Getting Campers to Interpretive Programs: Understanding Constraints to Participation

Abstract

Interpretive programs are offered by parks and public lands to inspire the visitors to further appreciate the heritage resources presented and protected within parks. The strategic use of interpretation requires participants, and the broader the audience, the wider the influence. Using an outcome-oriented approach, 40 semi-structured interviews were conducted to better understand the constraints that reduced campers’ participation in park interpretive programs held at state parks. Visitors described an inability to find program information, a desire to experience unstructured time, lifestage barriers, and the relative attractiveness of competing activities. Through increased awareness of constraints to participation, interpreters should be able to strategically schedule programs, use different programming delivery styles, and increase their ability to meet park management objectives.