Food Storage on the Appalachian Trail: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach to Understanding Backpacker Bear Canister Use

Improper food storage fuels human-bear conflicts in parks and protected areas around the globe. Bear-resistant food storage canisters provide an extremely effective solution for reducing food-related human-bear conflicts, especially for overnight visitors in backcountry settings. However, the success of this intervention depends on recreationists’ willingness to use and comply with such food storage methods. This study used internet-based surveys to identify Appalachian Trail backpackers’ attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions regarding the use of bear canisters through an application of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Results indicate attitudes and subjective norms provide potential leverage points for messaging under voluntary conditions; messaging incorporating attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control may help influence food storage behavior under required conditions. Specific recommendations for effective, theory-based interpretation strategies aimed at reducing human-black bear conflicts on the Appalachian Trail are provided.

The Place of Inspiration in Heritage Interpretation: Views From the Field

While the idea of inspiration spans the history of the field, inspiration as a topic has been an under-studied phenomenon in the interpretation field. Thirty-three professional interpreters from 21 agencies across North America participated in dialog on the topic of inspiration in interpretation through Internet-based World Café sessions. The dialog was rich and thoughtful, and revealed that these interpreters believed that inspiration is the goal of interpretation and that the nine characteristics of inspiration identified in the literature and reviewed in our prior publication were relevant to interpretation: that inspiration is two-sided, transmissible, positive, individual, transcendent, unexpected, holistic, requires receptivity, and receptivity may be cultivated. Identified barriers to using an inspiration-based approach in interpretation included meeting the needs of agencies, and particularly the agency’s needs for quantitative measurements of attendance and impacts.

Empirical Knowledge About Person-Led Guided Tours in Museums: A Scoping Review

Person-led guided tours play an important role in museums’ educational programs. With this scoping review, we take a critical look at existing knowledge based on empirically-based primary studies to shed light on the practices of person-led guided tours in museums, focusing on the tour leader and his/her work practice. Our review included 39 peer-reviewed papers from 1978 to 2018. Results indicate that the research landscape is scattered across different disciplines. We specified three main research topics (docent training, professionalism/expertise, tour performance) to which the reviewed papers could be assigned and made cross-references between studies. Consequently, the review reveals the very complex practice of person-led guided tours in museums. Our review closes with the discussion of implications for practice and further research, with the intention of advancing multidisciplinary empirical research on the guiding practice in museums and person-led museum guided tours.

The Impact of Interpretive Messaging and Animal Handling on Visitors’ Perceptions of Animal Welfare and Empathic Reactions

Zoos are increasingly turning to ambassador animal programs to address animal welfare issues and visitors’ empathic responses. However, little is known, if or how, animal handling practices and interpretation impact attendees’ perceptions of animal welfare and/or empathy. To evaluate these effects, eight ambassador animal program videos were created employing varying combinations of animal handling (traditional/free choice), interpretive messaging (traditional/empathy-based), and choice and control language (present/absent). Online questionnaires ( N = 1,185) were used to assess participants’ environmental and empathic predispositions before viewing and perceptions of animal welfare and empathic reactions immediately after viewing a video. Results revealed that empathic reactions were moderately correlated with perceptions of animal welfare ( r = .53, p < .001) and mean empathic responses were higher for free choice handling and empathic messaging videos versus traditional handling and messaging. Programming recommendations are discussed that can improve visitors’ perceptions of animal care and elicit strong empathic reactions.

Categorizing Online Climate Change Interpretation Across the National Park System

Climate change effects are evident across the National Park System, and units are encouraged to provide proactive, meaningful interpretation on the issue to cultivate informed partners and encourage collaborative stewardship. But climate change is not currently interpreted across all units of the National Park System. Anecdotal observations suggest some units highly prioritize the topic, while others do not. Thus, we conducted an assessment of current online climate change interpretation across the National Park System as one means of quantifying park engagement. Results suggest that—of the 391 units included in the analysis—37% interpreted climate change in some manner online as of February, 2019. Though our method of analysis does not fully describe park interpretive efforts, our findings provide a baseline measure of online interpretation and help to prioritize future training and support. Furthermore, our work provides a minimally intensive approach for future assessment of online climate change interpretation.

Aquarium Visitor Engagement with an Ocean Plastics Exhibit: Effects on Self-Reported Intended Single-Use Plastic Reductions and Plastic-Related Environmental Stewardship Actions

Plastic pollution requires, among a suite of other interventions, education to inspire behavioral change and reduce consumption of single-use items. We designed and installed an ocean plastics exhibit at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon, USA. We evaluated visitor engagement and the effects of the exhibit on their reported single-use plastic and plastic-related environmental stewardship intentions. Timed interaction observations ( n = 317) revealed children (0–17 years) engaged more with interactive elements than adults (18–80+ years). Ten single-use plastic reduction and plastic stewardship intentions were evaluated through structured questionnaires; the top three behaviors visitors intended to change were: using a reusable straw (37.4%), cleaning the beach (37.4%), and bring-your-own bag to the store or market (33.0%). 18 to 29 year olds had the highest change in desire to address the ocean plastics problem before and after seeing the exhibit, but the lowest likelihood of engaging in either single-use plastics reduction or plastic stewardship actions of all age groups.

Taking Stock of Interpretation Research: Where Have We Been and Where are We Heading?

We reviewed all manuscripts published within the Journal of Interpretation Research from 2010 to 2019 to identify lessons learned from the past decade and to propose future directions to advance the field. The last decade of the Journal featured a wide diversity of studies, including evaluations of interpretive programs and trainings, examinations of specific interpretive techniques, and various other related topics. We summarize the decade’s contributions and share lessons learned associated with interpretive techniques; organizational practices; professional development; diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; visitor characteristics; and motivating attendance at interpretive programs. We then identify eight areas for future research, including: (1) measuring more ambitious outcomes; (2) identifying effective practices for diverse audiences; (3) studying innovations through adaptive management; (4) examining intergenerational learning; (5) evaluating professional development; (6) conducting organizational studies; (7) investigating the politics of interpretation and sensitive topics; and (8) partnering on research for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

The Utility of GIS for Identifying Areas of Recreation Conflict for Targeted Interpretive Messaging

Past research has extensively studied interpretive messaging and visitor conflict within parks and protected areas. However, comprehensive understanding of how to identify trailside interpretive sign locations is lacking. The purpose of this study was to introduce an approach using geographic information systems (GIS) that supplements decision-making regarding sign placement. The study site was Grand Canyon National Park’s Rim to Rim (R2R) corridor. To identify sign placement locations, two analytical phases were conducted. First, GPS data loggers were distributed to visitors and their travel patterns were analyzed for spatial behaviors and spatial interactions that are known to influence the likelihood of recreation conflict. Specifically, locations with a high variance of visitor travel speeds and locations with concentrated visitor use were identified. Second, geographic data were analyzed to identify locations for a combination of features that together influence the likelihood of recreation conflict. Specifically, popular bidirectional trail segments with significant elevation change were identified. We reported these locations and areas using GPS coordinates for evaluation by future research. This research was a necessary step towards comprehensively understanding how to identify locations for interpretive signs.