The new chief naturalist was Bob Bruce. The assistant chief naturalist was Glen Kaye. The training sessions were conducted by Glen and Ted Arthur. They took everything so seriously that you knew you were about to enter a profession as opposed to something that would be on the order of a clerk or a tour guide. They gave each of us two weeks time to rapidly learn about the plants, animals, and the geology of the lake. We spent two weeks in training prior to being permitted to put on the uniform. After that time we would audit the talks and walks of the more veteran naturalists. I can recall that first summer being a one of high anxiety because I believe I am a natural introvert. It took forever to become comfortable in giving talks and presentations. One of the things that helped, I thought, was the two man programs in the evening. You could audit the formal presentations given by the ranger naturalist at the same time by functioning as their master-of-ceremonies. You could gain experience in loosening up the audience by conducting campfire songs. It was mandatory that even the Ph.D.s on the staff would sing campfire songs. One didn’t question whether one would sing, it was just mandatory that you would. We gathered in the evening and traded tricks, trying to figure out which songs worked and which wouldn’t work. You wanted the kinds of songs that would be pleasing to the audience and at the same time educate them about the park. We always tried to introduce the campfire song by telling some sort of story about the park or something about park regulations.
How large was the interpretive staff?
My recollection is it was between 13 and 15.
