2025-12-16
Jennifer Marie Thomsen, Melissa Dadmun
The outdoor recreation and tourism industry is thriving, with many states boasting a nature-based economy that relies on a skilled workforce in parks, tourism, and recreation management (PTRM). The US National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has developed competencies linked to career success. However, there is limited research on how the NACE competencies align with preparing students for PTRM careers. To address this gap, we conducted an exploratory study through interviews with PTRM students and with PTRM professionals to better understand the importance and efficacy of these competencies. Results indicate that certain competencies (e.g., communication, teamwork) are particularly important for PTRM careers and specific high impact practices (e.g., capstone projects, internships) can contribute to these competencies in degree programs. The paper concludes with recommendations for how the NACE competencies can be integrated into courses and degrees to better align with the skills needed in PTRM careers.
2025-11-13
Stuart Slay, Clare Dallat, Denise Mitten
This study examines cultural risks in led outdoor activity programs, highlighting how cultural perceptions and system design factors interact to influence safety context. Using Hofstede’s dimensions and social identity factors (e.g., ability, gender, ethnicity, social class), the analysis reveals how a Western paradigm can misalign with participants’ and local cultural norms. The authors adapted the NET-HARMS risk assessment method (Dallat et al., 2017) to examine cultural perceptions in program design, planning, and delivery through a mock scenario. The analysis achieved acceptable validity and revealed a significant increase in identified risks when culture was considered in risk assessment, indicating culture’s significant role in overall risk management. Contextualizing these findings within the Mangatepopo Canyon tragedy and safety science, this paper offers a pathway to more culturally relevant and ultimately safer LOA programs. Implications for further research and practice are discussed.
2025-10-16
Angelo Roche, Elizabeth Nutt Williams
Many overnight camps use Counselor-in-Training (CIT) programs to prepare adolescent campers for the counselor role. Although research has investigated the effectiveness of individual CIT programs, studies have not compared the experiences of previous CIT participants (CITs) to the experiences of new, non-CIT counselors across camp types. We recruited 314 camp counselors (130 previous CITS and 185 non-CITs) from camps across the United States and Canada for an online survey with items assessing their self-efficacy, organizational cohesion, and experiences as first-year counselors. Although we did not find a significant effect of the completion of a CIT program on any of the primary variables, individual and camp factors such as job fit, satisfaction with training, and comfort talking to administrators were significantly associated with self-efficacy and organizational cohesion. More between-camps and longitudinal research is needed to more deeply understand the impacts of training, overall climate, and the efficacy of CIT programs.