Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2020 - 23

"ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING FINDINGS IS THAT RECREATIONISTS STRONGLY AGREED THAT PUBLIC LAND
AGENCIES SHOULD LIMIT CAPACITY AND CONSIDER
STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE CROWDING." -BEN LAWHON
practices that sustain both human and ecological well-being. Inevitably, as the situation
developed throughout April, these recreation
patterns continued to shift.

RESEARCH PHASE 2
The second phase of research occurred over
the same time frame, between April 2 and May
2, and this time, surveyed over 800 people.
The second phase focused more heavily on expectations visitors had in terms of land managers, including: limiting capacity, requiring
masks, sanitization, and more. The results
were strongly in favor of ensuring that land
managers' communication on all these topics

was clear and consistent. "What we're seeing
from this new data is that people spending
time outside have some very specific expectations for land management agencies
regarding ongoing measures to keep people
safe," says Lawhon. "One of the most striking findings is that recreationists strongly
agreed that public land agencies should
limit capacity, and consider strategies such
as 'timedentry' to minimize crowding and
the associated risks."
Taff continues, "Outdoor recreation is
more desired than ever for the variety of
health-related benefits people receive from
both outdoor activities and the parks and

REASONS FOR CHANGING OUTDOOR RECREATION BEHAVIOR
An excerpt from Research Phase 3

Leave No
Trace
executive
director
Dana Watts

protected areas that provide these benefits.
However, people want clear communication
from trusted experts."
This phase of research indicated that outdoor enthusiasts were continuing to shift their
recreation patterns to align with recommendations from trusted health professionals.
However, people are still anxious about the
virus and want to ensure they can spend time
outside safely. According to Taff, "These results
help park and protected area managers as
they face decisions about how to facilitate safe
recreational opportunities, and communicate
how they are providing those opportunities."

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

RESEARCH PHASE 3
On May 21, the Leave No Trace Center
launched the third and final stage of its
COVID-19 Recreation Research. This final
phase was critical in tracking recreation
trends and ensuring the best possible information as public lands across the country reopen and see visitors this summer. As Lawhon
says, "One thing is clear: Regardless of everything going on in the country, people are definitely spending time outside." O.R.
-To learn more about Leave No Trace
Center for Outdoor Ethics go to lnt.org.
To download this research in full go to
lnt.org/research-resources/leave-notrace-covid-19-research.

SOURCE: "LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN THE OUTDOOR RECREATION COMMUNITY'S REACTION TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC"

Summer 2020 / OUTDOOR RETAILER 23
http://www.lnt.org http://www.lnt.org/research-resources/leave-no-trace-covid-19-research
Outdoor Retailer - Summer 2020

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