Advancing Integral Heritage Management
In 1819, Simon Bolivar and Franciso de Paula Santander led a diverse army from the border of Venezuela to Bogotá to liberate what is today Colombia from the Spanish crown. Over 77 days, 40 municipalities, 6 provinces, and several battles, the Army of Independence sent Spain back to Europe.
OpEPA Awarded National Contract
Because of this historic march that led the army through the high mountains of the Andes to take the Spanish by surprise, the Government of Colombia decided to transform the march route into a touristic route to benefit the many communities touched by the passage of Bolivar and his soldiers. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism through its FONTUR awarded the contract to OpEPA, a national non-profit specializing in outdoor education and heritage interpretation. OpEPA had developed its skills in interpretation thanks in part to a long partnership between the PUP Collaboratory and OpEPA dating back to 2010. In that time, the two organizations along with the National Parks of Colombia have developed their interpretive capacity and deployed interpretive frameworks to parks across this vast country.
Greatest Application of PUP´s Interpretive Framework Methodology
This methodology originally designed by PUP as far back as 1997 but improved with OpEPA through its work in Colombia involves the facilitation of community-based consensus workshops to determine for a given natural-cultural heritage site its outstanding heritage elements, interpretive themes, universal processes and forces that created the site and continue to transform it, and its essence. These basic elements allow a site to be interpreted; further, they are usually represented on a single sheet of paper followed by more extensive narrative descriptions. Given then OpEPA´s experience in developing participatory community-based interpretive frameworks as well as a related participatory process to facilitate the design of community-based tourism products, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism selected OpEPA to carry out the project.
PUP, as subcontractor, facilitated the development of seven interpretive frameworks, one for each department or province through which Bolivar´s army marched (2 however were not on the actual route but played key roles in the planning the independence campaign) and a seventh that integrated all the others, much like the ring of power that bound all the others.
Though the interpretive framework has been used many times not only in Colombia but other countries in Latin America and the United States, this application constitutes its most ambitious use. It not only integrated several subnational frameworks, but may have been the principal reason that OpEPA won the contract and applied it in such a high-profile national project.
OpEPA and the Ministry launched the touristic route to great effect on 28 July 2025 at the Boyacá Bridge, site of one of the famous battles along the Liberation Route of Colombia.
For more information contact crosero@opepa.org or info@pupconsortium.net
Additional resources in Spanish and English about interpretive frameworks
En 1819, Simón Bolívar y Francisco de Paula Santander lideraron un ejército diverso desde la frontera de Venezuela hasta Bogotá para liberar lo que hoy es Colombia de la corona española. Durante 77 días, 40 municipios, 6 provincias y varias batallas, el Ejército de la Independencia envió a España de regreso a Europa.
OpEPA Adjudicado con Contrato Nacional
Debido a esta marcha histórica que llevó al ejército a través de las altas montañas de los Andes para sorprender a los españoles, el gobierno de Colombia decidió transformar la ruta en un recorrido turístico para beneficiar a las muchas comunidades impactadas por el paso de Bolívar y sus soldados. El Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo, a través de FONTUR, ejecutó el convenio con OpEPA, una organización no gubernamental sin ánimo de lucro especializada en educación al aire libre e interpretación del patrimonio. OpEPA había desarrollado sus habilidades en interpretación gracias en parte a una larga alianza con el Colaboratorio PUP que data de 2010. Durante ese tiempo, las dos organizaciones, junto con Parques Naturales Nacionales de Colombia, han fortalecido su capacidad interpretativa y desplegado marcos interpretativos en parques nacionales de todo el país.
La Mayor Aplicación de la Metodología del Marco Interpretativo de PUP
Esta metodología, diseñada originalmente por PUP desde 1997 pero mejorada con OpEPA a través de su trabajo en Colombia, consiste en la facilitación de talleres de consenso basado en la comunidad para determinar, en un sitio de patrimonio natural-cultural, sus elementos patrimoniales destacados, los temas interpretativos, los procesos y fuerzas universales que crearon el sitio y lo siguen transformando, y su esencia. Estos elementos básicos permiten que un sitio sea interpretado; además, suelen representarse en una sola hoja de papel acompañada de descripciones narrativas más extensas. Dada la experiencia de OpEPA en el desarrollo metodológico de la elaboración de marcos interpretativos de manera participativa, es decir, en donde la comunidad que habita un territorio participa activamente en la construcción de este instrumento, así como en la planificación y el diseño de experiencias o productos turísticos, el Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo les seleccionó para la ejecución del convenio.
PUP, como subcontratado, facilitó el desarrollo de siete marcos interpretativos, uno para cada departamento o provincia por los cuales marchó el ejército de Bolívar (aunque 2 no estuvieron en la ruta, pero jugaron un papel clave en la planificación de la Campaña Libertadora) y un séptimo que integró a todos los demás, como el anillo de poder que los vincula a todos.
Aunque el marco interpretativo se ha utilizado muchas veces no solo en Colombia sino también en otros países de América Latina y en Estados Unidos, esta aplicación constituye su uso más ambicioso. No solo integró varios marcos regionales, sino que pudo haber sido la principal razón por la que OpEPA obtuvo el convenio y lo aplicó en un proyecto nacional de tan alto perfil.
OpEPA y el Ministerio lanzaron la Ruta turística a gran efecto el 28 de julio de 2025 en el Puente de Boyacá, sitio de una de las famosas batallas a lo largo de la Ruta Libertadora de Colombia.
Para mayor información: crosero@opepa.org o info@pupconsortium.net
Recursos adicionales en español sobre marcos interpretativos
As many of you know, the PUP Collaboratory (formerly the PUP Consortium) is transforming rapidly toward a new kind of entity, one with a nonprofit mission but with an earned income subscription-based business model. We have been changing many things, not just our name. Now PUP is announcing its new mission statement now consistent and supportive of the Collaboratory´s strategy rather than that of the Consortium. Please find below our new mission as well as the newly updated summary of the new PUP Collaboratory which contains both the mission and the unchanged vision. The summary also includes a schematic diagram of the Collaboratory and the most updated version of the business canvas.
Strengthen natural-cultural heritage professional and local community performance to conserve and holistically manage humanity’s meaningful and treasured places.
PUP publishes its first annual report brandishing its new logo and name. The report features articles on its work in Colombia with the Simon Bolivar Liberation Tourism Route and its first course with the University of Tennessee-Knoxville as well as a profile of Kansas State professor Blake Belanger who joined PUP as an advisor.
See our annual reports page.
As the Consortium transitions to the Collaboratory, that implies transitioning the board of directors as well. Given the situation, we are elated to announce two new directors, one of which we only recently announced as a new advisor, but quickly climbed the hierarchy.
BLAKE BELANGER
Blake Belanger, American, PLA, ASLA is a licensed landscape architect and urban designer with over twenty-five years of combined experience in professional practice and academia. While in professional practice, Professor Belanger’s work centered on urban design, community planning, civic space and parks, and site planning at various scales. He joined Kansas State University in 2007, where he teaches design studios, theory and research seminars, foundational lecture courses, and serves on graduate student advisory committees. He is an engaged scholar specializing in place-inspired brownfield regeneration visioning and has led or co-led service-learning projects with communities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, and Colorado, resulting in dozens of student awards from ASLA and APA regional chapters. Professor Belanger has been recognized with numerous teaching and research awards, including the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Excellence in Design Studio Teaching Award (2012), the Big 12 Fellowship (2017) the College of Architecture Planning and Design McElwee Teaching Award (2015, 2024), the Mary Jarvis Emerging Faculty of Distinction in Landscape Architecture (2010), the Kansas State University Academic Excellence Award (2011, 2014, 2016), the LARCP Teacher of the Year Award (2024), and the TAB+LARCP Faculty Brownfield Fellowship (2024-2027). Professor Belanger holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University and a dual Master of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design from the University of Colorado at Denver, where he graduated with honors and was the lead designer of the winning team in the 2005 ULI / Gerald D. Hines Urban Design Competition.
Blake focuses on community-engaged scholarship, urban resilience through brownfield redevelopment, graphic representation, and the creative design process. In “Situating Eidetic Photomontage in Contemporary Landscape Architecture”, he and his co-author present a framework for understanding the role of – and potential for – photomontage in landscape architectural design process and communication. He teaches Unlocking Creativity, a university-wide elective designed to equip students with methods for generating creative ideas and the confidence to find their inherent genius.
AYANNA WAYNER
Ayanna, American-Jamaican, is an experienced executive and attorney with significant public and private sector experience and a proven track record for over twenty years in affordable housing development, real estate investment, city planning, project management, government relations and community and economic development.
Ayanna is the founder and president of ARRA Enterprises LLC, an affordable housing consulting and real estate development firm partners with local stakeholders to build thriving and inclusive urban communities that catalyze opportunity and well-being.
As the former Deputy Commissioner of Economic Development for the City of New Rochelle and Executive Director of the New Rochelle IDA, Ayanna ushered-in a massive $6 billion 300-acre downtown revitalization project. Ayanna previously served as Development Director for New York State’s Housing and Community Renewal Agency in their Multifamily Finance and Development Department; Associate General Counsel at Urban American; the former Director of Programs for the Office of Preservation Services at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Associate at the top international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the Banking & Institutional Investing group.
Ayanna has promoted economic community development in marginalized communities internationally by providing training in Honduras through a partnership between international NGOs and the Honduran government. Ayanna also serves on the board of World Connect, on the advisory board of NYC Connect, and formerly on the board of trustees of Westhab and TFOA Charter School.
She graduated from Barnard College (BA) and Columbia Law School (JD).
HAPPY BIRTDAY TO AYANNA TODAY!!!!!
The PUP Global Heritage Consortium and its organizational member, the Mexican Association for Heritage Interpretation, supported the publication of Guía de campo para escribir temas interpretativos last weekend, authored by PUP executive director Jon Kohl.
PUP supported as well the Interpretive Theme Writer´s Field Guide published in 2018 by the National Association for Interpretation. This new book is actually the second edition with significant improvements over the English version as well as an adaptation for Iberoamerica (Latin America, Spain, and Portugal) with contributions from experts throughout the region. It is also written in Spanish with some Portuguese.
Produced as a Kindle ebook for greater distribution, the book can be found on all of Amazon´s websites (see the USA and Mexico) at a significantly reduced price compared to the English version. Some improvements include:
In terms of adaptation, it replaces many North American references and personae with quotes, examples, and references to writers and other important thinkers from throughout Iberoamerica to make it more relevant to the expanded audience. It includes a series of contributions from collaborators throughout the region called “Voices from the Field.”
Members of the board of the Mexican Association for Heritage Interpreters reviewed and commented on the text while its founding director and PUP advisor, Dr. Antonieta Jiménez, edited the text. The PUP Consortium, as with the previous version, lent materials, photos, and experiences from its work in previous years. Other PUP member contributors include Marcelo Arze, Carlos Rosero, Clara Osorio, and, of course, PUP advisor, Sam Ham.
50% Discount for PUP Members
There will be an upcoming 50% book discount day for PUP members. If you are interested in taking advantage, please send a note to info@pupconsortium.net and you will be alerted when the discount day will be on Amazon.
El Consorcio PUP para el Patrimonio Global y su miembro organizativo, la Asociación Mexicana de Intérpretes del Patrimonio, apoyaron la publicación de Guía de campo para escribir temas interpretativos este fin de semana pasado, cuyo autor es el director ejecutivo de PUP, Jon Kohl.
PUP apoyó también la Guía de campo para escribir temas interpretativos (“Interpretive Theme Writers Field Guide”) publicada en 2018 por la Asociación Nacional para la Interpretación. Este nuevo libro es en realidad la segunda edición con mejoras significativas sobre la versión en inglés, así como una adaptación para Iberoamérica (América Latina, España y Portugal) con contribuciones de expertos de toda la región. También está escrito en español con algo de portugués.
Producido como un libro electrónico Kindle para una mayor distribución, el libro se puede encontrar en todos los sitios de Amazon (véase USA y Mexico) a un costo significativamente reducido en comparación con la versión en inglés. Algunas mejoras incluyen:
En cuanto a la adaptación, sustituye muchas referencias y personajes estadounidenses por citas, ejemplos y referencias a escritores y otros pensadores importantes de toda Iberoamérica para hacerlo más relevante al público iberoamericano. Incluye una serie de contribuciones de colaboradores de toda la región llamadas “Voces del campo”.
Miembros de la junta directiva de la Asociación Mexicana de Intérpretes del Patrimonio revisaron y comentaron sobre el texto, mientras que su directora fundadora y asesora del PUP, Dra. Antonieta Jiménez, editó el texto. El Consorcio PUP, al igual que en la versión anterior, prestó materiales, fotos y experiencias de su trabajo en años anteriores. Otros miembros de PUP que han contribuido son Marcelo Arze, Carlos Rosero, Clara Osorio y, por supuesto, el asesor de PUP, Sam Ham.
Descuento del 50% para los miembros de PUP
Habrá un día de descuento del 50% para la compra del libro para los miembros de PUP. Si está interesado en aprovecharlo, envíe una nota a info@pupconsortium.net y se le avisará cuándo será el día de descuento en Amazon.
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PUP and the University of Montana are proud to announce the opening of registration for the second annual study abroad course in Costa Rica on the Evolution of Protected Area Management throughout History. The 4-credit course is for graduates and undergraduates with preference given first to UM students. To learn more about the course and see all course materials, please visit www.pupconsortium.net/studyabroad
The PUP Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Sherwood Shankland as PUP´s fourth advisor emeritus. Sherwood was actually one of PUP´s founding board directors. He was our first board chair and the longest serving board director in our history, having served three consecutive terms. For the first 10 years of PUP´s existence as a US non-profit we also used Sherwood´s address in Centennial, CO as our legal address until, due to family reasons, Sherwood moved to South Carolina. For his fine contributions to PUP, the board issued Sherwood its certicate of recognition.We want to thank Sherwood for all those years he invested in making PUP a legitimate, operational non-profit organization.
PUP-University of Montana Study Abroad Course Comes to Costa Rica
In December 2019 a Kansas State University professor arrived to carry out a reconnaissance of sites in Costa Rica in anticipation of setting up a study abroad trip for their park planning course that was already using the book, The Future Has Other Plans: Planning Holistically to Conserve Natural and Cultural Heritage published by Jon Kohl and Stephen McCool (Fulcrum 2016), central to PUP’s holistic planning focus.
Yet the following year the pandemic struck and the K-State experiment passed away. But PUP did not let the idea die. Teaching about protected area planning and management from a holistic perspective was completely mission compatible. So, in early 2022, PUP shopped the idea to other universities. But the one that accepted the invitation was probably the best option from the beginning considering that co-author Dr. Stephen McCool, a renowned professor in protected area management and planning, was emeritus at the University of Montana where courses had already integrated much of his work. He is also a PUP advisor emeritus. So soon the proposal landed on the desk of Dr. Jennifer Thomsen, director of the Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management Program. Already an experienced international traveler, Dr. Thomsen had PUP’s course vetted by her university and in short order recruited students. The course filled with 14 Montana undergraduates, one undergrad from Arizona State, one doctoral student from Clemson, and one non-degree graduate student at Montana.
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