Leisure Studies Commons^™

A Grounded Theory Of Chinese Students' Leisure Behavior In American University, Xi Y. Leung, Kurt Stahura

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

The number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States increased to a record high of 623,805 in the 2007/08 academic year (Institute of International Education, 2008). Among them, 81,127 (13%) students were from China, which is the second- leading place of origin for students coming to the United States, trailing only India (Institute of International Education, 2008). Due to the importance of international students to culturally diverse make-up of colleges and universities, American institutions have developed support services to assist international students with a variety of special needs ranging from adjusting to the academic requirements, to …

Montana Poll: 1992-2009 Resident's Attitudes Toward Tourism & 2009 Resident Prioritites , Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

In each of the past three strategic plans for Montana’s Travel and Tourism Industry, one goal has been to understand and then facilitate improved attitudes toward tourism in the state. ITRR has contributed to the understanding of resident attitudes by polling Montana residents about their attitudes and opinions regarding tourism since 1991. This report looks at the trends of these attitudes over the past 17 years.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Quarterly Travel Comparison: 2008, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the 2008 quarterly visitation and length of stay data for nonresident travelers to Montana. It also displays average daily spending for various expenditure categories, as well as total expenditures for those categories.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditure Trends: 1999-2009, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the nonresident traveler expenditure trends for visitors of Montana from 1999-2009. It also displays the total actual expenditures and the total inflation-adjusted expenditures.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Quarterly Travel Comparison: 2009, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the 2009 quarterly visitation and length of stay data for nonresident travelers to Montana. It also displays average daily spending for various expenditure categories, as well as total expenditures for those categories.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditure Trends: 1998-2008, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the nonresident traveler expenditure trends for visitors of Montana from 1998-2008. It also displays the total actual expenditures and the total inflation-adjusted expenditures.

Fire Effects On Wildlife In Tallgrass Prairie, Maria Gaetani, Kayla Cook, Sherry Leis

United States National Park Service: Publications

Abstract

In the tallgrass prairie region of North America, grasslands are often burned on a rotational schedule to prevent the encroachment of woody species and maintain the vigor of plant communities. Although prescribed fire practitioners often consider the effects of fire on plant communities, the effects of fire on wildlife are also important. Practitioners as well as park visitors inquire about the effects of fire on birds, deer, and other animals of interest. Many wildlife species focus on vegetation structure in choosing suitable habitats, and fire can temporarily alter that structure. Wildlife species have varying habitat needs, and therefore, a …

Northern Great Plains Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan, Robert A. Gitzen, Marcia Wilson, United States National Park Service, Northern Great Plains Inventory And Monitoring Network, Mike Bynum, John Wrede, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Kara J. Paintner

United States National Park Service: Publications

Executive Summary

The condition of natural resources in parks and other units of the National Park Service (NPS) is fundamental to this agency’s mission to manage park resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Park managers are increasingly confronted with complex and challenging resource management issues and need a broad-based understanding of the status and trends of park resources for the long-term protection of park ecosystems. The National Park Service has initiated a long-term ecological “Vital Signs” monitoring program to provide the minimum infrastructure needed to track the overall condition of natural resources in parks and to provide early …

Revised Relative Abundance Estimates And Temporal Activity Of Bats At Three Great Lakes National Parks Based On Acoustic Data, Bruce W. Miller

United States National Park Service: Publications

Abstract

In this study, Miller re-analyzed acoustic bat data collected from June-August 2003 that was part of a baseline inventory of bat species in three national parks in the Lake Superior region. While the original study presented base-line data on the presence/absence of bat species in these parks, this reanalysis provides estimates of relative abundance and temporal activity of the identified species. Using a suite of recently developed acoustic analysis tools, Miller created species specific filters. This allowed parsing of calls from non-fragmented sequences and differentiate between two species, Myotis septentrionalis and Myotis lucifugus, that were combined into a …

Statewide Vacationers To Montana: Are They Geotravelers? , Dylan Boyle, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Nonresident vacationers in Montana were surveyed concerning their geotraveler behaviors as well as what was important to them while traveling in Montana. The study found that vacationers do exhibit geotraveler tendencies and can be divided into strong and moderate geotravelers. Strong geotravelers represent 34 percent of vacationers, and they were the youngest, most educated, and most affluent group.

Editors' Introduction And Acknowledgements, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors (Ceo)

Research in Outdoor Education

The article offers information related to papers that were published in the publication "Research in Outdoor Education" Volume 10, as well as acknowledging the efforts of all who contributed to the publication.

Front Matter, Coalition For Education In The Outdoors (Ceo)

Research in Outdoor Education

The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors is a network of institutions, organizations, agencies, centers, businesses, and associations linked and communicating in support of the broad purposed of education in, for , and about the outdoors. The Coalitions assists in identifying the needs of its affiliates in meeting their various constituent needs, as well as advancing the mission of outdoor education globally.

A Research Task Force was initiated by the Coalition in 1990 with the purpose of supporting the conduct of research in the field and dissemination of the results. The symposium at Bradford Woods and this publication offer evidence …

Preface, Anderson B. Young

Research in Outdoor Education

A preface to the journal "Research in Outdoor Education," volume 10 is presented by the author on behalf of the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) Research Committee.

Measuring Positive Youth Development At Summer Camp: Problem Solving And Camp Connectedness, Jim Sibthorp, Laurie Brown, M. Deborah Bialeschki

Research in Outdoor Education

While research on summer camps has generally supported the benefits of organized camping for youth, increasing pressure exists for camps to document outcomes to stakeholders and to base their practices on evidence. This paper discusses the theoretical and empirical development of two measures relevant to these needs: Problem Solving Confidence and Camp Connectedness. The process of scale development included reviewing conceptual and theoretical literature as it related to camp settings. Items based on the relevant content domains were then generated, reviewed by experts, and pilot tested with 557 campers. Evidence from this pilot study suggests that both measures may be …

The Importance Of Trust In Outdoor Education: Exploring The Relationship Between Trust In Outdoor Leaders And Developmental Outcomes, Wynn Shooter, Jim Sibthorp, John Gookin

Research in Outdoor Education

Recent studies have acknowledged the influence of the leader in the outdoor education process and have illuminated the need for strong interpersonal relationships between participants and leaders. Developing interpersonal trust is one among many ways that leaders can promote such positive interpersonal relationships between themselves and participants. Transdisciplinary literature suggests that trust in a leader can predict outcomes that are important to outdoor education. This study found a positive relationship between trust in outdoor leaders and the course outcomes of leadership development and outdoor skills development among students of National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) courses. Implications for program implementation and …

Resilience As Experienced By Environmental Educators, Kelly Henderson, Timothy S. O'Connell

Research in Outdoor Education

This study examined resilience as experienced by environmental educators in the face of growing environmental adversity. Through in-depth interviews, this hermeneutical study sheds light on the environmental factors and internal competencies that contribute to resilience in seven environmental educators. Additionally, the interaction between these factors and competencies (known as the person/environment transactional process) is explored. Kumpfer's (1999) Resilience Framework provides the organizational framework for the results of this study.

Fostering Leadership Through A Three-Week Experience: Does Outdoor Education Make A Difference?, Alan Ewert, Jillisa Overholt

Research in Outdoor Education

Leadership is one of the principal goals and desired outcomes from participation for many outdoor education programs. This study examines the effectiveness of a short-term expedition-based outdoor experience on the leadership skill level of program participants. Results demonstrate a significant increase in self-reported leadership skills over time for the treatment group, p < .001, as well as a significant difference in leadership skill levels between the treatment group and the control group, p < .05. It is argued that outdoor education settings offer the types of hands-on and diverse experiential leadership development opportunities that are often lacking in other leadership development realms. Building on current leadership theory, implications for outdoor leadership training programs are discussed and several models of outdoor leadership skill development are presented.

Re-Thinking Group Development In Adventure Programming: A Qualitative Examination, Levi Dexel, Bruce Martin, Laura Black, Aiko Yoshino

Research in Outdoor Education

The purpose of the study was to re-examine the efficacy of Tuckman's (1965) model of group development in adventure programming. More specifically, the researchers were interested in comparing Tuckman's traditional sequential model to more contemporary non-sequential and integrative models that have emerged as alternative ways to conceptualize the process of group development. The researchers used a case study approach (Merriam, 2001) and techniques characteristic of naturalistic inquiry (Lincoln & Guba, 1985) to explore the nature of group development among participants in a weeklong sea kayaking expedition. The researchers concluded that more contemporary models of group development more accurately explained the …

Children's Perceptions Of An Environmental Leadership Program: Camp 2 Grow, Karla Henderson, Barry Garst, M. Deborah Bialeschki, David Santucci

Research in Outdoor Education

Nature-deficit disorder has been highlighted as a concern for today's children. Organized camps for children have traditionally been associated with nature-based opportunities. However, the role that camps have in developing an appreciation for the outdoors and environmental stewardship has not been documented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate youths' perceived connections to nature resulting from a pilot test of a leadership and environmental stewardship program (i.e., Camp 2 Grow) undertaken at organized resident camps during the summer of 2009. Qualitative analyses of personal reflection journals were used. Campers recognized through this program that having the freedom to enjoy …

Longitudinal Participant Outcomes Associated With Outward Bound And National Outdoor Leadership School: A Means-End Investigation, Marni Goldenberg, Katherine Soule, Jason Cummings, Dan Pronsolino

Research in Outdoor Education

Means-end theory was used to analyze differences in outcomes from original and follow-up interviews occurring over the three subsequent years after Outward Bound (OB) and National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course participation. In 2006, a semi-structured, in-person interview was conducted after participants (N=510) completed their course. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of original participants. Results of this study show how OB and NOLS programs continue to increase participant self-respect, self-esteem, and self-confidence, provide a sense of accomplishment, and impart transferable lessons and skills three years after course participation. Understanding such participant …