Interpretive material in Waterton Lakes National Park: Connecting visitors with place

Vital to national parks, interpretive programs connect three aspects of Parks Canada's (2002) mandate: resource protection, visitor experience and public education. Interpretive materials can enhance visitor experience and education which, in turn, may help improve visitor behaviour and, ultimately, enhance resource protection. In evaluating the effectiveness of interpretive material in Waterton Lakes National Park during August 2008, I examined if and how interpretation helped visitors develop a "sense of place" in Waterton. Concepts associated with sense of place are relevant for studying interpretive material in Waterton because Parks Canada's initiatives aim that visitors understand and appreciate Canada's parks. Forty-two semi-structured visitor interviews revealed two forms of sense of place: personal connection and understanding of park values. Visitors demonstrating a personal connection had strong feelings toward Waterton or associated it with important events, people or memorable experiences. Visitors who exhibited an understanding of park values saw the importance in protecting the park and maintaining ecological integrity and were able to explain why it became a National Park, a World Heritage Site or they demonstrated knowledge of environmentally conscious behaviours.