Expanding Reach of Extension Programming Through Partnerships with State Park Naturalists

Partnerships between natural resources agencies and Extension have existed for years and Extension has served in many roles. These roles include writing grants, facilitating meetings, training, and designing collaborative programming. Herein, we highlight a partnership between Purdue Extension and the Indiana Division of State Parks (IDSP) where Purdue Extension used an existing partnership to create programming about eastern hellbenders in a format presentable by interpretive naturalists, Extension educators, and K-12 teachers. The program increased pre/post knowledge gain scores for attendees by 129.27%. This model has successfully expanded Purdue Extension’s outreach efforts while satisfying a need expressed by IDSP. Forming reciprocal partnerships with nontraditional partners can have a tremendous positive impact on the success of outreach and education efforts.

Redwood National and State Parks: Geologic resources inventory report

Comprehensive park management to fulfill the NPS mission requires an accurate inventory of the geologic features of a park unit, but Comprehensive park management to fulfill the NPS mission requires an accurate inventory of the geologic features of a park unit, but park managers may not have the needed information, geologic expertise, or means to complete such an undertaking; therefore, the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) provides information and resources to help park managers make decisions for visitor safety, planning and protection of infrastructure, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. Information in the GRI report may also be useful for interpretation. park managers may not have the needed information, geologic expertise, or means to complete such an undertaking; therefore, the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) provides information and resources to help park managers make decisions for visitor safety, planning and protection of infrastructure, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. Information in the GRI report may also be useful for interpretation. This report synthesizes discussions from a scoping meeting for Redwood National and State Parks (referred to as the “parks” throughout this report) held in 2004 and a follow-up conference call in 2019. Two GRI–compiled GIS data sets of the geology and geohazards of the parks are the principal deliverables of the GRI. The GRI GIS data are available on the GRI publications website http://go.nps.gov/gripubs and through the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) portal https://irma.nps.gov/App/Portal/Home. Enter “GRI” as the search text and select a park from the unit list. Writing of this report was based on those data and the interpretations of the source map authors (see “GRI Products” and “Acknowledgements”). A geologic map poster illustrates the geology GRI GIS data set and serves as a primary figure for this GRI report. No poster was prepared for the geohazards GRI GIS data set. Additionally, figure 7 of this report illustrates the locations of the major geologic features in the parks. Unlike the poster, which is divided into a northern and southern portion to show detail while accommodating the parks’ length, figure 7 is a single-page, simplified map. The features labeled on figure 7 are discussed in the “Geologic History, Features, and Processes” chapter. To provide a context of geologic time, this report includes a geologic time scale (see "Geologic History, Features, and Processes"). The parks’ geologic story encompasses 200 million years, starting in the Jurassic Period. Following geologic practice, the time scale is set up like a stratigraphic column, with the oldest units at the bottom and the youngest units at the top. Organized in this manner, the geologic time scale table shows the relative ages of the rock units that underlie the parks and the unconsolidated deposits that lie at the surface. Reading the “Geologic Event” column in the table, from bottom to top, will provide a chronologic order of the parks’ geologic history. The time scale includes only the map units within the parks that also appear on the geologic map poster; that is, map units of the geohazards data are not included. Geology is a complex science with many specialized terms. This report provides definitions of geologic terms at first mention, typically in parentheses following the term. Geologic units in the GRI GIS data are referenced in this report using map unit symbols; for example, map unit KJfrc stands for the Cretaceous (K) and Jurassic (J) Franciscan Complex (f), Redwood Creek schist (rc), which underlies a portion of the Redwood Creek watershed (see “GRI Products”).

The Sandhill Crane State: A Naturalist’s Guide to Nebraska

This book includes the locations, descriptions, and points of biological, historical, geological, or paleontological interest of nearly 350 sites in Nebraska, most of which are free to access. Its 53,000 words include accounts of 9 state historical parks, 8 state parks, 2 national forests, 2 national monuments, and 7 national wildlife refuges as well as 181 wildlife management areas, 56 waterfowl production areas, and 54 state recreation areas. It also includes 48 state and county maps, 18 drawings, 33 photographs, and nearly 200 literature citations.

Geocaching in Texas state parks: a technology readiness analysis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to apply the triangle model of technology and the technology readiness index (TRI) in a qualitative study design to explore the geocaching phenomenon in state parks. Design/methodology/approach A framework was developed to examine the triangular relationships between the park, geocaching and visitors. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Texas state park officials. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Findings Three types of interactions (i.e. park-visitor, visitor-technology and park-technology) were identified. Although geocaching leads to positive recreational experiences for park visitors, the study also revealed the decreasing popularity of geocaching along with park officials’ apprehension regarding the placement of caches. The findings suggest that Texas state parks fall within the “Avoiders” stage in terms of technology readiness because of a low level of optimism and innovation and a high level of discomfort and insecurity toward geocaching technology. Originality/value The study contributes to the extant literature by adding new knowledge regarding geocaching in the context of state parks. This study is one of the first to apply the triangle model of technology to examine the trilateral relationships between parks, geocaching and visitors. The study also innovatively adopts the TRI in a qualitative study to identify the technology readiness stage of state parks.

Mapping Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus Risk on Equestrian Trails in Florida State Parks

Equestrian trail riding is a popular recreational activity but can expose horses and riders to arboviral diseases, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV). This study uses a geographic information system (GIS) -based risk index model to measure and map risk associated with EEEV transmission to horses on equine trails in State Parks across Florida. The risk model assesses EEEV transmission risk of individual trail locations on a continuous scale of 0.0 (no measurable risk) to 1.0 (maximal risk). Risk is evaluated based on the composition and configuration of habitat types that support vectors and hosts of the virus. The results suggest that visitors using equestrian trails in the Florida State Park System may potentially be exposed to high levels of EEEV risk during times that the virus is actively circulating. Accordingly, park management strategies are recommended for reducing transmission risk to both horses and riders in areas where risk is high.

Tourism Governance and Natural Areas Protected: Analysis of the Tourist Polo Costa Das Dunas-RN, Brazil

This study aims to analyze the perception of members of the Costa das Dunas Tourist Pole, in the State of Rio Grande do Norte [Brazil], regarding the potential effects of tourism in Protected Natural Áreas, especially in those that are in the process of being implemented. The state parks Mangues do Potengi, in Natal, and Jiqui, in Parnamirim, are studied. The research is exploratory, with a qualitative approach, using for data collection semi-structured interviews, followed by content analysis. It’s noted that the economic aspects are highlighted in their possibility of generating employment and income for the communities. It is also noteworthy that despite tourism being seen as a significant contributor to improving the resident’s quality of life, the involvement of these people in the planning and management of areas, as well as sensitizing visitors, is essential to mitigate undesirable impacts.