Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons^™

Building Wellbeing Through Nature And Adventure For Justice-Involved Youth, Lewis Kogan, Meagan Ricks, Janna Coulter, Miranda Margetts, Lori Butterfield, Ben Ukoh-Eke

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Justice-involved youth often experience elevated levels of stress, mental health challenges, and reduced access to positive developmental opportunities. A nature- and adventure-based youth development program designed to strengthen resilience, self-efficacy, nature-connectedness, and well-being among justice-involved youth was piloted in 2025 to address these challenges. Pilot findings indicated improvements in resilience, self-efficacy, hopefulness, and connectedness to nature.

Spring Issue, Volume 36, Number 1

CompassPoint

No abstract provided.

Establishing E-Prodeskel, An Integrated Village Information System For The Empowerment Of The Local Community In Kediri, Ani Budi Astuti, Eni Sumarminingsih, Wayan Firdaus Mahmudy, Maulina Pia Wulandari, Wigbertus Ngabu, Nur Kamilah Sa'diyah, Gusti Ayu Putu Rawi Rotchildi, Izza Lailatul Kasanah, Yusuf Gladiensyah Bihanda, Akbar Satya Nugraha

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

Digital transformation has become an important strategy for strengthening community empowerment by improving access to public information, governance transparency, and village services. However, many rural communities in Indonesia still face challenges in managing accurate village profile data and utilizing digital technologies to support good governance and sustainable development. This study examines a community engagement program in Purwokerto Village, Kediri Regency, Indonesia. The program intended to develop and implement E-ProDesKel (Elektronik Profil Desa Kelurahan or Electronic Village and Wards Profile), a web-based portal for an integrated village profile information system. The program adopted a participatory approach starting from an assessment …

Potential And Promotion Strategies Of “Wisata Alam Ndeso” In Kubu Raya Regency, Siti Fatimah, Fahmi Fahmi, Muhammad Dhafa Ardilinata

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

The development of tourism based on local potential is a key strategy for promoting regional economic growth, including in Kubu Raya Regency. “Wisata Alam Ndeso”, as a nature- and culture-based tourism destination, has considerable potential; however, it still faces various limitations in terms of management and promotion. This study aims to analyze the tourism potential and promotional strategies employed in the development of “Wisata Alam Ndeso”. This research adopts a descriptive qualitative approach, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The informants consist of the owner and a staff member who are directly involved in the management of …

The Virtue Of Hope In Sports Through Spe Salvi And Its Role In Faith, Resilience, And Character Formation In Student-Athletes, Hansson G. Labisig, Arvin D. Eballo

Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies

Pope Benedict XVI, in Spe Salvi, presents hope as a transformative and redemptive virtue that enables believers to live and suffer differently, rooted in faith in God. He writes, “The one who has hope lives differently.” This study develops a theological-pastoral framework for integrating the virtue of hope into the faith formation of student-athletes within Catholic educational institutions, positioning sport as a genuine locus theologicus for Religious Education and evangelization. Employing the See–Judge–Act methodology, it draws from Spe Salvi, Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, and the Vatican document Giving the Best of Yourself, in dialogue with C. R. Snyder’s psychological theory …

Factors Influencing Tourist Interest In Walking Tours In The Kota Tua Area, Novi Handayani, Adrian Hartanto

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study aims to analyze the extent to which the variables of Attraction, Accessibility, Cost and Tarif, Facilities, and Information contribute to Walking tour Interest, both individually (partially) and collectively (simultaneously).  As previous research states that Indonesia has one of the lowest levels of mobility. The average Indonesian walks only 3513 steps per day, while the recommended daily step count for maintaining good health is 5000. This study uses Multiple Linear Regression Analysis as its analysis method using partial hypothesis testing (t-test) and simultaneous hypothesis testing (f-test).. Data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed via Google Form to …

Tracing The Flow Of Value In Ecotourism: A Case Study Of Lekki Conservation Center, Lagos, Nigeria, Queen Oluwatobi Olafadehan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the flow of value in ecotourism at Lekki Conservation Center (LCC) in Lagos, Nigeria, using a political ecology framework to analyze how economic benefits, participation opportunities, and environmental impacts are distributed among different community groups. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 16 community members, participant observation, and photographic documentation, the study investigates how surrounding communities perceive and experience ecotourism, how revenue is understood to be distributed, and in what ways communities are included in or excluded from conservation decision-making. The findings reveal that ecotourism at LCC generates benefits that are unevenly distributed, that community participation in governance remains …

The Impact Of Slow Tourism On The Psychological Well-Being Of Urban Recreational Tourists In Jakarta, Ahmad Ghazy Dananjaya

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study addresses the urgent need for psychological escape among Jakarta's population due to high life pressure, noise pollution, and density. While slow tourism offers tranquility and deep connection, its application in fast-paced metropolitan settings remains under-researched. This study analyzes the impact of Tranquility and Physical Activity Involvement on the Psychological Well-being of urban recreational tourists. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-method design, quantitative data were collected from 200 purposively selected domestic tourists and analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression, followed by in-depth interviews. Surprisingly, statistical results indicate that neither tranquility nor physical activity significantly influences psychological well-being, either simultaneously or partially. …

Post-Revitalization Accessibility Critique: A Case Study Of Tunggang Parangan Cemetery Vs Kelambu Kuning Cemetery, Achmad Ramadhani

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

This study examines the disparity between revitalization objectives and the implementation of comprehensive accessibility in cultural heritage sites in Indonesia. Through a comparative analysis of two recently revitalized pilgrimage sites - the Tomb of Habib Tunggang Parangan and the Tomb of Kelambu Kuning - this research investigates how different revitalization approaches affect accessibility outcomes. The study employs a literature review methodology utilizing digital sources and policy analysis, framed within the 3A tourism framework (Attraction, Accessibility, Amenity). Findings reveal that despite implementing different models - public-private partnership versus government-led development - both sites demonstrate similar deficiencies in implementing comprehensive accessibility principles. …

Wrack Lines Spring-Summer 2026 Volume Number 1, Margaret Cozens, Johann Heupel, Owen Placido, Paul Salopek, Judy Benson

Wrack Lines

“Building community around the places we love,” is the theme of the Spring-Summer 2026 issue of Wrack Lines magazine. Learn about the work of the Six Lakes Park coalition in Hamden, Riverfront Recapture in Hartford, MyCoast in southeastern Connecticut and the statewide land conservation conference. Additional stories tell about the artistry and mission of photographer-videographer Tomas Koeck, and National Geographic explorer Paul Salopek, who is traveling the world on foot.

Erosion And Accretion: Mobilities Of Sand, People, And Memory At Queer Riis Beach, Jah Elyse Sayers

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The People’s Beach at Jacob Riis Park on the Rockaway Peninsula of Queens, New York, is a vibrant place of queer and trans public-space placemaking—and especially Black and working class queer and trans placemaking. A distinct queer ecology emerges in the interplay of the dynamic movement of the barrier island, queer and trans—especially queer and trans Afro-diasporic—mobilities. This queer ecology, while articulated with, also defies and exceeds logics and workings of private property. In response to a convergence of pressures on Black, queer, trans, and working-class placemaking on the beach site in the 2020s, beachgoers have mobilized longstanding provisional socialities …

Goddess In A Trash Can: Religious Ritual Disposal In New York City Public Parks, Zoe Oro-Hahn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Practitioners of Afro-Caribbean religions, including Santería, Vodou, Espiritismo, and Las 21 Divisiones, utilize the New York City Public Parks system to hold rituals, connect with spirits and ancestors, and dispose of religious remains leftover from trabajos (workings) and brujería (witchcraft). Utilizing photos from Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, my thesis considers the religious, political, social, and practical rationale behind this phenomenon, explores the rituals occurring, and provides policy suggestions that balance religious needs of practitioners with the safety and wellbeing of New York City’s parks.

Greenspace Access In The Denver Metro Region: Historical Housing Policy Impact On Modern Greenspace Distribution, Brody Petig, Susan Dagget

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Access to safe, high quality, urban green spaces is widely recognized as a determinant for physical health, mental well-being, and social cohesion. Existing literature has demonstrated that race, age, gender, and socioeconomic status frequently dictate the allocation of resources and shape disparities in access to greenspace. These disparities are also often reflective of historical housing policy and zoning decisions. This paper examines greenspace access in the Denver Metro Region (DMR) and the City and County of Denver (CCD) through a social justice lens, with particular attention to the relationship between historical housing policy and contemporary trends in greenspace distribution and …

Hidden Systems, Samuel Choi

Masters Theses

Across buildings and cities, moisture is managed, concealed, and discharged through convoluted systems of containment. Still, water ultimately resists this framework. It reveals itself as leaks, puddles, condensation—moments typically understood as technical failure. Hidden Systems reframes these conditions as architectural knowledge, one that becomes evidence of water’s material capacity, limits of infrastructure, and a record of time.

NYC is constructed on, powered by, and profiting from water. Although it hosts a robust network, seepages disrupt control, allowing systems to be traced across scales. As pipes expand, contract, and freeze, the project unfolds seasonally, moving through water’s three states: solid, liquid, …

Learned Resilience, Rebeca Ortiz

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Haiti faces a complex web of environmental and social pressures, from deforestation and soil erosion to climate instability and strained institutional support. While regenerative farming and community-led development are often discussed in the context of sustainability, architecture is frequently relegated to the background, treated as a secondary or isolated fix rather than a primary driver of change. My work challenges this by positioning architecture as the central, regenerative framework that weaves together food production, collective learning, and civic life. I see the built environment not just as shelter, but as an active agent for resilience and a sense of belonging. …

Creating A Gis-Based Site Suitability Index For A Major Sports Stadium In Kansas City, Theodore E. Blair

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

There are many considerations taken when siting major sports stadiums. Most literature, though, has focused on the political and economic considerations, the negative outcomes of using public money for private projects. However, geographic considerations play a major part in deciding where to site a stadium. These considerations are wide-ranging and can change with the times. This thesis determines ten modern site suitability criteria, and with them, creates a site suitability index using GIS to determine and quantify more and less suitable areas for stadium development. It applies this index to the Kansas City area, as the city is currently in …

Rooted In Purpose: Understanding Volunteer Motivations And Preferences In University Forest Stewardship, Lydia N. Heisel

All Theses

In an era of growing reliance on community support in public lands, this study explores the relationship between volunteer motivations and preferences for engagement in university forest management. The research draws from survey data collected from visitors to the Clemson University Forest (CUF), a 17,500-acre educational and research forest in South Carolina, incorporating the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) to assess six motivational dimensions alongside preferences for volunteer program structures, activity types, communications, and sustained engagement intentions.

Using quantitative segmentation analysis, this study identified five distinct motivational profiles within the CUF visitor population through k-means cluster analysis of approximately 180 forest …

Fisheasy, Jake Rankin

Presentations - 2026

Problem: 
Inexperienced and experienced anglers lack necessary tools to begin fishing

Motivation:
Fishing is a fun hobby everyone should be able to enjoy – the lack of resources makes that difficult

Solution:
An application that integrates learning tutorials with helpful practices tools for both novice and experienced anglers

The Development Of Poker As A Sport In Japan: Intersections With Culture, Law And Public Administration, And Community, Masatoshi Minowa

Japanese Society and Culture

This study examines the emergence of poker as a competitive mind sport in Japan, a country where strict anti-gambling laws (Penal Code Article 185) prohibit cash wagering. Drawing on secondary materials—including newspaper and magazine reports, and online media—as well as primary data from Poker Guild Corporation and interviews with the Kamiichi Town Planning Division, the research applies established theoretical frameworks (Getz & Page’s event tourism, Putnam’s social capital, Reith’s techno-economic systems) to analyze the distinctive evolution of Japanese poker culture. Findings reveal that tournament‐focused venue operations and the innovative Poker Web Coin system have fostered a nationwide network of skill‐based …

An Expedition To Public Lands: Exploring The Black Hills Region, John Mcdermott

CAFE Symposium 2026

This project explores 4 public land sites in southwestern South Dakota: Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills National Forest, and Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge. I researched each site's most popular recreation activities and contributions to American history, as well as economic data that shows the difference in management strategies between the National Park Service and the US Forest Service.

Expedition To The Public Lands: Northeastern Us, Andrew Distasi

CAFE Symposium 2026

This project takes you to 4 types of America's Public Lands: National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, National Seashore, and National Forests. This trip takes place through a two-week period and three states. I will visit Cape Cod National Seashore, White Mountain National Forest, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and it will end in Acadia National Park. At each stop on the trip, I will be looking at "What to Do", the "History", and "Logistics" of each place. There is also one data analysis, done for Acadia National Park. Lastly, I also go over a unique management issue involving White …

2026, Aca Camp Research Forum Book Of Abstracts, American Camp Association

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

This book includes 20 abstracts that will be presented at the 2026 American Camp Association (ACA) Research Forum to be held during the ACA annual conference from February 17-20, 2026, in San Diego, California. Abstracts have been grouped into similar areas and will be presented across five verbal sessions (i.e., camper outcomes, specialty programming, camp staffing, camp administration, and medical/health for youth and families) and one poster session.

Betting On Inclusion? The Ethical Dilemma Of Funding An Inclusive Playground, Jason W. Lee, John J. Miller Dr., Tasha Hyder

The COSMA Journal

This teaching case study provides an insightful exploration into multifaceted aspects of sport and recreation management. It narrates a fictionalized account enriched with real-life details, focusing on Rhonda Harper, a respected parks and recreation professional leading an initiative to fund an inclusive playground. While this endeavor has garnered support from local citizens, civic leaders, businesses, and children's advocates, raising the necessary $200,000 has proven to be challenging. A profound dilemma emerges when considering a potential $40,000 donation from a local gaming resort. Although this contribution could secure the needed funding for this initiative, it presents intricacies associated with the ethical …

Airbnb And The End Of The Local, Nadia Beyersdorf

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how second-home ownership and self-catered tourism reshape community life in Tenby, Wales. While gentrification research often focuses on permanent displacement, less attention has been given to the movement of temporary residents that erodes local culture, social ties, and transforms everyday relationships in coastal towns.

Swimming In Uncertainty: Filling Data Gaps And Providing An Educational Platform For Beach Water Quality At Tybee Island, Georgia, Lukas Roberson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

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Swimming in beaches water contaminated with high levels of bacteria can make you sick. Current monitoring at the public beaches on Tybee Island consists of weekly monitoring and enumeration of fecal indicator bacteria that takes 24 hours for results. If the number of bacteria exceed regulatory limits, a public health advisory is issued, and affected waters are retested until …

Understanding Motivations And Health Outcomes Of College-Aged Triathletes During Covid-19: A Mixed-Methods Study, Patrick Wilson, Eddie Hill, Justin Haegele, Xihe Zhu

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

A triathlon is a multi-sport event that consists of three simultaneous events: swimming, biking, and running. This sport has experienced significant growth in the past few decades, with colleges and universities now participating. This exploratory mixed-methods study examined the motivations and perceived health benefits of college triathletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, using the Means-Ends of Recreation Scale and the Perceived Health Outcomes of Recreation Scale (N = 29), as well as semi-structured interviews (N = 4). Results indicate no difference in motives or health outcomes between male and female survey respondents. The thematic analysis of open-ended interview questions highlighted lived …

Ach Health Hotline: Summary 2025

CompassPoint

Each summer, camp health and leadership teams encounter a wide range of challenges that reflect the complexities of creating safe, supportive environments for young people. Camps experience moments of uncertainty—health concerns, behavioral issues, environmental emergencies, and emotional struggles. The Alliance for Camp Health (ACH) Health Hotline is a vital resource supporting camps by offering real-time guidance, reassurance, and problem-solving.

This summer’s hotline calls tell the stories of how health staff navigated physical health challenges, from directors seeking clarity regarding care protocols to communities facing natural disasters, heat waves, and unexpected illnesses. Each caller received support, encouragement, and guidance to improve …

Camp Staff Self-Care: What Are We Encouraging, What Are We Observing?, Megan Owens, Alexandra Skrocki, Melissa Van Scoy

CompassPoint

Self-care is widely discussed within nursing literature, most often referencing a patient’s ability to care for themselves or address their own needs when dealing with chronic illnesses and diseases (Kickbusch, 1989; McCormack, 2003). Social movements related to women’s empowerment, health and wellness, and the COVID-19 pandemic expanded this research toward understanding how self-care practices combat stress and negative emotions among employees in helping professions (Martinez et al., 2021). Summer camp work may be considered a helping profession given the level of care and responsibility attributed to camp staff.

Research Note: Research Literacy

CompassPoint

Camp healthcare providers must rely on current, rapidly changing, and discipline-specific scientific evidence to care for individuals, families, and communities. Healthcare providers for camps face challenges in finding and using research evidence to inform their practice in the moment of need, in part because of the unique characteristics of their care settings. In fall of 2023, the Alliance for Camp Health (ACH) Research Committee conducted a study to determine the most frequent barriers to research utilization reported by camp healthcare providers and administrators. The study identified barriers that the researchers then classified into four categories: personal characteristics of the providers, …

Part I: Building Stronger Camp Communities Through Motivation As A Connected Process, Kelley Freridge

CompassPoint

Every summer, millions of children, youth, and young adult staff members gather in camp communities seeking adventures, community, and growth. They arrive carrying stories of who they are and who they might become. While some camp professionals have explored the existing research on motivation, many still struggle with this question: how do we move beyond temporary, programmatic reward-driven compliance or temporary entertainment-centered enthusiasm to spark genuine, sustained engagement that transforms both individuals and the community?