Does your park / conservation area evaluate the impacts of its visitor programs (guided walks, self-guided walks, interpretive events, school programs, Junior Rangers etc.) on such factors as appreciation and interest in the natural environment, awareness of impact on the environment, care and concern for the environment, familiarity and comfort with the natural environment, desires and behaviors related to visiting and/or advocating for parks? If so, would you be willing to share your evaluation methodology and/or recent evaluation reports? I am helping a park system develop stronger visitor program impact evaluations, and am keen to include some examples from other park programs.
Courtesy of the University of Northern British Columbia, there is a comprehensive evaluation of visitor orientation programs at the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, which is located at the south end of the Queen Charlotte Islands off the north central coast of British Columbia. The report, dated 2007, is at http://www.unbc.ca/assets/outdoor_recreation_tourism_management/research/report_2007_01_gwaii_haanas.pdf.
PS: It may be worth contacting the Singapore Zoo, which attracts 1.7 million visitors each year. (It must have advanced methodologies for visitor program impact evaluations and much else). The Singapore Zoo is operated by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, with details at http://www.wrs.com.sg/.
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