Outdoor Recreation Management

1. Outdoor Recreation Management

2. Outdoor Recreation Definition: • “Wholesome recreation that is done without the confines of a building”. • “Any action that refreshes the mental attitude of an individual”. • Revitalizes the spirit • Restores a person’s vitality, initiative, perspective of life.

3. Recreation is also: • One of the most influential attitude builders among the American population on how land should be used, cared for and utilized.

4. Review • History of Outdoor Recreation • Custodial Era • Extensive Management Era – (Increased supply) • Intensive Management Era – (Specific Management by Objectives) • Mission Statements – Provide rationale for existence; sense of legitimacy, direction and purpose. • Difference between Forest Service, Park Service, Corps of Engineers, etc.).

5. Executive branch of Federal Government; U.S. Political System for NRM and Environmental Protection

6. Forest Service Mission Statement: • US Forest Service - Caring for the land and serving people • Bureau of Land Management Mission: • http://www.nv.blm.gov/wilderness/WSA_mission_statement.pdf • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mission: • www.CorpsLakes.us - Corps Lakes Gateway • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mission: • Who We Are: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service • .

7. Missions (Con’t) • Bureau of Reclamation • Bureau of Reclamation: About Us • The National Park Service Mission • The National Park Service - Our Mission

8. Parks for the People Delimma • Get with a partner. • Introduce yourselves • Discuss your ideas/solutions for managing a National Park with the ‘multiple purpose’ Mission Statement. • Prepare ideas for sharing with entire class.

9. “Open Systems” Approach to Problem Solving

10. Management Goal: Create a Recreational Opportunity • Look at new opportunities to: • Improve Quality • Respond to Demand • Change old ways of doing business • Come up with alternatives • Look at Long Term effects • Look ahead and see social and environmental changes; don’t wait to react; = proactive! (jet skis, mountain bikes, etc.)

11. Ultimate measure of success: • Satisfied Clientele groups = Support politically and financially! • Who often times dominate agencies; (along with legislative committees) • Example: Eliminating Cattle Grazing • May alilenate rancher with close ties to Congressional subcommittee on appropriations!

12. What makes a good Recreation Manager? • A person who is “Process Oriented” • Sees the big picture/”Open Systems Approach” • Identifies the primary inputs: • The Visitor • The Natural Resource Base • The Management • Identifies the ‘links’ in the “Open Systems Approach” • Links: • Resource Management • Visitor Management • Service Management

13. Resource Management • Provide a physical environment that is conducive to a pleasant experience! • Air • Water • Flora • Fauna • Soil

14. Resource Management • Strong science and resource management programs are necessary to: • protect, monitor and conserve ecosystems and cultural resources • Key Question: What is the “Resource Capability”? • Goal: Keep impact at an acceptable level or improve resources ability to sustain a higher level of use.

15. Visitor Management • Safety • Visitors need to be able to safely enjoy, and should be satisfied with the availability, accessibility, diversity, and quality of facilities and recreational opportunities.

16. Visitor Management • What are the visitor needs? • Style of participation • Motives • Visitor Programs include: • Information • Interpretation • Public Safety • Distribution of use

17. Visitor Services - Information • Affects the Visitor Experience • Examples of information • Closing back country zones to protect the resource • Warning of hazardous conditions (high water, trail conditions, etc.) • Improve wilderness use etiquette

18. Visitor Management • Educational outreach programs should reach all visitors and may include: • Visitor Centers (providing information to visitors on park activities and programs) • School site visits • Campfire Programs • Nature Trails

19. Visitor Centers Area Signing Publications Radio On-site Contacts Pay attention to: Overall appearance Attractive/Clean and Approachable Message and Delivery Visitor Management – Media Management

20. Concessions Maintenance Area Planning Site Planning Hazards Visitors should have access to the many features of the park. Include monitoring and documenting development on lands adjacent to park. Administer commercial licenses and special use permits at a time when commerical uses are increasing.. Service Management

21. Service Management • Hazards • Maintenance

22. Evaluation • Visitor survey to measure the park's performance related to Visitor Satisfaction and Visitor Understanding and Appreciation • “Congressionals”? • Employee Satisfaction • Resource Condition

23. Decision Makes all have different perspectives! • What perspective do you have? • What perspective do your colleagues/peers have? • Assess your personality; take a look at how you process information and the environment you perform the best in. • Myers/Briggs Personality Assessment • Personality test based on Jung - Myers-Briggs typology • Homework: Determine your typology and bring it to class next week.