props

Top Ten: Places to get Props for Cheap (or Free!)
By Joanne Hughes, Kamloops Wildlife Park

One of the most common plights for interpreters and their programs
is a lack of funding. Sometimes, even the most basic props and
other materials seem outside of the budget. Here is a list of unusual
sources for useful materials.

10. Second Hand Bookstores. You might find the perfect book filled
with great information – or you might find a book that just needs a
new cover to be the ideal prop.

9. Sushi Restaurants. The plastic takeout container they use are
great for displaying props. (You might have to eat the sushi inside
the container first, but that's a burden we interpreters are prepared
to bear.)

8. Thrift Stores. No, we're not talking about Value Village, which can
often be quite expensive. Instead, try the Salvation Army or any of
the numerous charity thrift stores in your community where a dollar
can net all kinds of treasures.

7. Your Kitchen. Scent can be very evocative in programs and there
are plenty of scents to be found here. Also, there are a hundred
uses for each plastic container you might otherwise throw away (or,
preferably, RECYCLE).

6. Old Calendars. Get people to give you their old calendars. They
often have amazing pictures in that are usually large enough to
show at least a small group of people.

5. Any film developing centre. They will give you oodles of film
canisters, all for free!

4. Nature. The natural history of a place can be a tie for both natural
and cultural interpretation. But please, collect responsibly, never
from a protected area, and when you’re finished with an item, put it
back where it came from.

3. Foam Stores. Often foam stores do a lot of reupholstering. While
the old foam from a cushion may not be very comfy to sit on, it still
has lots of life to give as a prop. With a little negotiation, it could be
yours for free!

2. Sign Shops. Sign shops often have piles of multicoloured scrap
coroplast left over from trimming a sign to size. They may think you’
re a nut for wanting “garbage”, but they’ll gladly give it to you for
free and then it could be backing for a picture, reusable game
pieces, or even a set of heron legs!

1. The Recycling Bin. Yours, that is. Unfortunately it’s illegal to raid
someone else’s unless you’ve asked first. Here you can find future
bird feeders, finger puppets, elixir bottles… anything you can dream
of!

Please forward your suggestions for future Top 10 articles to
provocation@interpcan.ca