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).
Tag: 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
Congratulations to members of the Agritourism Research and Extension Collaborative, who were recognized with a 2023 USDA NIFA Partnership Award for their multi-state work advancingRead More
A new NET fact sheet (published 4/2024) shows how Extension is currently engaging with the OR sector and makes the case for greater investments to help communities manage the challenges and opportunities OR presents.
Award-winning curriculum will help more rural communities support their retail and hospitality industries.
This 1993 report was prepared by the National Extension Travel and Tourism Advisory Committee for the Cooperative Extension System. Please see the document’s appendices for a complete list of contributors.
The International Workshop on Agritourism (IWA) 2022 Conference Proceedings is now available online. The publication is intended to increase access to the scholarship that was shared during the three-day conference, which was hosted by University of Vermont Extension in Burlington, Vermont, USA, on August 30 – September 1, 2022.
The GORP guide training online program is a program that provides recognition and certification to experienced professional guides.
The Rural America Placemaking Toolkit is a free resource available that provides resources, activities, and spotlights of successful initiatives across the country.