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NET Newsletter – Volume 4, Issue 2, May 2025

Posted on Author Kristen Devlin

Compiled and edited by members of the NET Communications and Executive Committees: Natalie Chin, Kristen Devlin, Mercedes Fraser, Molly McManus, Xinyi Qian, Ann Savage, Gwynn Stewart, and April Turner.

Table of Contents

Letter from NET Vice Chair, Ann Savage

Head shot of Ann Savage against blurred outdoor background

Dear National Extension Tourism NETwork,

Recently, at a conference the keynote speaker, James Edward Mills of Joy Trip Project, reminded us of what the plaque from the 1872 establishment of Yellowstone National Park says “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.” It is a helpful mantra for those of us working in tourism and extension. In this vision I’ve found renewed purpose and motivation as uncertainty has become a more common state of being. I also often think about how these are the times that our NETwork, sharing in this vision, can be most valuable. So, we hope to catch up with many of you at the conference in October, get engaged with you in our working groups, see you on our webinars or just to connect with you in a more informal setting. We value the work you are doing “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.”

Sincerely,
Ann Savage
North Carolina State University

NET Webinar Updates

  • The NET webinar committee offered its second webinar of 2025 on April 23rd. Claudia Schmidt (Penn State) and Jason Entsminger (University of Maine) shared findings from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey. Access their report and the webinar recording here.
  • The next NET webinar will take place on September 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. ET, and will feature “Agritourism Trail Systems of California, New York, and Oregon.” 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. Learn more and access registration here. 

Spotlight on the Western Region

In each newsletter, we’ll feature NET-affiliated people and programs from a particular region. This time, we’re shining a light on the Western Region. 

Outdoor Recreation Knowledge Exchange: Expanding Extension’s Role in a Growing Industry

Submitted by Hailey Sorg, University of Wyoming Extension/Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and Guinevere Nelson, Colorado State University Extension

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).

Initially focusing on Wyoming and Colorado, the series highlighted key insights, challenges, and opportunities from both states’ outdoor recreation industries. UW Extension and CSU Extension Educators, Guinevere and Hailey served as facilitators, guiding meaningful discussions between industry professionals, government officials, and community members. Each session featured guest panelists from both Colorado and Wyoming, ensuring diverse regional perspectives. Learn more and access the webinar recordings here!

The Vital Role of Customer Service Training in Frontline Tourism

Submitted by Miles Phillips, Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon State University Extension

In the tourism industry, first impressions matter. Whether it’s a front desk clerk at a hotel, a server at a local restaurant, a guide on a farm tour, or a park ranger greeting visitors, frontline staff are the face of a community’s hospitality. Their ability to provide excellent customer service can mean the difference between a memorable experience and a missed opportunity. As tourism continues to grow and diversify, investing in practical, accessible training for these key staff members has never been more critical—especially for small businesses operating with limited resources and high employee turnover. Read on to learn how Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon State University Extension is meeting this need! 

The Importance of Professional Guides for a Sustainable Tourism Destination Community, and How to Provide Training and Certification

Submitted by Miles Phillips, Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon State University Extension

In today’s tourism landscape, destinations across the United States are striving to align with the principles of sustainable development—ensuring that tourism generates positive economic, social, and environmental outcomes. 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. Learn more about this program offered by Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon State University Extension here. 

Update from the NET Design Team and Partners

New “About NET” Publication Helps Tell the Story of the NETwork!

Several members of the National Extension Tourism (NET) Design Team recently collaborated on updating the “About NET” publication that is used to help communicate what NET is and how people can get involved with the network, and to provide examples of the wide variety of programming NET members deliver. Access the new one-pager here (PDF) and share it with your colleagues!

NETtra 2025 Conference Update

The NETtra conference committee released its call for conference abstracts earlier this spring, and received a fantastic response! In addition to reviewing those abstracts, the committee is currently working on confirming mobile workshop details, which so far include 1) agritourism and rural heritage tourism, 2) outdoor recreation development, 3) tourism and lake ecology, and 4) accessible and vibrant downtowns. The committee continues to actively seek sponsorships. Registration will open in June and our goal is to keep costs low for all attendees. Watch the NET listserv, website, or LinkedIn account for updates!

Groundbreaking Survey Conducted Across Three U.S. Regions Shed Light on Household and Community Well-Being

As a result of an innovative data initiative, three Regional Rural Development Centers — the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) — have published open-access data from their groundbreaking, multi-region Baseline Survey 2024. This valuable data establishes an important baseline for future research and can inform policy decisions, community development strategies, and targeted interventions to address regional challenges and opportunities. The survey addresses a broad range of topics related to household, business, and community well-being, and includes questions related to the recreation economy, perceptions and impacts of extreme weather, and residents’ intentions to move or stay and the reasons behind those decisions. Learn more at the RRDC website. 

Updates from the Agritourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Groups

Agritourism Working Group 

Insights on Agritourism Among US Producers: Evidence from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey

Decorative image - report cover, "Insights on Agritourism Among U.S. Producers: Evidence from the 2024 National Agritourism Producer Survey"

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 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. The primary objective of conducting this survey was to identify areas where targeted interventions and programs can support agritourism development across the country. The National Extension Tourism Network hosted a webinar about the findings, which took place on April 23, 2025, and was recorded. Access the recording here.

Outdoor Recreation Working Group

The NEORWG steering committee has been meeting monthly, and continues to work with the U.S. Forest Service and USDA Rural Development to identify partnership opportunities in support of the USDA Interagency Recreation Economies MOU. The steering committee also is currently focusing on showcasing the national efforts of Extension professionals working in the outdoor recreation space through the development and sharing of case studies. The group submitted a workshop proposal to the NETtra conference in the hopes of raising awareness of the NEORWG’s efforts and attracting other conference attendees who are interested in the intersection of Extension and outdoor recreation. Learn more about NEORWG at: https://extensiontourism.net/outdoor-recreation-working-group/.

Thanks for reading! The next NET newsletter will be published in August. View older newsletters here.