Interpretation in both national and state parks provides more than mere entertainment to the visitor. Interpretation has been proven to be an effective deterrent to littering, vandalism and the deterioration of natural park resources. The focus of this research is to determine whether high quality programs, a large number of programs, and/or a diversity of programs offered by Indiana state parks attract a higher percentage of the total number of visitors entering a park facility to an interpretative event.The subjects need in this research were the state parks of Indiana. Data was obtained from a weekly form (SP-48) used by the Indiana parks. SP-48 forms from 1987 through 1990, Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, were used: the total number of programs incorporated into this study was 20,595. The parks were divided into categories (all parks, year-round parks, and seasonal parks) and groups (high, medium and low number of facilities) to provide a similar statistical grouping for analysis.The factors studied were paired and regression analysis were performed on each pairing. Correlation coefficients indicated that an increase in the quantity of programs offered was highly correlated (p<001) to an increase in the percent of gate entrants participating in an interpretive event. Presentation diversity was significantly related to either of the above variables. / Department of Natural Resources

This creative project presents a plan for interpreting the natural, cultural, and historical features of the Whitewater Gorge Park in Richmond, Indiana to the people who will visit the park in the future. The plan begins with inventories of natural, cultural, and historical resources, management concerns, and visual character, and also examines patterns of use in the park. The park's greatest assets are summarized in a series of interpretive themes; for each theme, specific interpretive media and methods are proposed and discussed. Interpretive measures are then grouped in lists of short-term and long-term priorities.An appendix to this creative project outlines the results of a questionnaire completed by a group of hikers in the park. The questionnaire was designed to sample hikers' opinions about the usefulness of a printed trail guide with which they had been supplied, and to investigate their reactions to the Whitewater Gorge Park as a whole. / Department of Landscape Architecture

The effectiveness of a guide training program was evaluated as a means of providing interpretive services to commercial boaters at the New River Gorge National River. Commercial river guides attended a National Park Service sponsored training program which provided accurate information and education concerning natural and cultural history of the New River, the national significance of the New River Gorge National River, the history and purpose of the National Park Service, and information and services available at the visitor centers. The emphasis of the training session was to increase the river guides’ knowledge base and to encourage their interpretive presentation of this information to their customers. Customers of a commercial outfitter were administered a questionnaire before and after the guide training program. Significant differences in the amount of interpretation guides presented on the river, the amount of knowledge customers acquired during the trip, and the customers' overall trip rating were noted by empirical testing. Increases in the means of all three outcome variables occurred following guide training. Customers’ intentions to visit a New River Gorge Visitor Center did not significantly change following guide training. The validity and reliability of the instrument is discussed as well as potential biases and constraints of the study. Implications for management and further research are also discussed. / M.S.

This project investigates federal, state and local agencies and organizations that are key sources of information about Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) to determine the extent of the agencies' environmental education and awareness programs related to the sheep. The agencies and organizations investigated include: Bureau of Land Management, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park, Bighorn Institute, Natural Science Collaborative of the Desert Region and California Desert Managers Group. Recommendations about future educational and interpretive programs are included.