Learning System, California State Parks.

Ward, C.J., Martin, S. And Absher, J. (2003). An evaluation of the effectiveness of Interpretive Services at Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. National Interpreters Workshop 2003.

Ward, C.J. , Martin, S. And Absher, J. (2003). Interpretation effectiveness at Taylor Creek Visitor Center, USDA Forest Service Technical Report RWU 4902.

Ward, C.J. and Wilkinson, A. 2003. Basic Interpretive Handbook- Making connections: the essence of interpretation. California State Parks.

Widner, Carolyn J. and Steven R. Martin. 2001. Final Management Report for 2000 Public Opinion Survey of Northern Californians on Management of Headwaters Forest Reserve. Report to the Bureau of Land Management Arcata Resource Area.

Martin, Steven R. and Carolyn J. Widner. 2000. Final Management Report for 1999 Study of Visitors to Headwaters Forest Reserve. Report to the Bureau of Land Management Arcata Resource Area. 175 pages.

Widner, C.J. and Roggenbuck, J. W. 2000. Reducing the Theft of Petrified Wood at Petrified Forest National Park, Journal of Interpretation Research. Vol 4.

Widner, C.J. and Martin, S.R. 1998. Visitor preferences for use limit strategies along California’s Lost Coast Trail. The Seventh International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.

Widner, C.J. and Roggenbuck, J.W. 1996. Reducing Theft of Petrified Wood at the Petrified Forest National Park. Paper presented at the 1996 Southeastern Recreation Research Conference, Savannah, Georgia.

Widner, C.J., Roggenbuck, J.W., and Eling, T. (1994). Conflict Among Hikers and Horseback Riders in the Mount Rogers High Country of Virginia. The Fifth International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Widner, C.J., Roggenbuck, J.W., and Eling, T. 1994. Horseback Riders’Attachment, Management Preferences, and Resource Impact Behavior in the Mount Rogers High Country of Virginia. The Fifth International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Widner, C.J. and Roggenbuck, J.W. 1994. Mount Rogers National Recreation Area High Country Use and User Characteristics. Mount Rogers: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Paper presented for the Opportunity Area Analysis conducted for the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Sugar Grove, Virginia.

Widner, C.J. and Marion, J.L. 1993. Horse Impacts: Research Findings and Their Implications. Master Network. A publication of the National Outdoor Leadership School, part 1-1993: No. 5 (pp. 5, 14); part 2-1994: No. 6, pp. 5-6.

Widner, C.J. 1990. Travel Industry Growth in the Wytheville, Virginia Area. The Fifth Conference on Appalachian Geography. Concord College, Athens, West Virginia.