The document summarizes the activities of APTSO in 2010, including developing sustainable guiding courses in Panama. 21 guides were trained and certified in topics like natural history, cultural history, interpretation, leadership, and first aid. APTSO also provided basic sustainable tourism training to members of rural communities and partnered with organizations like MarViva to support tourism programs in the Gulf of Chiriqui. Financial support for projects came from sources like USAID and membership fees.
11. Participacion en el consejo de trabajo de CAMTUR para programa de certificaciones turisticas Desarrollo del Curso de Gu鱈as Sostenibles de Panam叩Development of Modules and Individual CoursesKnowledge (120 Hours) The modules within this section pertain to all the information of which a guide should have a solid foundation.Interpretation(40 Hours)By completing this module each participant will receive certification as an interpretive guide through the internationally recognized, National Association for Interpretation. Leadership (56 Hours)A guide can be extremely knowledgeable and a talented presenter; however they also need to exhibit leadership skills that reflect their ability to handle individual problems, group dynamics, and emergency situations, among the many other issues that arise working in this environment. This module will cover Guiding Basics Ethics and Etiquette, Leadership and Teambuilding, Wilderness First Aid, and CPR.
12. Knowledge Natural HistoryNatural History - 64 HoursThe individual subjects within the Natural History Module were taught as day long courses. The first half of the day was spent in lecture, while the afternoons were spent in the field observing what was discussed in the classroom. This course was designed to provide the student with a sound foundation in ecological concepts as applied to tropical rain forest ecosystems. The material covered is equivalent to a university upper level course in tropical field ecology. A full day of lecture and field work was dedicated to the following topics: Impact of the Isthmus - Geography, Climate, Biodiversity, Rainforest & Canopy Ecology, Mammalogy, Ornithology, Herpetology, Entomology, Botany, and Marine Ecology .
13. Knowledge Cultural HistoryCultural History 56 HoursThe individual subjects of the Cultural History Module were taught during a eight day period by experts in their fields of study. A full day of lecture and field work was dedicated to the following topics: History of Panama, APTSO, STRI, USAID, Fundacion Avifauna, UNESCO, RAMSAR & Important Bird Areas, CIAM - Presentations & Environmental Law, Sociology - Modern & Provincial Panama, Folklore, and Ethnic Groups of Panama Embera, Ngabe, Kuna, and Afro Descendents.
14. Interpretation NationalAssociationforInterpreters (NAI)CertifiedInterpretive Guide (CIG)Interpretation 40 hours Interpretation encompasses all the skills that a guide needs to communicate his knowledge and passion to the visitors. Without Interpretation, the information provided by the guide is little more than a collection of dry facts. The National Association for Interpretation (NAI) was formed in 1988 from two existing organizationsthe Association of Interpretive Naturalists and the Western Interpreters Association. Both of those groups were created in the 1950s to provide training and networking opportunities for interpreters of natural and cultural history in non-formal settings (parks, zoos, nature centers, museums, and aquaria). After merging to form NAI in 1988, a partnership was created with Colorado State Universitys Department of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism. CSU students work in the NAI office as interns and work-study employees. NAI strives to meet the needs of interpretation professionals in North America and worldwide. Its certification program is one of many services designed to further the work of the profession.
15. Leadership & TeambuildingLeadership and Team Building 16 hoursDuring this two day program camping in Altos de Maria coordinated through Lets Camp Empower your Employees, participants learned and practiced through live situations the concepts of; leadership, attitude, preparedness, decision making, responsibility, communication, team work, conflict resolution, stress management, and organizational skills.
16. Wilderness First Aid & CPRWilderness First Aid & CPR 24 hoursCertain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and, in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment. In this three day course, participants were taught first aid techniques through simulations of rescues in the field and CPR. Certificates were issued by the Panama Red Cross.
17. ARUG CapacitacionBasica en Turismo Sostenible Entrenamiento a comunidades en Bocas del Toro, Azueroy Chiriqu鱈. Capacitaci坦nydistribuci坦n de gu鱈as de turismosostenible a miembros de diversascomunidadesruralesquedeseantomarventaja del turismo en Panam叩.
18. MarViva - Alianza estrat辿gica en Golfo ChiriquiCompromiso en sensibilizaci坦n y capacitaci坦n para el turismo sostenible en las comunidades del Golfo de Chiriqu鱈 y 叩reas en donde Marviva y APTSO tengan proyectos en conjunto.Apoyo a la gesti坦n de las reas Marinas Protegidas (AMP), en las zonas de trabajo de Fundaci坦n MarViva para impulsar el turismo sostenible como un mecanismo de financiamiento y de sensibilizaci坦n.
19. Financial InformationMembers & Benefactors Patrocinio para proyectos de Educaci坦n por USAID: $20,825.00Membres鱈a de APTSO: $625.00Curso de APTSO, alquiler de local, capacitadores, materiales acad辿micos, coordinador de curso, capacitaciones de campo: $25,757.00