Full course description
Course summary:
Visitor use management is an integral part of any wilderness stewardship program, and relevant goals (desired conditions) and objectives (thresholds) are typically identified in a wilderness stewardship plan. Some plans even prescribe a specific response when certain thresholds are exceeded and wilderness character is threatened or degrading. This course is designed to help you select management strategies and actions to address visitor use impacts in wilderness, particularly if stewardship plan direction is largely absent or inadequate to the situation.
Course objectives:
After completing this course, learners should be able to:
- Identify the biophysical and social impacts of visitor use and its management on wilderness character.
- Describe common visitor use management strategies and actions.
- Determine which visitor use management strategies and actions will best preserve wilderness character.
- Recognize the relationship between visitor use management strategies and monitoring.
- Align visitor use management strategies and actions with wilderness stewardship plan goals and objectives.
Recommended background
This course is designed to meet the needs of managers in the National Wilderness Protection System. It is strongly recommended that students taking this course, first take the following prerequisites: The Wilderness Act of 1964 course and the Visitor Use Management in Wilderness: Fundamentals course
Course topics include:
- Impacts to Wilderness Character
- Understanding the Problem
- Management Strategies and Actions
- Choosing Strategies and Actions
Elements of the course:
- Informational text
- Interactive practice activities
- Supplemental reference materials
- Informal knowledge checks
- Final assessment
This course is self-paced, allowing learners the flexibility to complete the course as quickly or slowly as they need.
After completing all course content and activities, you will complete a final quiz to demonstrate your understanding of key course concepts. Upon successful completion of the quiz, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.
Course creators:
This course was designed and developed jointly by the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Training Center and the Eppley Center for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University.
How to access:
Upon enrolling, you will receive instructions and the link to the Canvas course. Note: When you register, you will receive an email invitation. Be sure to accept that invitation, or Canvas will not allow you to open the course modules.
Enrollees can move through content modules at their own pace within the course timeframe.