Publications Workshops - May 2, 1999

TRAIL CONFERENCE TO HOST PUBLICATIONS WORKSHOP

Sunday, May 2 at Greenwood Lake Middle School, 1429 Lakes Road (between Greenwood Lake and Monroe)

For the first time, the Trail Conference is sponsoring a Publications Skills Training and Sharing Workshop in connection with the Conference’s publications program. The workshops’ aims are to recruit and train interested volunteers to actively assist with revision of Conference publications and the production of brochures, maps sets, and guidebooks.

Updating publications goes on continually. Information is always being collected and prepared for the next edition of a publication. The whole publication process takes a long time before material is sent to a printer.

The broad range of workshop topics being offered reflects the variety of skills needed to produce a map set or guidebook. Workshop facilitators are either volunteers who are on the Conference’s Publications Committee, or industry professionals. Conference members working in the publishing or publishing production industry are especially welcome to enhance these shared learning experiences. The workshops are designed to contribute to an actual revision of a Conference publication.

Since computers are so widely used in the publishing industry, participants need to be computer-literate, with access to e-mail and the Internet.

Public Transportation is available on NJ Transit bus 197. There is a bus that leaves Port Authority bus terminal (42nd St.) at 7:30 AM and arrives at Greenwood Lake, NY at 9:02 (a little late but best we can do). The return is either 4:26 PM or 5:26 PM. The cost is $7.70 each way. By prearrangement, we can have someone meet you at the Greenwood Lake bus stop and drive you to the workshop. As we see how many need transportation, we may be able to arrange something better.

All classes are rain or shine. Each class meets all day with a morning and afternoon session. Bring hiking gear for field work and a bag lunch. A laptop computer is useful, but not required, for many of the sessions. Some workshops will break for lunch in the field.  Register by clicking here , or call Walt or Jane Daniels, at (914) 245-1250.

Program:

Workshops:

1. Research and Fact Checking Enhance your research skills to obtain background material that enriches books and enhances brochures and map backs. Explore library resources, local history rooms, and the web, for information on history, natural history, geology, geography, culture and park information/regulations. Participants will visit a library and practice web browsing.
2. Field Observations as Part of the Writing Process Writing a trail description is not just measuring a trail. Learn how to take what is on the ground and turn it into something worth reading. Participants will go on a 3-4 mile hike and must have a pocket tape recorder.
3. Producing Maps Cartography can make or break a hiking book, map or brochure. Learn to critique maps, what makes a map readable, and how to produce such a map for books and brochures. Course includes computer lab work.
4. Trail Surveying for Drawing Hiking Maps Learn: basic compass and distance measuring techniques to obtain a reasonable accurate drawing of a trail over a topographic map and note land features while making those measurements; how to write down data for later transcription into a computer; and the selection and handling of surveying tools such as altimeter, measuring wheel, and GPS. Bring a compass and other instruments if you have them.
5. Photography Learn to take pictures that can be used in publications. Includes introduction to digital photography. Bring your camera for field work.
6. Advanced Technology Explore emerging technologies that apply or will apply to Trail Conference publications work in the near future, including Geographic Information Systems(GIS), CD and Web publishing. Hands on computer lab work.
7. Layout-skills Sharing Join with other users of layout software to share ideas and skills. This leaderless workshop has opportunities for networking and subcontracting. Bring samples of work you have done. Some experience with PageMaker, Quark, or Ventura, etc. is a prerequisite.
8. Managing Editor Managing the publication process requires long term dedication and multiple skills including setting schedules, cost analysis, production bids, trouble shooting, public relations/marketing, distribution, and finding and managing volunteers who do writing, text editing, proofreading, and other specialties covered in these workshops.

Last updated: 01/18/01