Wilderness Recreation Problems and Solutions Project

Use of Education to Solve Wilderness Management Issues

Charles C. Deam Wilderness - HoosierNational Forest

2/07

Management Issue/Recreation Impact

Wilderness philosophy in management and wilderness resource impacts.

Why did issue need to be addressed

“Identity crisis” - Charles C. Deam Wilderness is only wilderness area in state, so public wilderness awareness is limited; several resource impacts unacceptable: impact to vegetation and soil due to off-trail horse use, campsite impacts too close to trails and trail intersections, garbage along trails

Management Objectives

Reduce resource impacts by raising wilderness/Leave No Trace awareness in surrounding communities, user groups (local boy scout camps and private horse camps), and wilderness visitors.

Strategies

Overview:

Start intensive education program targeting schools, specific recurring user groups (private local horse camps and boy scout groups from local camps) and general wilderness visitors.

Action 1:Hire year round-full time conservation educator/interpreter.

Rationale:To expand wilderness education and outreach beyond the existing resources available. Prior, staff could not respond to education and outreach needs. Educator conducts programs at local schools, staffs visitor contact station on weekends, and provides weekly programs for scout masters, scouts, and horse camp groups.

Action 2:Update trailhead bulletin boards.

Rationale:Design and implement attractive and explanatory displays. Bulletin boards go beyond stating what wilderness is and listing LNT principles to explain why wilderness is significant and how to follow LNT principles.

Action 3:Open visitor contact station on weekends.

Rationale: Reach wilderness visitors with information and wilderness interpretationbefore they enter wilderness. Offer wilderness, LNT, and trail information and interpretation. Contact station located in area frequented by visitors for picnic and restroom facilities.

Implementation Details

Why were the specific actions chosen?

In order to achieve change in awareness and behavior, a comprehensive education program was implemented based on recommendations in 2003 Wilderness Education Plan.The full-time conservation educator was able to accomplish many actions and meet several objectives.

How well did the actions work to accomplish management objectives?

Very well.

How were actions evaluated?

1. Formal and informal comments/feedback – positive comments from teachers, horse and Boy Scout Camp staff, and visitors. Feedback from programs and visitors indicate that wilderness awareness has increased.

2. Demand for programs – once programs were promoted and initiated, requests quickly exceeded availability.

3. Resource and campsite monitoring – Through regular campsite monitoring, condition class improved (reduction of number and size) after education program started. Need for rehabilitating campsites has dropped from weekly task to monthly task. Amount of garbage has decreased. Prior to education program regulations prohibited cans and bottles in wilderness. With the decrease of garbage, management is planning to lift the regulation.

What aspects of implementation worked to help attain the desired condition?

In the first year of implementation, booths were set up at each of nine surrounding county fairs to offer information about wilderness and to offer programs. Based on response, four counties were targeted (correlated with surveys indicating that most wilderness visitors are from those same four counties). Letters announcing availability of school programs were sent to 50 surrounding schools.

What aspects did not work?

Trailhead bulletin boards will be redesigned this winter to increase effectiveness. The redesign will make the bulletin boards more attractive with fewer words and holders for handout materials (trail maps and information with wilderness interpretation) available. There are issues with vandalism (spray paint and stealing) that are difficult to address.

What was the public acceptance?

Excellent.

Were there any unexpected effects?

Estimated costs and staff time to plan and implement.

Basic costs:

  • Permanent full time interpreter cost to government of $186 per day (about $48,000/year)
  • Materials and supplies - $2,000 per year
  • Training - $1,500 per year

Start-up materials, such as laptop, projector screen, etc., were a one time cost absorbed by overall recreation budget.

Prior to hiring permanent interpreter, a summer seasonal was hired. The summer seasonal coast about $8,000 per summer for salary, supplies, etc.

Visitor contact station has no cost since it is primitive.

Additional Information, Considerations, and Advice

Trails in wilderness were closest recreation trails to urban population of Bloomington. To lessen impact on wilderness by changing use patterns, NF developed and promoted trails outside of wilderness closer to Bloomington.

Management is very supportive of program based on positive community feedback, management recognition, and resource protection.

Flexibility and innovation are vital to success. Engage in new ways to reach same groups – i.e. for Boy Scout camps, educator has become involved with merit badge instruction to increase opportunities to reach scouts with wilderness and LNT messages beyond the regularly scheduled programs. At private horse camps, often the same people returned to camp throughout summer, so weekly presentations needed to change in order to attract audience. Kept same critical messages about wilderness and LNT, but changed context every week.

Accompanying Documents

2003 Charles C. Deam Wilderness Education Plan, (see the Wilderness Interpretation and Education Toolbox at:

Contact information (willing to be contacted for more information)

Eric Sandeno

Outdoor Recreation Planner

HoosierNational Forest

812-276-4721