FOR251 Recreation Resource Management

Explore the concepts, theory, and issues behind how natural resources and cultural sites are conserved and managed for outdoor recreation, including planning and operations for long-term sustainability

 

Course Outcomes:

  • Define recreation and discuss the trends, historical context, principles and philosophy that have shaped the field of recreational resource management;
  • Relate ways in which social conflict and resource values affect recreation use demands, agency missions, environmental considerations, and political interests;
  • List and describe the role of agencies and interest groups in the provision and management of recreation in outdoor settings;
  • Describe and provide examples of positive and negative social, cultural and ecological impacts of recreation;
  • Analyze and apply concepts, theories, and tools for recreation resource management (e.g. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum System, Limits of Acceptable Change, carrying capacity, Beneficial Outcomes Approach to Leisure, Benefits-Based Management and other current approaches);
  • Relate knowledgeably the issues of, opportunities in, and challenges facing recreation;
  • Analyze techniques for influencing and managing visitor behavior;
  • Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models, and solutions and generate further questions;
  • Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and
  • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.

 

Weekly Course Outline:

  • Foundations and Historical Context of Recreation
  • Trends and Recreation Legislation
  • Land and Water Resources for Outdoor Recreation
  • Recreation Resources and Providers
  • Public Sector Providers of Recreation
  • Private and Non-Profit Providers of Recreation
  • Managing Recreation Opportunities
  • Policy, Management and Admin. of Recreation
  • Intro to the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
  • Systems of Recreation Management
  • Science-Based Management of Recreation Resources (ABM, EBM, BBM, VRM, ROS)
  • Recreation Planning and Education
  • Managing Recreation Opportunities
  • Recreation Impacts, Conflicts and Issues
  • Influencing and Managing Visitor Behavior
  • Beneficial Outcomes Approach to Leisure (BOAL)
  • Collaboration, Partnerships and Citizen Involvement
  • Economics of Recreation
  • Current Issues in Recreation