[GeoStL] USFS studies Geocaching
- From: "M. Bollinger" <lazylightning3@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: SLAGA <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 08:31:11 -0700 (PDT)
-
Hi everybody,
Here's an interesting article that Barb W. sent me regarding Geocaching. It is
from the "Recreation Research Update" from the USFS (Forest Service).
Fortunately it's not too critical, like some we have to deal with.
Here's the article:
Geocaching: Using Technology for Outdoor Recreation
Geocaching, an outdoor activity that uses handheld Global Positioning Systems
to find hidden treasures demarcated on the Internet, emerged in 2000 and has
engaged more than 100,000 participants in 200 countries. Agency responses to
geocaching range from collaborative management plan development to exclusion.
Effective management, however, depends on client knowledge. Given the
relatively recent emergence of this activity, little is known about this new
user group, their behaviors, and preferences.
Thus, the purpose of this University of Minnesota project, lead by Dr. Ingrid
Schneider, was to profile Geocachers, the benefits they seek in the activity,
as well as attitudes toward low-impact behaviors.
An electronically administered questionnaire to Geocachers in Minnesota,
fal12003 (n=133; 60% response rate), revealed Geocachers are primarily middle
aged, White, and possess high educational and income status. The majority of
Geocachers find, rather than hide, caches and prefer to find them in public
park areas. More than 80 percent of respondents agreed that geocaching had
increased their visits to parks and recreation areas. Seven benefit factors
emerged related to geocaching: physical fitness, experience nature, learn,
stimulation, relaxation, autonomy, and socialization. These benefits sought
differed by group type but not geocaching experience levels. Geocachers
indicated moderate to strong attitudes toward environmentally responsible
behaviors. Preferences for geocaching include finding caches in well-maintained
areas and clear policies about geocaching.
Managers have both opportunities and challenges associated with geocaching.
Although a variety of approaches have been taken toward geocaching, among and
within organizations, a primary recommendation is to meet this new client's
needs for information and clarity regarding geocaching policy. Even if the
agency policy is to exclude geocaching, clearly explain why. Programming
opportunities exist to enhance technological skills, environmental
understanding, social cohesion, and maybe revenues. Programs that introduce the
activity allow your area to be seen as an advocate for and partner in this
evolving technology society. Also, programs done in partnership with local
outdoor stores increase your audience, support group, as well as potential for
revenue. As we learn more about what is important to this user group,
understanding how an agency performs on the important items could be explored
with importance performance analysis.
Challenges with Geocaching include the possibility of inter-group conflict.
Geocaching almost requires off- trail travel and that could instill conflict
with other groups, as could the simple: use of the technology. Another
challenge is understanding the off-travel behavior in light of the positive
environmentally responsible attitudes and messages in geocaching.
Regardless of potential conflict or geocaching regulations, geocaching is in
your area. Participants derive both social and personal benefits from this
experience. Therefore, to effectively manage the use, seek to understand the
Geocachers and activity in your area, and ' cache' in on their experience,
environmentally responsible attitudes, and this new potential support group.
For more information about this study contact Debbie Chavez at
dchavez@xxxxxxxxxx
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
****************************************
Our WebPage! Http://WWW.GeoStL.com
Mail List Info. //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/list?list_id=geocaching
Mail List FAQ's: //www.freelists.org/help/questions.html
****************************************
To unsubscribe from this list:
send an email to geocaching-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the
Subject field
Other related posts:
