Outdoor Recreation

Book Review. Laviolette, P., Extreme Landscapes of Leisure: Not a Hap-Hazardous Sport. London: Ashgate, 2010

by Jonathan Westaway

Book Review
Journal of Tourism History, 2012, 4, (1), 118-120.
DOI:10.1080/1755182X.2012.671498

Climbing High or Falling Flat? Representations of Female Rock Climbers in Climbing Magazine (1991-2004)

by Journal of Research on Women and Gender

Sarah Vodden-McKay, Sonoma State University, California,
and “Beez” Lea Ann Schell, SUNY-Fredonia, New York

Rock climbing and mountaineering have historically been viewed as “male only endeavors” which are too strenuous and... more Rock climbing and mountaineering have historically been viewed as “male only endeavors” which are too strenuous and too dangerous to be undertaken by women. However, since the 1970s, more women have joined the climbing community and have pushed the limits of difficulty once thought to be unattainable. Although still a minority, women do engage in this athletic endeavor yet receive little or no attention in the media for their successes. Climbing magazine is the longest running and most widely circulated publication in the United States that is dedicated solely to reporting on rock climbing and mountaineering. The purpose of this study was to analyze the way in which female rock climbers are represented in Climbing magazine by investigating the publication‟s feature articles and photographs over a 14-year time period, 1991-2004. Results suggest that the few images and descriptors of female climbers in Climbing work to “normalize” the female climbers as “real” women by emphasizing their heterosexuality and domesticity, highlighting their feminine physique, and infantilizing them as a means to disempower.

Rights of public access to the foreshore: A study of public awareness and opinions: Summer Research Scholarship Report

by Brendan Doody

This study examines the way a sample of Christchurch residents use the foreshore for outdoor recreation, how they... more This study examines the way a sample of Christchurch residents use the foreshore for outdoor recreation, how they perceive their access rights and what they think about proposed foreshore and access initiatives. It responds to recent events that have highlighted the importance of access rights to New Zealanders, specifically the foreshore debate. The Land Access Ministerial Reference Group report released in August 2003 was an additional catalyst. The study has three objectives: 1. To investigate the public’s use of, and need for, access to the foreshore; 2. To gain an understanding of what the Christchurch sample population know about their access rights to the foreshore; and 3. To determine what opinions the public hold about the Government’s proposed public domain foreshore land tenure and the ‘solutions’ suggested by the Land Access Ministerial Reference Group (LAMRG) report. A questionnaire survey of 300 Christchurch residents was conducted in December 2003 to investigate these objectives.

Rights of public access to the foreshore: a study of public awareness and opinions

by Brendan Doody

Doody, B. J. & Booth, K. L. (2006). "Rights of public access in New Zealand: Public opinion about foreshore access and proposals to improve land access." Annals of Leisure Research 9(1-2): 62-85.

The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, and the foreshore in... more The New Zealand government has initiated new policy for the public’s rights of access to land, and the foreshore in particular. Despite this policy activity, little is known about the public’s views on their access rights. A survey of 300 Christchurch residents examined respondents’ use of, and need for, access to the foreshore, their knowledge of foreshore access rights, and opinions about selected access policy proposals. Results show that respondents highly value the foreshore for recreational purposes and expect to be able to go there without charge. Most believe the foreshore should be in public ownership. Knowledge of access rights was found to be low, suggesting policy should place emphasis on improving public knowledge and awareness about access to existing recreational resources rather than increasing the extent of the accessible resource. General support was given for a range of land access policy proposals, including greater portrayal of access information on maps and on-site access signposting; however, the likely effectiveness of such proposals is less certain.

Balancing more than backpacks: Communitarian ideas applied to educational expeditions

by Jerry Isaak

Sustainability in Outdoor Education: Rethinking Root Metaphors

by Jeff Rose

Cachelin, A., Rose, J., Dustin, D., & Shooter, W.

Recognizing that behavior comes not only from understanding, but also from attitudes cultivated in outdoor settings... more Recognizing that behavior comes not only from understanding, but also from attitudes cultivated in outdoor settings that elicit visceral feelings toward nature, outdoor educators have
unique opportunities to make sustainability comprehensive, accessible, and relevant. Yet the principal metaphor underlying outdoor education in general, and the Leave No Trace (LNT)
program in particular, may be counterproductive to fostering environmentally and socially responsible behavior. We attribute this possibility to the prevailing "humans as apart from
nature" metaphor underpinning LNT and recommend it be replaced by a "humans as a part of nature" metaphor grounded in heightened ecological understanding. We contrast the tenets of LNT with those of As Sustainable As Possible and Conscious Impact Living, and with the work of ecologists and critical educators to illustrate the practical implications of our point of view. We conclude by suggesting that outdoor educators are well-suited to lead the proposed linguistic, metaphorical, and pedagogical shifts towards better encompass humankind‘s relationships in the natural world. In so doing, we hope to encourage dialogue about the unique opportunities outdoor educators have to shape an ecologically literate citizenry prepared to make environmentally responsible choices in all dimensions of their lives.

Potential for excellence: Interdisciplinary learning outdoors as a moral enterprise

by Pete Allison

Allison, P., Carr, D. & Meldrum, G. (2012). Potential for excellence: Interdisciplinary learning outdoors as a moral enterprise. The Curriculum Journal, 23(1), 43-58. Doi .org/10.1080/09585176.2012.650469

The Void Underfoot - Caves in America

by Emerson Andrews

Caves are explored in three different perspectives: recreation, biology, and meaning. In 2007 the European introduced... more Caves are explored in three different perspectives: recreation, biology, and meaning. In 2007 the European introduced White-Nose Syndrome started it's rampage on hibernating bat species in North America. In 2009 John Jones tragically dies while recreating in Nutty Putty cave. The piece uses my own caving experience with a man who was involved with the failed rescue attempt at Nutty Putty in 2007 to elucidate the connections that these two events have. The piece asks questions about meaning. What do caves mean ecologically? What do Bats mean ecologically? What do caves mean for us both ecologically and culturally? Finally it examines what options we have when faced with death in the dark places of our world, and what that means for the surface.

The Role Of VGI And PGI In Supporting Outdoor Activities

by Christopher Parker

Paper with editor ahead of publication in Applied Ergonomics

Co-authored with May, A. and Mitchell, V.

This paper explored the question of how volunteered and professional geographic information (VGI and PGI) can be used... more This paper explored the question of how volunteered and professional geographic information (VGI and PGI) can be used together in an outdoor recreation context. In particular, consideration is given to what makes each information source valuable to the user, and how this can be used to help developers of GIS provide more useful, usable and satisfying products. The assumption that VGI is inferior to PGI is shown to be unfounded; rather each has its own strengths in describing particular aspects of the user information landscape. Considering the opportunities to influence user activities, both VGI and PGI have a greater ability to influence the user in the planning phase than actually during the activity. The importance of the author of the information (volunteer or professional) is shown to be of less importance to the end-user than the characteristics which describe the information in terms of communication, frequency of updates and accessibility.

Random Regret Minimization: Exploration of a new Choice Model for Environmental and Resource Economics

by Marco Boeri

Co-authored with M. Thiene and C. Chorus, published in 2011, Environmental and Resource Economics (online first DOI: 10.1007/s10640-011-9505-7).

This paper introduces the discrete choice model-paradigm of Random Regret Minimization (RRM) to the field of... more This paper introduces the discrete choice model-paradigm of Random Regret Minimization (RRM) to the field of environmental and resource economics. The RRMapproach has been very recently developed in the context of travel demand modelling and
presents a tractable, regret-based alternative to the dominant choice-modelling paradigm based on Random Utility Maximization-theory (RUM-theory). We highlight how RRMbased models provide closed form, logit-type formulations for choice probabilities that allow for capturing semi-compensatory ehaviour and choice set-composition effects while being equally parsimonious as their utilitarian counterparts. Using data from a Stated Choiceexperiment aimed at identifying valuations of characteristics of nature parks, we compare RRM-based models and RUM-based models in terms of parameter estimates, goodness of fit, elasticities and consequential policy implications.

Site choices in recreational demand: a matter of utility maximization or regret minimization?

by Marco Boeri

Co-authored with A. Longo, E. Doherty and S. Hynes. in press in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy. final version available online. DOI:10.1080/21606544.2011.640844

This paper compares the Random Regret Minimization and the Random Utility Maximization models for determining... more This paper compares the Random Regret Minimization and the Random Utility Maximization models for determining recreational choice. The Random Regret approach is based on the idea that, when choosing, individuals aim to minimize their regret – regret being defined as what one experiences when a non-chosen alternative in a choice set performs better than a chosen one in relation to one or more attributes. The Random Regret paradigm, recently developed in transport economics, presents a tractable, regret-based alternative to the dominant choice paradigm based on Random Utility. Using data from a travel cost study exploring factors that influence kayakers’ site-choice decisions in the Republic of Ireland, we estimate both the traditional Random Utility multinomial logit model (RU-MNL) and the Random Regret multinomial logit model (RR-MNL) to gain more insights into site choice decisions. We further explore whether choices are driven by a utility maximization or a regret minimization paradigm by running a binary logit model to examine the likelihood of the two decision choice paradigms using site visits and respondents characteristics as explanatory variables. In addition to being one of the first studies to apply the RR-MNL to an environmental good, this paper also represents the first application of the RR-MNL to compute the Logsum to test and strengthen conclusions on welfare impacts of potential alternative policy scenarios.

Distribution of recreational boating across lakes: do landscape variables affect recreational use?

by David Lewis

Tara Reed-Andersen, Elena M. Bennett, Bradley S. Jorgensen, George Lauster, David Bruce Lewis, David Nowacek, Joan L. Riera, Beth L. Sanderson, and Richard Stedman
Freshwater Biology (2000) 43:439–448

1. Because people impact lake ecosystems, it is important to consider factors influencing the human use of freshwater... more 1. Because people impact lake ecosystems, it is important to consider factors influencing the human use of freshwater resources. We investigated the influence of the landscape position, as well as lake area, recreational facilities, and distance to highways and urban centres, on lake use by boaters in the Northern Highland Lake District of Wisconsin, U.S.A.
2. In aerial surveys of ninety-nine randomly selected lakes, we did not see boats on over half of the lakes. Of the lakes with boats, we found a strong correlation between the number of boats and lake area. Recreational boats tended to be found on large, accessible lakes with good boating facilities. Boats were not seen on small, stained lakes with few recreational facilities.
3. Regression models showed that lake size and landscape position explained 63% of the variability in the average number of boats per lake and landscape position explained 24% of the variability in boat density on all ninety-nine lakes. Social variables representing the quality of boating facilities and the perception of good fishing explained 70% of the variability in number of boats per lake and 54% of the variation in boat density on all lakes. A combined model using both physical and social variables increased the explanatory power for both number and density. Lake use by boaters was correlated with landscape position, the quality of fishing and the availability of recreational facilities. When the analysis was restricted to the forty-six lakes where boats were found, only the availability of recreational facilities proved a significant predictor of boat density.
4. Our results suggest that lake choice by recreational boaters may be best predicted by a combination of the location of a lake in a regional hydrologic landscape, and considerations of available facilities and perceptions regarding fishing.

Environmental threat perceptions and nature-based recreation in Canada

by Murray Rudd

Rudd, M.A., 2011. Environmental threat perceptions and nature-based recreation in Canada. Environment Department, University of York, York. Working paper.

The culture that constrains: Experience of "nature" as part of a wilderness trip

by Randolph Haluza-DeLay

Journal of Experiential Education (1999).

An ethnography of a teen wilderness trip. Focus is on cultural domains by which "nature" is understood. The... more An ethnography of a teen wilderness trip. Focus is on cultural domains by which "nature" is understood. The social group took preemince such that a potentially powerful wilderness expereince became 'merely' the backdrop for the social encounter.

The Impact of Nassau Grouper Size and Abundance on Scuba Diver Site Selection and MPA Economics

by Murray Rudd

Rudd, M. A., and M. H. Tupper. 2002. The impact of Nassau grouper size and abundance on scuba diver site selection and MPA economics. Coastal Management 30:133-151.

Since many fisheries are size-selective, the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) is expected to increase... more Since many fisheries are size-selective, the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) is expected to increase both the average size and abundance of exploited species, such as the valuable but vulnerable Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus). Increases in mean size and/or abundance of protected species within MPAs may also provide nonextractive economic value to recreationalists. In this research, we assessed scuba diver preferences for viewing Nassau grouper and the marginal tradeoffs that divers exhibited between fish size and abundance and between dive group size and price in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We used results from a paired comparison conjoint survey to develop market share simulations of dive site choice. Market shares increased significantly for sites with increased Nassau grouper abundance and mean size. This implies that Nassau groupers provide nonextractive economic value to divers. Our results suggest that accounting for the nonextractive value of increased fish abundance and size may influence the economic viability of MPAs.

Multicriteria sustainability assessment in transport planning for recreational travel

by Joseph Chow

Chow, J.Y.J., Hernandez, S.V., Bhagat, A., McNally, M.G., Multicriteria sustainability assessment in transport planning for recreational travel, International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, in press, doi:10.1080/15568318.2011.654177.

A transport planning framework is considered that incorporates a multi-criteria, composite sustainability index (CSI)... more A transport planning framework is considered that incorporates a multi-criteria, composite sustainability index (CSI) with elastic decision-maker preferences, and applied to a case study of an outdoor recreational destination. A stated preference survey is conducted on transit alternatives to access the U.S. Mojave National Preserve from Barstow, California, located 160 kilometers away. A binary logit model is developed to relate policy variables to sustainability dimensions. A revised CSI is applied to evaluate eight alternatives under three decision-making schemes. Findings suggest that a zero-emissions train service with two round trips per day is preferred over the other alternatives under all three schemes.

Promoting awareness for community recreation: A case of Shah Alam Malaysia

by Kamarul Bahrain Shuib

Co-authored with Habsah Hashim

This paper attempts to explore the possibility of introducing and promoting community recreation. The study analyzes... more This paper attempts to explore the possibility of introducing and promoting community recreation. The study analyzes park and recreational areas within central Shah Alam, covering section 2 until section 24.  Community recreation involves positive discrimination i.e. meeting the needs of particular interest groups; decentralization of services; community development and integration of services.  Leisure and recreation are viewed not only in terms of sports, but also at the wider scale to cover arts and crafts, cultural heritage, nature and local features etc. 

(Des)informacao profissional e atividades de aventura: focalizando os guias de rafting

by Sandro Carnicelli Filho

Revista Brasileira de Educacao Fisica e Esporte

Fear and Adventure Tourism in Brazil

by Sandro Carnicelli Filho

The search for new non-routine emotions and sensations has become a decisive factor in taking part in adventure... more The search for new non-routine emotions and sensations has become a decisive factor in taking part in adventure tourism. As Barros and Dines (2000) have pointed out, Brazil’s natural resources are abundant and have been widely used to promote the nation’s tourism. Empirical literature describes fear as one of the main emotions in adventure activities, and for this reason a questionnaire was designed to examine
the presence of fear before and after three adventure activities (parachuting, white-water rafting, and rock-climbing). This study not only aimed to consolidate fear as a fundamental emotion in performing such activities but also to stimulate interest for further studies in this area.

Rafting Guides: Leisure, work and lifestyle

by Sandro Carnicelli Filho

The division between work and leisure has long been a point of
significant discussion in a variety of academic... more The division between work and leisure has long been a point of
significant discussion in a variety of academic disciplines. This paper analyses the relationship between work and leisure for rafting guides, linking these topics with an overarching concept of lifestyle. This paper is based on six weeks of fieldwork conducted in Queenstown, New Zealand, where the researcher had in-depth contact with 26 rafting guides, following their workdays and leisure activities and using informal conversations and participant observation as methods
of data collection. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of how rafting guides combine leisure, work, responsibilities, friendship and hierarchy in an environment where, usually, their inner personality is reflected. While focused on rafting guides, the results of this paper have implications for understanding the complexity of the wider relationship between work, leisure, and individual lifestyle, beyond the classic dichotomy between work and leisure.