Using challenge cost-share partnerships to communicate with ethnically diverse recreation users in southern California

Abstract

Recreation managers have established more effective communication with dispersed recreation users of the Angeles National Forest in southern California, through the development and use of Challenge Cost-Share Partnerships with regional non-profit organizations. From 1988 to 1990, researchers conducted a series of surveys of recreation visitor populations in the heavily used dispersed recreation areas of San Gabriel Canyon, on the Mt. Baldy Ranger District. The findings revealed that most of these users only decided to come to the National Forest 24 hours or less before their arrival. This finding suggested that recreation use of the National Forest was mostly the result of spontaneous choice behavior and that communication with groups in advance would not be easy or certain. Thus, they would not have current information on changes in regulations or fire restrictions. Nearly 70 percent of the users surveyed were Hispanic, of which 81 percent listed Spanish as their primary language. The fact that many of these users were recent immigrants offered insight into their lack of familiarity with the programs and practices associated with an outdoor land ethic.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the second symposium on social aspects and recreation research, February 23-25, 1994, San Diego, California

Citation

Spencer, Thomas W.; Pfister, Robert E. 1995. Using challenge cost-share partnerships to communicate with ethnically diverse recreation users in southern California. In: Chavez, Deborah J., tech. coord. Proceedings of the Second Symposium on Social Aspects and Recreation Research, February 23-25, 1994, San Diego, California. Gen. Tech. Rep PSW-GTR-156. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 127-130