{"title":"A Case Study of Millennials’ Attitudes Toward U.S. National Parks","authors":"T. S. Ruiz, David G. Havlick","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2023-11504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2023-11504","url":null,"abstract":"Visitation to some of the most popular national parks in the United States has surged in recent years, but in many national park units, attendance has declined even as the U.S. population increases. Changing demographics, patterns of visitation, maintenance needs, and inconsistent federal support raise questions about national parks’ relevance to younger generations. In particular, the attitudes of the U.S. Millennial generation are a key concern for park managers and supporters. We evaluate the views of a sample of Millennials toward America’s national parks and find that many lack basic knowledge about national parks, yet still say they value and appreciate the national park system. Land managers should respond to knowledge gaps of Millennials and pursue outreach that strategically consolidates the support of this and younger generations for a national parks system that is expected to provide ecological and cultural benefits for current and future generations.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86072035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Are We Creatures of Logic or Emotions? Investigating the Role of Attitudes, Worldviews, Emotions, and Knowledge Gain From Environmental Interpretation on Behavioural Intentions of Park Visitors","authors":"Clara-Jane Blye, G. Hvenegaard, E. Halpenny","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11654","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11654","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental interpretation can improve sustainability by mitigating the negative impacts of nature-based recreation. However, we do not fully understand the psychological factors that influence interpretation’s efficacy in changing human behaviours. Specifically, the role of emotions has been understudied within environmental psychology and nature-based recreation. This study, therefore, provides further insight into the psychological processes driving pro-environmental behavioural intentions among overnight visitors attending personal interpretation programs in provincial parks in Alberta, Canada. In 2018 and 2019, we surveyed 763 attendees of personal interpretation events. We used latent variable structural regression modeling to test the hypothesized relationships between ecological worldview, attitudes, emotions, and pro-environmental behaviours. As predicted, there were positive relationships between worldviews, affective and cognitive attitudes, and emotions; these variables and knowledge gain were positively associated with pro-environmental behaviours. Findings suggest that interpretation should focus programming on the affective elements of communication, target personal meaning such as responsibility to act, and continue to transmit knowledge.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82948798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sustaining Civic Recreation: Understanding What Shapes Climbers’ Contributions to Local Resource Stewardship and Advocacy","authors":"D. P. Carter","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2023-11642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2023-11642","url":null,"abstract":"77","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75746246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marni A. Goldenberg, K. Schwab, Terra Bilhorn, June Murray
{"title":"Sustainable Land Management on the Pacific Crest Trail: A Qualitative Investigation","authors":"Marni A. Goldenberg, K. Schwab, Terra Bilhorn, June Murray","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2023-11641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2023-11641","url":null,"abstract":"The Pacific Crest Trail is a National Scenic Trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. Use of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) has increased in the past 20 years. It is important to understand how an increase in use can impact the environment and sustainable practices, land management practices, and the hiker experience. Participants included 15 land managers in California and 25 thru-hikers who completed the PCT. In-depth interviews were conducted, and participants were asked questions about hiker interactions, trail angels, land manager interactions, and the permitting process. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded by three independent coders to reach a 90% inter-rater reliability. Emerging themes included: human impacts, permitting and education, and rule enforcement. Hikers also talked about the benefits of in-person education and the need for consistent communication between thru-hikers and land managers. Recommendations for sustainable practices include improvements to the permitting system, education, enforcement, and communication.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83942111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Youth Outdoor Recreation Experience, Race, and Socioeconomic Status: Explaining Connection to Nature and Future Career Interest","authors":"N. Q. Lackey, Lisa Meerts-Brandsma, Jeff Rose","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11599","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11599","url":null,"abstract":"The outdoor recreation industry faces the challenge of recruiting the next generation of professionals. This study examined factors that may influence young adults’ interest in outdoor recreation careers, including participation in organized and unorganized outdoor recreation as a youth, connection to nature (CTN), racial identity, and socioeconomic status (SES). An online questionnaire was distributed using a Qualtrics panel, and criterion sampling was used to ensure the sample included participants with approximately equal representation across racial identity and SES categories. Participation in unorganized recreation, CTN, and SES were found to be significant predictors of interest in outdoor recreation careers. Additionally, participation in organized recreation was found to be a significant negative predictor of CTN, while participation in unorganized recreation and racial identity were significant positive predictors of CTN, and CTN had a small mediating effect on the relationship between unorganized recreation participation and interest in outdoor recreation careers.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88911492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Turner, Jeremy Jostad, Brent J. Bell, Kellie Gerbers, Will Hobbs, Elizabeth Andre, K.C. Collins
{"title":"Overview of the Current Landscape of Outdoor Programs in Higher Education","authors":"J. Turner, Jeremy Jostad, Brent J. Bell, Kellie Gerbers, Will Hobbs, Elizabeth Andre, K.C. Collins","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11595","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11595","url":null,"abstract":"Recent recognition of the growth and significance outdoor recreation industry indicates a need for outdoor-focused academic programs in higher education, yet broader trends affecting higher education may especially impact these programs. Our census methodology identified 128 undergraduate outdoor academic programs; more than previously identified in the literature. The most common higher education institutions to have an outdoor academic program are public, doctoral granting, and located in cities and in the southeast. However, those most likely to have an outdoor academic program are public and doctoral-granting, but are located in rural areas and the Rocky Mountain region. This research provides the foundation for future work which seeks to better understand the unique characteristics of these programs as well as to identify trends in program introduction and elimination.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91006523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guy Ilagan, Jill Ilagan, Robin Jocius, Tara Hornor, Todd Shealy, Annie Simpson, Gregory Cavaliere, Brett Polen, J. Brooks
{"title":"Backpacking Veterans: Exploring Sense of Belonging, Happiness, and Stress-Coping","authors":"Guy Ilagan, Jill Ilagan, Robin Jocius, Tara Hornor, Todd Shealy, Annie Simpson, Gregory Cavaliere, Brett Polen, J. Brooks","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11600","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11600","url":null,"abstract":"U.S. military veterans attend college in increasing numbers, yet, often without a sense of attachment to their university. This mixed-methods exploratory study examined sense of belonging, happiness, and stress-coping outcomes for student veterans (N = 9) participating in a backpacking event. Results indicate the treatment group’s happiness level improved significantly over the control group, t(7) = 2.80, p = .027. Treatment group scores also improved on stress-coping, t(7) = 1.56, p = .163, and sense of belonging, t(7) = 2.28, p = .056; however, results were not statistically significant. The backpackers attributed increases in social belonging and happiness to the following elements of the trip: social support, stress coping, physical benefits, and camping skills. Although further quantitative research is indicated using larger and more diverse participant groups, findings from this study support the use of outdoor programming with veteran college students.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85934042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erik Rabinowitz, Aaron Michael Leonard, Alan Ewert, Forrest Schwartz, S. Deringer
{"title":"The COVID-19 Effect: Examining Organizational Resilience in Outdoor Adventure and Experiential Education","authors":"Erik Rabinowitz, Aaron Michael Leonard, Alan Ewert, Forrest Schwartz, S. Deringer","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11593","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) pandemic has impacted much of society, including those organizations involved in the fields of outdoor adventure and experiential education (OAEE). This study examined the organizational characteristics held by a select group of OAEE organizations in an effort to identify practices associated with crisis resiliency as the OAEE fields transition to a Post-Vaccine Rollout (PVR) setting and beyond. Data for this study came from Phase 4 of a parent study examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on outdoor adventure education fields (OAEE) (Leonard et al., 2021). Data were collected via online survey using Qualtrics and examined at three points: 1) pre-pandemic; 2) pandemic; and 3) post-vaccine rollout (PVR). Both demographic and organizational resilience items were collected. Organizations were asked to grade themselves (A, B, C, D, E) on their levels of resilience during the three pandemic phases. From an initial sample of 860, 94 usable surveys were obtained for a 11 percent response rate. Overall, the organizations studied graded themselves as fairly effective in dealing with the pandemic. Moreover, the level of organizational resilience they reported started high (pre-pandemic), went down (during the pandemic), and rose during the post-vaccine rollout phase, but generally not to pre-pandemic levels. Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for OAEE organizations to examine their effectiveness and organization resilience. This examination and subsequent action will be useful for the next crisis that emerges for the field.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73218020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Life Significance of an Outward Bound Expedition: A Retrospective Study Up to 50 Years Later","authors":"Brad Daniel, Andrew J. Bobilya, W. B. Faircloth","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11597","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11597","url":null,"abstract":"This cross-sectional retrospective study examined the life significance of participation in an Outward Bound (OB) course up to 50 years later to discover what participants learned, if their opinion had changed, whether it played a significant role in their lives subsequently, and its relative importance in comparison to other life experiences. Respondents (n = 180) from 1967-2017 represented 46 of the 50 years. Over 90% indicated that their OB course(s) had made a positive difference in their lives. Emergent themes indicated that their OB course: a) promoted greater confidence and courage, b) provided lessons and skills that were transferred to other life contexts, c) increased their self and social awareness, d) helped them develop teamwork skills. These findings enhance our understanding of the long-term impact of OB and OB-type expeditions and support the notion that significant experiences are often used as reference points in a person's life story.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78608839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dave Schafer, Andrew J. Bobilya, Ben Lawhon, W. B. Faircloth, Jeremy Schultz
{"title":"Understanding Hikers’ Behavioral Intent Towards Leave No Trace in Great Smoky Mountains National Park","authors":"Dave Schafer, Andrew J. Bobilya, Ben Lawhon, W. B. Faircloth, Jeremy Schultz","doi":"10.18666/jorel-2022-11589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18666/jorel-2022-11589","url":null,"abstract":"Resource degradation is a chief concern related to increased recreational of U.S. public lands. The Seven Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles are used to educate visitors how to reduce recreational impacts. This study sought to understand Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) hikers’ behavioral intent towards LNT practices. A quantitative questionnaire was used to measure participants’ behavioral intent towards LNT based on 4 predictor variables: attitudes of appropriateness, perceived effectiveness, perceived difficulty, and self-reported knowledge. 285 total questionnaires were completed. These results indicate that the predictor variables had varying levels of influence on hikers’ behavioral intent, with perceived effectiveness and difficulty being the most significant predictors. GRSM staff may be able to reduce hiker impact by focusing education on the effectiveness and ease of practice of LNT Principles. GRSM staff may also provide education that increases hikers’ understanding of impacts and emphasizes appropriateness of proper LNT behavior.","PeriodicalId":44328,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.6,"publicationDate":"2022-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86941928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}