Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA

Cara Richards — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:06:06 PST

With the ever growing number of planned events around the world and the vast number of attendees, comes the potential to negatively impact the environment. The event industry is perfectly suited to reduce this environmental impact by incorporating sustainable practices into their special events. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of sustainable practices by event planners on the Central Coast of California. This study was conducted through the online survey application Zoomerang.com. The results of this survey indicate that 80% of respondents understand the importance of sustainability and15% were uncertain if sustainability is an important factor when planning a special event. This may be due to the fact that participants are not well informed on certain aspects of sustainability or that they do not pertain to their particular event. The aspects of sustainability that were considered most important by respondents were recycling and serving food from local farmers. Carbon offsetting was considered the least important aspect of sustainability. The findings indicate that most of the sustainable practices being incorporated by event planners on the Central Coast only meet an acceptable level of importance, which indicates that event planners are not using sustainable practices to their full potential.

The Impact of Therapeutic Recreation Through Ropes Courses and Teambuilding Activities

Jenny Phan — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:05:39 PDT

Each day people are suffering some type of a disorder - physically, emotionally, mentally, or psychologically. With every new discovery, invention, and generation, both positive and negative affect comes with it. In the 21^st century, many individuals are under much pressure due to divorces, deaths, family dysfunctions, finances, cultural expectations, pollution, and high work demands. The basis of this research is to assess the benefits and impact of a ropes course and teambuilding activities have on participants, which leisure activity may potentially improve one’s health. The study was conducted at Chumash Challenge during the spring and summer of 2010 in San Luis Obispo, California. The Evaluator took 120 subjects and tested the benefits and impact of the ropes course and teambuilding activities. At the end of the study, results revealed that Chumash Challenge Ropes Course impacted the participants at an emotional and social level. The data revealed which activities had a great impact on the participants and which did not. Recommendations were made to Chumash Challenge of which activities to keep and the area to place more emphasis on. Leisure activity is highly affective in improving one’s health.

GENDER PERCEPTIONS IN THE SPORT OF SNOWBOARDING

Chelsea Modlin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:59:25 PDT

Snowboarding evolved in the 1960s for people who wanted a change from skiing and to differentiate themselves from their parents. Since its creation, snowboarding has been dominated by males. This may be explained by its establishment and creation by males and the relationship of snowboarding to alternative cultures, where masculinity in style, speech, and behavior generally excel. The purpose of this study was to analyze the gender perceptions in the sport of snowboarding. This study was conducted through self-administered questionnaires. The results of the survey indicate that there are gender inequalities in snowboarding and that gender perceptions do vary by gender. Overall, males and females think that females tend to be more cautious and respectful on the mountain than males. Both genders think that males are better snowboarders than females. Recommendations from the findings are to utilize in-group volunteers to encourage appropriate behavior and to create co-ed teams, events, and competitions to promote equality.

Market Research for Kenz Kouture Accessories

Mackenzie Kassis — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:59:24 PDT

Kenz Kouture is a recently developed business venture specializing in handmade jewelry. This study was conducted to understand the market and the consumer’s wants and needs of the products and prices of this new venture. The purpose of this study was to assess the market, product development, and potential success for the custom jewelry company, Kenz Kouture. Topics for the literature review included consumer buying behavior and entrepreneurship. An online questionnaire was distributed using Facebook and utilized snowball sampling to gather data from 238 subjects. The results indicate Kenz Kouture’s current fan base and product base have the potential to expand. If presented and marketed correctly, Kenz Kouture could become a successful business.

MOTIVATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS OF CAL POLY RPTA STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL GROUP TRAVEL

Selena Ramirez — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:33:54 PDT

The number of student travelers is increasing around the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the motivations and constraints of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (RPTA) students to participate in international group travel. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Thirty-two females and five males participated in the study. Previous literature suggests that motivation can be understood through internal factors that push travelers from within and pull factors of the destination that attracts travelers. According to the findings of the study, students are mostly motivated to travel in a group because of social reasons, inclusive packages, and an increase in comfort levels. The most significant constraints keeping students from participating in group travel are the price, lack of independence, and an itinerary that is too restrictive. The RPTA department has an opportunity to offer scholarships for student travel, increase awareness of international group trips, and create a mutually beneficial itinerary that considers student needs.

TRENDS IN ONLINE SPORT MARKETING

Alexandra (Ali) Bickel — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:05:50 PDT

All professional sports teams are using the Internet as a part of their marketing strategy. In order for this to be successful, it is critical for sport marketers to evaluate which Internet marketing trends are being best utilized to connect with fans and website users. The purpose of this study was to determine the best practices in sport marketing in the five major professional sport leagues. Data were collected from five professional sports team’s websites from the NBA, MLB, NHL, NFL and MLS. The instrument used consisted of a checklist with a section for written notes. The results indicated that all teams were using relationship marketing and also that they utilized very similar marketing practices. This is a critical baseline study to be used in the future by sport marketers and forecasters to determine success and shifts in trends.

Empowering Children Living in Poverty in the Huruma Slum

Amy Lepp — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:33:29 PDT

Many children living in poverty around the world are unable to attend school and complete an education. When I Grow Up and the Furaha Community Centre have partnered together to provide children of the Huruma slum with an opportunity to attend school and hopefully escape the life of poverty. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors contribute to student success on the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination, and if the program funded by When I Grow Up is addressing factors that will empower students to succeed in their education. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and interviews with students and staff from the Furaha School. The findings indicated that a student’s health, weight, BMI, age, and number of years they had attended school significantly correlated with higher KCPE scores. Recommendations include children entering school at a younger age, having them complete as many years of primary schooling as possible, and continuing to collect data at Furaha and from other schools in Kenya to increase the sample size.

GENERATIONAL INFLUENCES ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN SPECIAL EVENT COMPANIES

Lauren Rosen — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:43:03 PDT

Utilizing social media has become a lifestyle component for many individuals, and an inexpensive marketing tool for businesses. As the popularity of social media marketing rises, it would behoove any business to create and maintain a social media site to stay in contact with their consumers and to market their products. The purpose of this study was to examine comfort levels with technology in the special events industry. The researcher created an online questionnaire and distributed it to special event industry professionals. A relationship exists between number of years of experience in the special events industry and comfort level with the use of industry software and social media sites. Further research should be conducted to test how financially beneficial social media marketing is to an organization.

SATISFACTION AND IMPORTANCE RATINGS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTENDED OKTAPITFEST AT TAP IT BREWING CO. IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA

Carrie Nasby — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:20:24 PDT

Special events and festivals, within the past few decades, have become increasingly popular. Now, more than ever, there is a desire and need for new companies to emerge into the industry in order to offer special events and lifelong memories to attendees. On October 9, 2011, Tap It Brewing CO, in San Luis Obispo, California, launched their first annual OkTapItfest event. The purpose of this study was to assess attendee satisfaction and the opinion of importance of event characteristics of the OkTapItfest at Tap It Brewing CO. The data collected from this study indicated that the 31 subjects were dissatisfied with the food, music, price of event, check in, and heard about OkTapItfest mainly from tasting at the brewery, or by word of mouth. The conclusion and recommendations were designed to help Tap It Brewing CO. with enough information to assist their planning efforts to improve the future OkTapItfests, or any other type of events held at the brewery.

An Examination of the Motivations, Needs, and Demographics of Mountain Bicyclists in the West Cuesta Ridge Area of the Los Padres National Forest

Christopher Devine — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:14:39 PST

Mountain biking has become an increasingly popular sport over the past couple of decades. Despite its popularity, some land managers struggle to understand and keep up with the evolving and heavy use of mountain bikes on their trails. The purpose of this study was to examine the motivations, needs, and demographics of mountain bicyclists in the West Cuesta Ridge Area of the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo, CA. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires on site, at two different trailheads. From a sample of 36 subjects, findings included their demographics and preferred trail qualities. The key qualities were reported to be single-track, natural scenery, variety, flow, and technicality. Also researched were the differences in motivational factors between different riding types and skill levels. Overall, the most important motivations included enjoyment, exercise, and natural scenery. Land managers and advocacy groups should use this information as a tool to provide for their end users; and also use this study as a model to conduct similar research in their respective mountain biking areas.

AN EXAMINATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PURSUIT AND ALLOCATION OF PERSONAL LEISURE TIME

Kelsey A. O'Lea — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:39:56 PDT

The emergence of Internet has created a seemingly endless portal for leisure activity and participation; since the establishment of social media technology, leisure time spent online has been on the rise. The purpose of this study was to examine how social media technology has impacted the way people allocate and pursue their personal leisure time. This researcher of this study distributed an online questionnaire to current undergraduate students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo through convenience sampling methods. The questionnaire was comprised of three sections: SNS usage, smart phone usage, and the impact of that usage on specific areas of the subjects’ daily life. Correlations exist between the average amount of time spent on SNS and the impact on users’ ability to complete a task. Future research needs to be conducted to assess necessary measures needed to prevent the risks associated with social media technology use.

To Assess the Interest Level for an Intramural Sports Program at Allan Hancock College

Elysha McLain — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:58:56 PDT

Participation in intramural sports has been known to reduce stress levels, build self confidence, improve leadership skills, and promote good sportsmanship. This study examined the interest level for a potential intramural sports program at Allan Hancock College (AHC). Other factors such as the time of day, activity, and the financial obligation students and faculty were willing to pay for participation were analyzed. In the spring of 2011, a self-administered questionnaire was administered to AHC students and faculty. Participants indicated a high level of interest for intramural sports. Almost half of the sample population indicated a desire to pay $25 a semester per team participation in intramural sports. The findings may assist administration at AHC to develop steps necessary for the implementation of an intramural sports program.

Influence of Marketing Tools on Students' Decision to Purchase Wine

Kelsey Pavao — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:49:36 PDT

Food and Wine Tourism in Post-War Lebanon

Lindsay Milich — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:32:41 PDT

Tourism has played a major role in Lebanon since its peak period of 1930-1974; sometimes subsiding as a result of war and conflict, but always rebounding at least to some extent. Lebanon’s touristic appeal includes its geographic location between the East and the West, its varied landscape (beaches and mountains), its hospitable and diverse population, and its well loved cuisine. The focus of this study was food and wine initiatives across the country, and their role as related to the traditional tourism industry. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the nature of regional and community based initiatives within the interrelated sectors of food and wine tourism in post-war Lebanon. Data was collected in January 2011 through personal interviews with experts in the field. Findings revealed a need for greater support of the food and wine industry, as it has proven to be a sustainable alternative to traditional touristic development strategies.

Motivations Of Recreation, Parks, And Tourism Administration Students To Attend Professional Conferences

Nika Jalali — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:08:04 PDT

Associations have increasingly been holding professional conferences globally. The California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (RPTA) department offers students the chance to attend various professional conferences annually. The purpose of this study was to assess the motivations of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo RPTA students to attend professional conferences. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on the Cal Poly campus. The findings from 80 subjects indicated a high interest in attending conferences; the top motivating factors to attend professional conferences were networking with professionals, job opportunities, and the relation of the conference to the respondents’ concentration. The lowest motivational factors were educational sessions, past experiences at conferences, and getting away from school. The RPTA department should offer more details to students about conferences to provide students the opportunity to draft their own budget and research attendees of a conference.

ASSESSING THE PARK VISITOR BEHAVIOR AT LOS OSOS SKATE PARK

Kristen McClay — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:13:27 PDT

Skateboarding began in California over 50 years ago and has grown internationally. The purpose of this study was to assess the behavior of park visitors at Los Osos Skate Park. This park was fully supervised and this study can serve as a tool for park management. The researcher observed the skate park during operating hours throughout April 2011. The subjects of this study were park visitors actively skateboarding, or passively watching. The dominant demographic for skateboarders were adolescent males. This study found peak times were weekdays afterschool, adult park visitors display the most positive behavior, and middle school park visitors display the most negative behavior. This study also found that a supervised skate park may deter illegal behavior throughout park grounds. However, this study recommends that more observations be conducted both during and after operating hours, and the researcher should be unknown, all to ensure the most accurate observations.

Assessment of Intergenerational Relationships Through Recreational Activities

Rachel Mattingley — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:13:26 PDT

The purpose of this study was to identify the motivations and barriers of Cal Poly Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (RPTA) students when participating in intergenerational recreation activities. With the population of senior citizens in America growing, this study assessed young Americans' ideas and beliefs about interacting with seniors through recreation. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to approximately 80 RPTA students. The findings indicated that the subjects are interested in participating with seniors through recreational activities but are limited by time, resources, and the location of such activities. Additionally, it was discovered that if subjects were to partake in such activities they would want to play games, do arts/crafts, and converse with members of the senior community. It is recommended that a program be implemented between schools and senior centers that provides intergenerational recreational opportunities through an elective course that’s offered at Cal Poly. These activities will potentially enhance social, mental, emotional, and physical behavior of multi-generations.

An Assessment of the Changes in YMCA Basketball Coaches’ Behaviors and Attitudes Towards Youth Development Principles Associated with Youth Sports

Stephany L. Ganeles — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:44:32 PDT

Youth sport administrators and coaches strive to create a positive atmosphere to help young athletes develop as individuals. Yet, many youth sport organizations are challenged with few resources or expertise in developing training models for coaches. The YMCA of San Luis Obispo is a progressive organization committed to developing an effective training model for coaches. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in YMCA basketball coaches’ behaviors and attitudes towards youth development principles associated with youth sports. This study was conducted through follow-up surveys with YMCA youth basketball coaches. Through the follow-up surveys it was found that coaches were able to develop new styles of coaching and strategies for interacting with their players based on training skits viewed at the pre-season meeting. Two major findings were the changes in the coaches’ feelings towards running for punishment and punishing all players for individual’s actions. Recommendations include expanding the training skits and developing a more comprehensive training program for coaches so they know what is expected, understand what athletes should be receiving, and have ongoing resources to call upon throughout the season.

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND SPENDING BEHAVIOR OF ATTENDEES AT SAN LUIS OBISPO'S DOWNTOWN FARMERS' MARKET

Morgan Thompson — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:49:01 PDT

The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics and spending behavior of attendees at San Luis Obispo’s downtown Farmers’ Market. With the current 2011 economic recession in America, this study evaluated its affect on the Farmers’ Market attendee demographics and purchasing motivations. Using a questionnaire distributed to 200 participants at Farmers’ Market, this study concluded that most people are motivated by price when shopping for produce and the majority of Farmers’ Market attendees’ spending behaviors have been affected by the economic recession. Furthermore, this study found there is a preference for organic produce to be bought at the downtown Farmers’ Market instead of at a general supermarket. It is recommended that the vendors at the San Luis Obispo’s downtown Farmers’ Market lower their prices on produce, so it can be more affordable to more attendees during this current 2011 economic recession.

ASSESSMENT OF READJUSTING TO LIFE AFTER COMPLETING A THRU-HIKE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Benjamin Turley — Tue, 03 May 2011 11:06:17 PDT

Hundreds of individuals hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail each year. Research on place attachment and culture shock served as a basis for this study. Ten phone interviews were conducted during winter of 2011 interviewing hikers from 2009 or 2010. Results indicated that thru-hikers have difficulty with communicating the experience, new routines/structure, meeting social expectations, and loss of community during readjustment. Character development, an increased sense of confidence, and change in personal care, were all life changes from the AT. Hikers miss being outside, the physical exertion, the community of the trail, and the simplicity of life. It was unclear if depression is experienced during readjustment. However, subjects were motivated towards other long term goals from hiking the AT. This study shows that hikers feel a strong connection to the trail, thus more efforts should be taken to protect such an important place to many individuals.