NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR 

INTERPRETATION, VOLUNTEERS, 

AND EDUCATION CHARTER

The National Council for Interpretation, Volunteers, 

and Education (NCfIVE) provides an interdisciplinary 

advsiory forum to advocate for the needs of the field, 

coordinate with national partners, and to stregthen 

opportunities for deepening connections to 

America’s treasured places. 

PURPOSE

NCfIVE members are responsible for providing policy guidance and technical 

assistance to the highest levels of the National Park Service. Members of the 

group have wide perspectives and hold authority to make decisions about 

implementing strategies, setting priorities, and funding projects within their 

areas of responsibility.

The NCfIVE will

•	 Advise and make recommendations to the Associate Director for

 Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers. 

•	 Work in cooperation and consultation with the National Park System

 Advisory Board Education Committee by aligning work plans.

•	 Formulate, advocate for, and provide national guidance on short and long

 term strategies; serve as a “sounding board” on emerging issues related

 to interpretation, volunteers, and education; and promote opportunities to

 achieve the vision for education as articulated by the National 

 Leadership Council. 

•	 Research and identify emerging issues and opportunities to unify and

 support the educational efforts of the agency. 

•	 Work with the Washington Office to facilitate communication with the field,

 directorate, the National Park System Advisory Board, the National Park

 Foundation and other partners.

•	 Foster robust collaboration across disciplines and levels of the organization

 within the NPS. 

•	 Be action and results oriented.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. Department of the Interior

REPRESENTATION

•	 Rotating Members

•	 Deputy Regional Directors

•	 Superintendents (representing small, medium, and large parks)

•	 Interpretation, Education, Volunteers, Facilities, and 

 Visitor and Resource Protection subject matter experts/

 practitioners (representing areas such as: interpretive program

 development, program and facility accessibility, program

 standards and evaluation, interpretive media, technology,

 partnerships, cultural competencies, youth programs, community

 outreach, education, interpretive planning, volunteer

 management, and external programs)

•	 Standing Members

•	 Deputy Associate Director for Interpretation, 

 Education, and Volunteers

•	 Harpers Ferry Center Director

The NCfIVE will consist of no more than 29 members representing 

the broad range of talent, expertise, and experience found in the 

Service including: 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS

•	To regularly attend meetings and participate actively in NCfIVE

 business, including participating in workgroup assignments. 

•	 Members or their appointed alternate must participate in 80% of all

 NCfIVE meetings and workgroup meetings. It is the responsibility of

 the workgroup chairs to monitor and track member participation and

 inform the NCfIVE Co-Chairs when an individual member fails to

 actively participate. The NCfIVE Co-Chairs will maintain participation

 records for all regular NCfIVE meetings. It is the responsibility of a

 member to communicate with the Co-Chairs if conflicts arise that

 prohibits them from participating in the group.

•	Members are expected to proactively:

•	Seek opportunities to increase their knowledge of emerging issues,

 innovations, and the profession of IVE by modeling the concept of

 continuous learning.

•	Engage in the NCfIVE and proactively contribute to the development 

 of the profession of IVE.

•	Serve as a liaison and communicator between their parks, programs,

 organizations, regional directors, or regions and the NCfIVE, providing a

 two-way conduit for input, issues and ideas.

•	Serve as an ambassador of the NCfIVE and a catalyst both internally and

 externally, promoting ideas and information exchange.

•	A member who fails to be meet the minimum activity required of

 membership can be removed from the NCfIVE.

NCfIVE members will

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. Department of the Interior

•	 Training Manager for Interpretation and Education

•	 Cultural Resource liaison

•	 Natural Resource liaison 

•	 Research Learning Center liaison

•	 National Park Foundation liaison

REPRESENTATION (Continued)

•	 National Park System Advisory Board liaison

•	 Youth Programs liaison

•	 Communications liaison

•	 Regional Chiefs of Interpretation

GOVERNANCE

The NCfIVE advises and makes recommendations to the Associate Director 

for Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers. Regional and associate directors 

will solicit self-nominations for NCfIVE membership and may also make 

nominations of their own.

Final selection will be made by the Associate Director for Interpretation, 

Education, and Volunteers following guidance provided under the 

“Representation” section of this charter. Consideration will be given to ensure 

balanced representation among regions.

NCfIVE members that vacate their positions prior to the conclusion their term 

may be filled from existing nominations or by appointment as determined by 

the Associate Director.

The NCfIVE can, at the direction of the Associate Director, charter groups to 

complete tasks or assignments that will further the work of the NCfIVE.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. Department of the Interior

TERMS

Rotating members will serve a 3-year term.

Co-Chairs will provide leadership for the council. One Co-Chair will be 

selected from the Regional Chiefs of Interpretation, while the other 

Co-Chair will be selected from the Rotating Members. Co-Chairs will 

serve a 1-year term. 

MEETINGS

NCfIVE primarily conducts business through telephone calls, electronic 

mail, WebEx sessions and other forms of distance communication. 

However, one in-person meeting will be scheduled annually. Funding 

attendance for in-person meetings is the responsibility of each NCfIVE 

member. 

All meetings will have an agenda. Meeting and conference call agendas are 

sent out one week prior to the meetings to allow members time to prepare. 

It is expected that work will be done between NCfIVE meetings by 

sub-committees and workgroups. 

Speakers and guests will be invited to participate at the discretion of 

the NCfIVE executive committee; their participation will enhance the 

conversation and/or provide pertinent content to the NCfIVE.

Meeting preparation, note taking and information dissemination will be 

supported by the WASO Management Analyst.