Native Alaskan Interpretive Curriculum Project

by Katrina Church-Chmielowski

The Native Alaskan Interpretive Curriculum project produced a “Development of Local Tourism” curriculum. The project originated from a joint effort of Ahtna, Inc., Prince William Sound Community College (PWSCC), the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. It is a tool available to villages and communities statewide. It may be used in, and tailored for, any region or community in the state. The user-friendly curriculum contains everything needed to teach a “Development of Local Tourism” course. Anyone can teach the course, with its easy to understand format, whether s/he is familiar with tourism or not. It's in three-ring binders so community-specific information is easily added.

The curriculum is divided into sections. The first contains step-by-step class instructions; from focusing the course to recruiting speakers. The second teaches: what tourism is and how it relates to Alaskan communities; available historical and cultural resources; and how to start a small tourism-based business. The third section is a resource database: from business training to tourism resources. The last section includes examples of forms, advertisements and evaluations used in an established and successful course.

The curriculum is available for the cost of reproduction. PWSCC will hold another course in the spring 1999. For more information contact Suzanne McCarthy at 907/822-3673, PWSCC, PO Box 730, Glennallen, AK 99588. Email address: vnsmm@uaa.alaska.edu.