UW Students Produce Applied Reports to Support Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Community Planning

This spring, students in the University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources' Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM) Program's capstone course completed a series of applied research reports to help Wyoming communities, agencies and businesses make informed decisions about outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality development.

The reports were produced through ORTM 4903, the program's senior capstone course, in partnership with community organizations, public agencies, private businesses and the Jay Kemmerer Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality (WORTH) Institute. Student teams worked with partners across the state to collect data, conduct interviews, review best practices and develop recommendations that will be used in real-world planning and decision-making.

"These projects show what applied learning can look like when students work directly with Wyoming communities and industry partners," says Dan McCoy, director of the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute and instructor for the course. "The students were not just completing classroom assignments. They were helping partners answer practical questions about business growth, recreation demand, tourism planning, visitor experience and workforce development."

The spring capstone reports, with students listed by name and hometown, included:

-- "Wyoming Outdoor Business Needs Assessment": Students Carter Watsabaugh and Tom Salerno, of Jackson, and Ruth Muyapa, of Jakarta Pusat/Jakarta Barat, Indonesia, worked with Founded Outdoors and the WORTH Institute to assess needs, barriers and opportunities facing private-sector outdoor recreation businesses across Wyoming.

The team developed a statewide business contact list, helped distribute a survey and analyzed responses from outdoor businesses. Findings pointed to workforce challenges, permitting complexity, regional differences, business succession concerns and the need for stronger industry-specific support systems.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/kr6p-vy66.

-- "Resident Sentiment Survey on Tourism in Albany County, Wyoming: Survey Design and Recommendations for Implementation": Students Arden Cherek-Madden, of Cheyenne; Owen Alberty, of Rocheport, Mo.; and Sofia Montoya, of Aurora, Colo., worked with Visit Laramie and the Albany County Tourism Board to develop a resident sentiment survey and implementation recommendations.

The project focused on how Albany County residents perceive tourism's economic, social and environmental impacts, while recommending a push-to-web survey approach, broad community outreach and use of the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center to support reliable data collection.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/9ygh-fv81.

-- "Connecting Johnson County": Students Kara Waskowiak, of Gothenburg, Neb.; Savannah Avey, of Snyder, Texas; and Sadie Vandenberg, of Newburyport, Mass., partnered with the Johnson County Tourism Association to support work on the organization's 2050 Tourism Master Plan.

Through stakeholder interviews, an online survey and a site visit, the team identified strengths such as natural beauty, outdoor recreation, Western heritage and small-town character. They also identified challenges related to coordination, seasonality, housing and workforce.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/6c2b-a291.

-- "Laramie Community-Wide Sports Study": Students Jaxon Moore, of Douglas; Sophie Spiva, of Casper; and David Willems, of Laramie, worked with the City of Laramie Parks and Recreation Department and BerryDunn to gather community input on sports and recreation facility needs.

Through pop-up engagement, surveys and focus groups, the team found strong support for expanded indoor recreation opportunities, including indoor turf or fieldhouse space, additional gym courts, pickleball facilities and improved coordination among recreation providers.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/jwma-g245.

-- "Guide School Development and Best Practices": Students Cole Guerra, of Basehor, Kan.; Katy Fleming, of Casper; and Konner Gregory, of Kemmerer, examined standards and best practices for fishing guide schools in Wyoming.

The team interviewed stakeholders in the guided fishing industry and reviewed certification models from other outdoor recreation sectors. The report recommends developing core guide competencies, supporting conservation-focused guide education, exploring accreditation and considering a hybrid model that combines online coursework with on-water practical training.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/1qf5-ez96.

-- "Curt Gowdy State Park Concessionaire Services": Students Jakob Haenisch, of Laramie; Phinneus Lucy, of Fryeburg, Maine; Caitlyn Oliva, of Lombard, Ill.; and Edwin Tartt, of Kensington, Md., worked on a concessionaire services plan for Curt Gowdy State Park.

The team reviewed concession models from other parks, surveyed visitors, and developed recommendations related to concession services, permanent concession infrastructure, parking and visitor operations preferences. The project was designed to help improve visitor experiences while supporting long-term concession planning at one of Wyoming's most heavily visited state parks.

To read the report, go to https://doi.org/10.82938/1a59-m793.

The projects reflect the mission of both the ORTM degree and the WORTH Institute: preparing students for professional work while supporting Wyoming's communities and outdoor recreation, tourism and hospitality sectors, McCoy says.

"Wyoming communities need usable information to guide decisions," he says. "These reports give partners a starting point for future planning, and they give students experience working with real clients, real data and real constraints."

The capstone course emphasizes applied problem-solving, professional communication, stakeholder engagement and project management. Students are expected to work with external partners, define project objectives, collect and interpret information, and present findings in ways that are useful to decision-makers.

The projects also highlight the range of issues shaping Wyoming's outdoor recreation and tourism economy, from business support and workforce development to resident quality of life, recreation infrastructure, public-land visitor services and professional standards in guiding.

"Outdoor recreation and tourism are central to Wyoming's economy and identity," McCoy says. "The work students completed this semester demonstrates how the university connects classroom learning with community needs across the state."

For more information, email McCoy at [email protected].

For more information about the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management degree, visit the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources website.

For more information about the Jay Kemmerer WORTH Institute, visit the WORTH Institute website.