Our Research

By Liv Wells This past summer I had the opportunity to work at Round Lake State Park, a park I grew up exploring throughout the seasons. During my time working at the park, I began researching the interpretive themes and topics within the park that would fulfill coursework requirements for my Masters of Integrated Natural Resources. The first step of the research process was to interview park experts, which I was able to do during my time working at the park. I was also inter

By Victoria Ortega This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Heyburn State Park both to fulfill the ENVS internship credit and to research park experts and media for the Heyburn State Park interpretive themes report. I arrived at Heyburn in late May and immediately fell in love with the park’s beauty. I worked in the visitor center, where I interacted with many visitors. I felt great pride in being able to answer any questions and suggest new spots in the park f

By Nathan Moody During the summer of 2026, PRL lab member and faculty in the UI Natural Resources and Society department Nate Moody completed his first season as a new outfitter on the Lower Selway and Middle Fork Clearwater Rivers in Northern Idaho. The Selway, together with the Lochsa River, combine to form the Middle Fork Clearwater and collectively hold the unique position as one of the 8 original Wild and Scenic Rivers designated by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968

Authors: Mary Engels, Mandira Panta, Chris Zajchowski Abstract Littering in U.S. parks and protected areas poses an increasing management challenge as visitation rises. We examined how environmental worldviews influenced litter disposal behaviors and management preferences among recreational visitors. Surveys were administered to campers (N = 537) across four Idaho State Parks and one U.S. National Forest. Using the revised New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) results indicate th

Authors: Chris Zajchowski, Madelyn Cottrell, Anna Medlin, Paige Fery, Jeff Rose Abstract Urban parks and protected areas offer a variety of cultural ecosystem services (CES) or nonmarket benefits humans derive from nature. We inventoried CES at the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a U.S. National Park Service unit forming a linear 25-mile transportation corridor that features rich cultural, natural, and recreational values and sits directly adjacent to the nation’s capital

By Shahriar Md Arifur Rahman On March 13, 2026, I had the opportunity to present the first study of my dissertation research at the 2026 GPSA Annual Graduate Expo at the University of Idaho, held at the Bruce Pitman Center. The event brought together graduate students from various disciplines to share their research and creative work in a public, engaging format. It was a valuable space for scholarly exchange, allowing presenters to discuss their projects with faculty, peers,

By Natalia Jaramillo It is Sunday, 11 p.m. There are only a few hours left before another deadline, and there is still a long list of things to finish. Tomorrow is Monday. Again, Monday. Lately, all my days feel like Mondays. This year, a large part of my work has not been in the field, but at my desk. Weeks have been spent preparing and submitting applications: the Berklund Graduate Scholarship, the Stillinger Expedition Fund, the SCAR Open Science Conference Travel Grant, t

Authors: Madison K. Dougherty, Jaap Vos, Chris Zajchowski Abstract The concept of sustainability in the United States (US) is deeply entrenched in sociopolitical identity discourse. It is critical that higher education institutions (HEIs) in the US identify barriers to sustainability behaviors in students of varying demographic social identities. This study explores whether students’ demographic social identities (i.e., political affiliation, childhood upbringing setting, and

Authors: Chris A.B. Zajchowski, Rebecca Honsinger, Katherine Lee, Chelsea Pennick Management Implications Differential pricing policies may realize legislated goals (i.e., prioritizing resident access and revenue generation), however, may also impact overall demand, undermining revenue optimization and product utilization. Natural areas vary in their appeal, visitor demographics, and competitive alternatives, making it essential to understand demand elasticity through economi

Authors: Joseph Eitzel, Sammie Powers, Michael Gephart, Maddie Cottrell, Anna Medlin, Chris Zajchowski Abstract Recreational conflict is a growing concern in parks experiencing high visitation and diverse user activities. This study examines the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), a linear urban park in Northern Virginia, to explore the nature and extent of such conflicts. Using thematic analysis of open-ended responses from visitor surveys, the study identifies three

By Amber Hawes On January 28, Dr. Zajchowski and I had the opportunity to attend the annual Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) Managers’ Meeting in Boise, ID. This was an excellent opportunity for us to not only learn about department-wide updates but also present some of the great work our lab has been up to and encourage managers to think about how we might be able to partner for future projects. What are some of the topics covered at a statewide managers’ m

By Amber Hawes Our lab and the College of Natural Resources (CNR) had the honor of hosting Susan Buxton, the Director of Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) from November 18 th to November 19 th . This was incredibly significant for our lab and an excellent opportunity for students in our department to learn from such an experienced expert in the field. IDPR Director Susan Buxton presenting for the Outdoor Innovations Speaker Series at the Kenworthy Performing