Most of us participate in some form of outdoor recreation: hiking, hunting, riding all-terrain vehicles, or simply enjoying nature. Managing for outdoor recreation on public lands is mandated by federal law and an integral part of natural resource management. In this class, we'll learn why and how agencies manage recreation at the federal level, the management frameworks that guide this work, and apply management principles to an actual federal property in Minnesota. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the principles and practices of outdoor recreation management. Specific objectives are to: 1)compare and contrast federal recreation land management policies & organizations, 2)develop and demonstrate an understanding of conceptual frameworks for recreation resource and visitor use management, 3)evaluate visitor caused impacts to resources and to visitor experiences, 4)understand and apply management tools designed to reduce recreation- related impacts and conflicts, and 5)demonstrate an understanding of course material through exams & applied assignments.

Tourism is a significant industry locally, nationally, and internationally. Park and protected area attractions are among the most visited but also the most vulnerable attractions. This course is designed to familiarize you with the basic concept of park and protected area tourism, including cultural and ecotourism, and then develop your expertise to plan and evaluate sustainable tourism development and operations. Accordingly, you will complete assignments that apply the knowledge gained to planning and evaluation activities. This course is offered partially on-line. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the class you will be able to: 1.Differentiate and appreciate the complexities involved with defining and developing nature, eco, heritage, geo-, park and protected, cultural and "sustainable tourism." 2.Identify specific social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with park and protected area tourism, how to measure them, and methods to minimize the negative and maximize the positive impacts. 3.Analyze domestic and international case studies of park and protected area tourism. 4.Critically evaluate park and protected area tourism services and effective management and planning. 5. Create elements of a business plan for park and protected area tourism operations that emphasize sustainability.

Recreation, leisure, and tourism are significant parts of the world, national, and state economies. Understanding visitor behavior is important and has significant implications for organizations, agencies, and businesses related to parks, tourism destinations, and museums. In this class, you will learn to apply both social science theory and methods to understand consumers, with an emphasis on visitors to parks and protected areas. You will immediately apply your learning of survey development, interviewing, observation and content analysis to real-word situations in class projects. This is an online course.

This course is designed to be an introduction to the broad field of Environmental Interpretation, Communication Theory, Visitor Information Services (VIS), and Nonformal Education experience's found in parks, nature centers, camps, zoos, museums, arboretums, and free-choice learning environments. Students will understand the definitions, role and scope of interpretation, differences between audiences and/or users of interpretive services, and distinguish between interpretive techniques based on their advantages/disadvantages. Students can also qualify for the National Association for Interpretation's (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) program.

Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.

Political processes in management of the environment. How disagreements are addressed by different stakeholders, private-sector interests, government agencies, institutions, communities, and nonprofit organizations.

Form and function of forests as ecological systems. Characteristics and dynamics of species, populations, communities, landscapes, and ecosystem processes. Examples applying ecology to forest management. Weekly discussions focus on research topics in forest ecology, exercises applying course concepts, and current issues in forest resource management. Required weekend field trip. Prereq: Biol 1001, 1009 or equivalent introductory biology course; 1 semester college chemistry recommended.

Policies affecting land use planning at local, state, and federal levels. Ecosystem and landscape scale planning. Collaborative and community-based approaches to planning for ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Class project applies interdisciplinary perspectives on planning and policy, including information gathering techniques, conservation planning tools, and evaluation of planning options.

This course is designed to be a directed field study of park and protected area management including observation of and training in (1) recreation planning and visitor management, (2) cultural resource management, (3) natural resource management, (4) nature-based tourism management, and (5) resource interpretation and communication across local, state, federal and tribal park and protected areas in northern Minnesota. prereq: Sophomore status or higher

This course is designed to be a directed field study of park and protected area management including observation of and training in (1) recreation planning and visitor management, (2) cultural resource management, (3) natural resource management, (4) nature-based tourism management, and (5) resource interpretation and communication across local, state, federal and tribal park and protected areas in northern Minnesota. prereq: Sophomore status or higher

International perspectives on resource use and sustainable development. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Global case studies. Impact of consumption in developed countries on sustainable development in lesser developed countries.

Are you wondering whether you will be able to travel as you did a few years ago? One of the largest industries, tourism is in a profound crisis. This course understands tourism in relation to other kinds of mobility, like shopping, colonialism, trafficking, migration, and pilgrimage. As the negative environmental and health impacts of tourism have become obvious, significant demands have emerged on its practices and policies. Investigating the landscapes and economies of cars, planes, beaches, parks, malls, and museums, we come to appreciate the unique challenges tourism poses for global citizenship and the planet. To gain a critical geographical understanding of mobility we engage a range of ethical frameworks such as human rights, feminism, social justice, and utilitarianism. Our final destination is an informed and critical ethics of travel in the age of pandemics and climate change.

Ecology of sharks and natural history of South Bimini Island. Marine ecosystems. Local flora and fauna. Local culture and development policy on the ecosystems. prereq: instr consent

Thai culture and conservation challenges. Two-day barge trip learning culture before traveling to Thailand's premier conservation research site. Camera-trapping techniques, prey assessment methods, and radio telemetry approaches to the study of large mammals. prereq: instr consent

Introduction to key topics in wildlife medicine. Students will learn medical issues and approaches, the role of the veterinarian in wildlife conservation, zoo medicine, and wildlife rescue & rehabilitation. This program is held at the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic⿿s (BWRC) teaching facility with BWRC⿿s founder and wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand. Labs include distance immobilization, suture, spay & neuter, necropsy, comparative anatomy, radiography, parasitology and blood analysis. Field visits are conducted with Dr. Isabelle to the Belize Zoo and to avian, reptile, primate, and manatee centers. Students are introduced to preventative medicine and common diseases for many of these species. A spay & neuter lab reviews theory and suture practice, this is followed by a spay & neuter clinic organized in the field or at BWRC. Students also have the opportunity to observe, and when possible, assist the BWRC veterinary staff during their daily operations.

One would have thought that the ecological, climate, health, and social catastrophes of the last decade would have led to a green revolution and more sustainable societies, but that has not been the case. As a result, governments, corporations, consumers, and citizens will have to make deep meaningful changes to mitigating negative impacts to ecological biodiversity and natural resources. Of all sectors of the global economy, the agricultural and food sector is perhaps the most at risk. Producers within this industry are faced with the complicated equation being one of the principle causes of the problems listed above, while also retaining the responsibility to provide food for an ever-growing consumer base. Eating and good nutrition are vital human needs and food is a human right deeply rooted in culture and emotion. Food is a source of pleasure, a means of social integration, a reflection of cultural values, and of cultural identity. As a result, agrobusiness and food industry stakeholders are expected to meet the higher demand for food while also reassessing value chains, far beyond the classic economic and marketing approach, by introducing ecological, social, and cultural indicators when assessing operational standard and economic growth. is context, the idea of a terroir-driven food system represents strong sustainable alternative to standard commercial agricultural practices. While the term of terroir originates in western European countries such as Italy and France, the terroir approach is practiced worldwide. Terroir-centered food products, local food products, traditional food products, no matter what it is called, it is about the producing within a limited geographical area and producing products with unique characteristics recognizable to the people who live there. Content for this 4-week course, conducted in English, will be delivered via in-class lectures/presentations; educational field trips and cultural visits to Paris, the Loire Valley, Brittany, Normandy; group projects; and case studies. prereq: instr consent In th

Southeastern Peruvian Andes. Inca civilizations. Biodiversity assessment in headwaters of Amazon. What it means to be World Heritage Site. Experience the magic of the Andes. Watch the sunrise over the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu. Climb steep trails deep in the forest to check cameras capturing Peccaries, Jaguars and Jagarundis. Eat dinner with Macaws. Ask a question about the ecology of the forest ? and answer it. Have a unique experience in South America, and share a story about that experience back at home. Posing your own question about biodiversity, landscapes, specific plants or animals, or culture is an intensely rewarding experience. Learning about the ecology of a subset of the Amazon, framing questions and collecting information to address those questions helps us refine our creative and analytical abilities.

This course examines the concepts of sustainability in relation to food production and culture in a country and place where food is a fundamental component of the regional and national culture. The course incorporates intercultural development concepts to introduce students to past and present Italian culture through the cultural importance of food systems, the ethics of food consumption and production and the concepts of sustainability.

Topics specified in Class Schedule.