Spotlight on the Western region, conference & webinar updates, a new data report on agritourism, and more!
Category: News
News and Announcements for the NET community
Outdoor recreation is a rapidly expanding sector that intersects with rural life, economic development, and natural resource stewardship. Recognizing Extension’s opportunity to support this industry, the Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange webinar series was developed as a model for multidisciplinary collaboration. The five-part series was organized by Hailey Sorg (University of Wyoming Extension/Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute) and Guinevere Nelson (Colorado State University Extension).
The “Triple Bottom Line” framework—economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental stewardship—offers a compelling way to assess the impact of tourism practices and policies. One of the most effective yet underutilized strategies for advancing these goals is the professionalization of guiding services. Professionally guided experiences not only enrich the visitor journey but also serve as a foundation for building resilient, well-managed, and economically viable tourism destinations. Equipping guides with the tools to lead responsibly is essential—and now more accessible than ever through the nationally available Guide & Outfitter Recognized Professional (GORP) training program.
Submitted by Miles Phillips, Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon State University Extension for the May 2025 NET Newsletter Western Region Spotlight. In the tourism industry, first impressionsRead More
This report, available from the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, presents findings from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey. The survey questionnaire was developed by a team of researchers from Penn State, the University of Maine, the University of Vermont, and Oklahoma State University. This survey is part of a larger project aimed at defining and enhancing the agritourism support system in the United States.
Join this webinar to hear about the different agritourism trail systems in CA, NY, and OR. We will look at the various types of trails in each state including Wine, Beverage, Cuisine, Farm, Apple, and more. The speakers will provide information on establishment process, involvement with state organizations, financial support, and incentive programs.
During this webinar Claudia Schmidt (Penn State) and Jason Entsminger (University of Maine) shared findings from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey. The survey questionnaire was developed by researchers from Penn State, the University of Maine, the University of Vermont, and Oklahoma State University.
If you’re doing something in your state or county that you think would be of interest to NET members elsewhere, then please consider sharing a write-up about it!
NETtra Tourism Conference: Connecting Through Tourism October 7-10, 2025, Meredith, NH Co-hosted by the National Extension Tourism Network (NET), the Northeast Chapter of the TravelRead More
Compiled and edited by members of the NET Communications and Executive Committees: Natalie Chin, Kristen Devlin, Mercedes Fraser, Molly McManus, Xinyi Qian, Ann Savage, GwynnRead More