Guiding Principles for Field-based Historic Preservation, November 5 - 7, Joshua Tree National Park

Guiding Principles for Field-based Historic Preservation is ideal for field personnel who work directly on historic structures and/or cultural landscapes and seek to feel more empowered using preservation philosophy when making historic preservation treatment decisions.  Participants will learn how to make preservation treatment recommendations using national standards and guidelines. Through case studies, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to apply fundamental historic preservation concepts in developing treatment recommendations. 

Tuition

Tuition for BEST Workshops is collected by the Historic Preservation Training Center's Partner, Preservation Maryland/The Campaign for Historic Trades through this platform, The Campaign for Historic Trades' Learning Management System Elevate, all parties are 899-B compliant. 

Upon check out, please use the following codes if you fall into the appropriate category. 

BESTStudent450: This code is for student trainees to pay a discounted tuition amount of $50. You are eligible for this tuition rate if you are a college or university student enrolled at least half time in an accredited institution. Do not purchase this ticket if you are not a college/university student trainee. You should only purchase one ticket per workshop.

Refunds are available within 30 days of the start of the BEST Workshop. Please note that refunds will not include a processing fee. 

Email confirmation will be sent via learn@historictrades.org. Check your spam folder if you do not receive an email registration confirmation.

Location and Travel for Workshop

The workshop will be held at Joshua Tree National Park near Yucca Valley, CA.  The closest town is Yucca Valley, CA. The closest airport is Indio/Palm Springs (PSP).

All students are independently responsible for finding, booking, and paying for all travel, transportation, and lodging. BEST Workshops do not assist with travel. 

About the Brick Earth Stone and Timber (BEST) Preservation Workshop Series 

The BEST Preservation Workshop Series trains National Park Service (NPS) employees at all levels in the preservation of traditionally built historic resources using problem-based and hands-on learning. Participants should be prepared to think critically, make mistakes, and experiment – both physically and mentally – with materials and concepts at the workshop.

While our workshops are focused on NPS resources and geared toward NPS workers, they are open to all government, public, and private sector trainees. 

Workshop Series Progression

BEST Workshops build on one another, following the natural progression of a historic preservation project. Listed below, this progression identifies major categories that take a project from concept to reality, and from design to implementation. 

Inquiry:

Students learn the basics of historic preservation principles and standards. These workshops are strongly recommended for all students before taking more advanced courses. 

Documentation & Investigation:

Students learn how to research historic resources and record existing conditions in the field, as well practice problem-solving strategies for identifying and understanding deterioration problems and quantifying their potential impact.

Treatment:

Students explore building technology, condition assessment, treatment, and conservation science of major traditional building materials. Treatment workshops are hands-on and split between the classroom and the field.

Maintenance & Monitoring:

Students learn the methods and best practices for continued stewardship of historic resources after their preservation, including how to evaluate treatments, write and follow maintenance and lifecycle plans, and bring historic resources into asset management programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BEST Preservation Workshop Series?

The BEST Preservation Workshop Series instructs students of all levels in the preservation of traditionally built historic resources using problem-based and hands-on learning. Participants should be prepared to think critically, make mistakes, and experiment – both physically and mentally – with materials and concepts at the workshop.

Who can take a course?

Workshops are open to anyone who is interested: federal, state, and local government employees; private sector contractors, consultants, architects, and design professionals; students; nonprofit employees; and homeowners.

What is the cost per course? 

Tuition costs vary between workshops. See individual workshop page for tuition. You are not enrolled in a workshop until you have paid tuition. Because workshops fill up fast, we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Refunds are available up to 30 days before the workshop.

Who do I talk to about an accommodation?

If you are a person with a disability and you need accommodations, please contact us after you have registered and at least 3 weeks before the workshops at BEST_preservation@nps.gov or (307) 739-3571. 

Is there lodging available at White Grass Ranch?

Workshops in Grand Teton National Park are held at White Grass Ranch, a rehabilitated historic dude ranch. During these workshops, there is availability starting at $100.00/night limited housing at the ranch. Indicate at check out of you prefer to stay at the White Grass Ranch while attending training in Grand Teton National Park.

What if I need to have my registration canceled/refunded?

The Campaign can process refund requests up to fourteen days before the start date of the event. Please email best_preservation@nps.gov and learn@historictrades.org with the subject line REFUND REQUEST, with name, event details, and total amount in the email body. No refunds will be issued in the fourteen days before the start date of the event. The Campaign will deduct processing fees from your total refund amount. Funds will appear in your account within 30 days of the refund being processed.

Advanced Wood Window Repair, October 28-November 8, Historic Preservation Shop in Frederick, MD

Open to students who have mastered beginning wood window preservation skills like documentation, re-glazing, and simple dutchman repairs, participants in Advanced Wood Window Repair will learn the woodworking skills necessary to practice more advanced and intensive repairs for rails, stiles, and muntins. This is a two-week workshop. During the first week, students focus on the fundamentals of woodworking, including materials selection, safe stationary power tool use, safe hand tool use, fundamentals of millwork, layout, and basics of joinery. Students then apply these skills in the second week of the workshop, where they practice more complicated dutchman repairs, joinery repairs, and partial or full component replacement. 

Tuition

Tuition for BEST Workshops is collected by the Historic Preservation Training Center's Partner, Preservation Maryland/The Campaign for Historic Trades through this platform, The Campaign for Historic Trades' Learning Management System Elevate, all parties are 899-B compliant. 

Upon check out, please use the following codes if you fall into the appropriate category. 

BESTStudent750: This code is for student trainees to pay a discounted tuition amount of $50. You are eligible for this tuition rate if you are a college or university student enrolled at least half time in an accredited institution. Do not purchase this ticket if you are not a college/university student trainee. You should only purchase one ticket per workshop.

Refunds are available within 30 days of the start of the BEST Workshop. Please note that refunds will not include a processing fee. 

Email confirmation will be sent via learn@historictrades.org. Check your spam folder if you do not receive an email registration confirmation.

Location and Travel for Workshop

The workshop will be held at the Historic Preservation Shop in Frederick, MD. The closest lodging for this workshop is in Frederick, MD. There are three airports within similar distance between, Washington National (WAS), Baltimore Washington International (BWI), and Dulles International (IAD).

All students are independently responsible for finding, booking, and paying for all travel, transportation, and lodging. BEST Workshops do not assist with travel. 

About the Brick Earth Stone and Timber (BEST) Preservation Workshop Series 

The BEST Preservation Workshop Series trains National Park Service (NPS) employees at all levels in the preservation of traditionally built historic resources using problem-based and hands-on learning. Participants should be prepared to think critically, make mistakes, and experiment – both physically and mentally – with materials and concepts at the workshop.

While our workshops are focused on NPS resources and geared toward NPS workers, they are open to all government, public, and private sector trainees. 

Workshop Series Progression

BEST Workshops build on one another, following the natural progression of a historic preservation project. Listed below, this progression identifies major categories that take a project from concept to reality, and from design to implementation. 

Inquiry:

Students learn the basics of historic preservation principles and standards. These workshops are strongly recommended for all students before taking more advanced courses. 

Documentation & Investigation:

Students learn how to research historic resources and record existing conditions in the field, as well practice problem-solving strategies for identifying and understanding deterioration problems and quantifying their potential impact.

Treatment:

Students explore building technology, condition assessment, treatment, and conservation science of major traditional building materials. Treatment workshops are hands-on and split between the classroom and the field.

Maintenance & Monitoring:

Students learn the methods and best practices for continued stewardship of historic resources after their preservation, including how to evaluate treatments, write and follow maintenance and lifecycle plans, and bring historic resources into asset management programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BEST Preservation Workshop Series?

The BEST Preservation Workshop Series instructs students of all levels in the preservation of traditionally built historic resources using problem-based and hands-on learning. Participants should be prepared to think critically, make mistakes, and experiment – both physically and mentally – with materials and concepts at the workshop.

Who can take a course?

Workshops are open to anyone who is interested: federal, state, and local government employees; private sector contractors, consultants, architects, and design professionals; students; nonprofit employees; and homeowners.

What is the cost per course? 

Tuition costs vary between workshops. See individual workshop page for tuition. You are not enrolled in a workshop until you have paid tuition. Because workshops fill up fast, we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Refunds are available up to 30 days before the workshop.

Who do I talk to about an accommodation?

If you are a person with a disability and you need accommodations, please contact us after you have registered and at least 3 weeks before the workshops at BEST_preservation@nps.gov or (307) 739-3571. 

Is there lodging available at White Grass Ranch?

Workshops in Grand Teton National Park are held at White Grass Ranch, a rehabilitated historic dude ranch. During these workshops, there is a $100.00/night limited housing at the ranch. Indicate at check out of you prefer to stay at the White Grass Ranch while attending training in Grand Teton National Park.

What if I need to have my registration canceled/refunded?

The Campaign can process refund requests up to fourteen days before the start date of the event. Please email best_preservation@nps.gov and learn@historictrades.org with the subject line REFUND REQUEST, with name, event details, and total amount in the email body. No refunds will be issued in the fourteen days before the start date of the event. The Campaign will deduct processing fees from your total refund amount. Funds will appear in your account within 30 days of the refund being processed.

Welcome to the Beyond Hands-On Instructor Training (BHIT) program, a pioneering initiative developed in collaboration with TOPOnexus, the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC), Preservation Maryland and The Campaign for Historic Trades. This program is designed to elevate the skills of trainers within the historic trades, providing them with an adaptive and dynamic learning model tailored to meet student needs.

At the heart of BHIT is the belief in empowering learners to take control of their education. Through a combination of hands-on experiences, emotional engagement, and intellectual commitment, we encourage participants to become immersed, motivated, and self-directed in their learning process. This approach ensures that learning goes beyond just practical skills, embedding a deeper understanding and appreciation for the historic trades. 

Join us as we explore this innovative training program, where you will not only learn how to effectively teach your trades, but also inspire and cultivate a passion for preservation in your students. With BHIT, it's about more than just the hands-on experience; it's about engaging the heart (hearts-on) and mind (heads-on) to create a comprehensive learning environment. 

40-hour Training with 5 Modules:

BHIT Module 1: Get Oriented (1 hour)

Meet your instructors and cohort, walk-thru expectations and modules.

BHIT Module 2: Prep-Work (1 hour)

Identify a skill/concept in your trade that you want to teach; create a lesson plan for how you might teach it at a trades training; bring your lesson plan to the BHO Training.

BHIT Module 3: BHO Training (4 days)

Learn the Beyond Hands-On philosophy, framework and routines; gain teaching techniques and tips; translate the BHO learning model to your trade.

BHIT Module 4: Post Work (1 hour)

Refine your lesson plan by integrating Beyond Hands-On methods.

BHIT Module 5: Shareouts (1 hour)

Share your BHO lesson plan with your cohort.