Our Research

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

By Nate Moody October 20-23, 2025, the University of Idaho Parks and Recreation Lab (PRL) travelled across the Bitterroot Mountains to Missoula, Montana for the annual George Wright Society ParkForum meeting. In total, five members of the PRL came and presented a mixture of posters and presentations. The meeting allowed PRL students and faculty a chance to network with other national and international parks and protected areas managers, researchers, and students. Here are som

By Chris Zajchowski Students walking along Chatcolet Lake at Heyburn State Park and examining ongoing construction projects. Photo Credit: Cole Buzzini, ‘26 This Fall, University of Idaho students in NRS 1250: Introduction to Conservation and Natural Resources are busy learning about different public, private, tribal, and nonprofit land management models. Their semester-long research project puts this learning into practice through interviews with cabin leaseholders at Heybu

Authors: Abigail Lourdraj, Ryan Sharp, Sarah Jackson , Cait Henry and Chris Zajchowski Abstract Survey response rates have been in decline for decades, thus making it increasingly difficult to gather statistically valid samples. Coupled with limited time, resources, and funding available for survey research, exploring new methods of collecting visitor surveys is paramount. This case study examines using QR codes printed on business cards and distributed on-site at parks as a

Authors: Wyatt Harris, Richard T. Melstrom, Lopamudra Chakraborti and Chris A. B. Zajchowski Abstract This paper examines the economic value of recreation at Monocacy National Battlefield in 2006 and 2021, during which visitation increased substantially. We estimate visitors’ willingness-to-pay using the travel cost method and visitor survey data from both years. We find willingness-to-pay of about $10 per trip in 2006 and $31 per trip in 2021. While our study does not identi

By: Olivia Howell When I got an email from my professor, Dr. Chris Zajchowski, about a new field course, I jumped at the opportunity to...