Annapolis, MD - Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis London Town & South County, in partnership with Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), announces this year's "Making Heritage Connections," regional heritage workshop for area docents, guides, volunteers, and interpreters to be held Saturday, March 3, 2007 in the CALT Center of Anne Arundel Community College from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“Making Heritage Connections” is designed to give tour guides, museum docents, and heritage organization volunteers a regional historical context by emphasizing the heritage connections among our many heritage sites. The sessions will provide guides and docents with the tools necessary to help visitors understand how they can move around the heritage area in a meaningful way and learn more about our history and heritage, resulting in a better, more substantive visitor experience. Those not currently connected to any of our sites but who want to learn more about regional history and heritage are also welcome to attend.

The program includes briefings on the latest heritage tourism products and initiatives around the area, along with several historical presentations. Dr. Kenneth Carroll, preeminent scholar of Quaker history, will discuss the roots of American Quakerism in early Maryland. Historian and former head of both Historic London Town & Gardens and Historic Annapolis Foundation Dr. Gregory Stiverson will talk on Maryland’s tobacco culture. Archeologist and preservationist C. Jane Cox will discuss Chesapeake Bay lighthouse preservation. Katherine Livie, outreach educator for Sultana Projects, Inc., will discuss the significance of the Captain John Smith shallop reenactment voyage around the Bay later this year. Anne Arundel County photographer Bea Poulin will be on hand with highlights of her photographic collection of Southern Anne Arundel County tobacco barns. The workshop also includes an afternoon panel discussion on interpretive techniques and provides an excellent opportunity to network with guides and volunteers from heritage sites and organizations, as well as heritage tourism businesses, throughout the heritage area and beyond.

A modest registration fee of $35 includes monring coffee and pastries, lunch, refreshments and workshop materials. registration is available at www.aacc.edu, or by calling the AACC Continuing Education office at 410.777.2325 to make your connection to course number HST 327: Making Heritage Connections. Continuing education credit is available for this course. For more information on Four Rivers or the March 3 program, please call the heritage area office at 410.222.1805 or visit our newly-designed and expanded website at www.fourriversheritage.org.