Ecotourism in National Parks and Wilderness
Grade Level: 6-9

Summary: Traditionally, the value of the nation's wild places has been measured by the economic resources that could be extracted from them, often leading to their destruction. Today, however, many people are looking for alternative ways of generating economic value from the land that do not significantly damage the ecosystem. One solution has been the development of "ecotourism." In many states, tourism in wild places has become a major revenue generating industry. In this activity, students will research a wilderness or natural area near you and develop a plan for ecotourism.

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Student Instruction Sheet

Activity 1:
Clash of Viewpoints

Students examine the issues surrounding land-use conflicts and discuss the different definitions of the "value" of natural areas.

Featured video clips in this activity:

Sipsey Wilderness - Clash of Viewpoints Differing viewpoints about wilderness preservation and resource utilization have existed for hundreds of years.

Activity 2:
Ecotourism
Students research the natural resources available at local wilderness area that would be interesting to potential tourists. They will then design a brochure that advertises the ecotourism opportunities available in the area.

Featured video clips in this activity:

Campbell River Eco-Tour In relatively wild places like British Columbia - where bald eagles and black bears are among the attractions - ecotourism is growing in popularity.

Outfitters and Recreation in Protected Wilderness Outfitters and guides appreciate the importance of wilderness preservation.

Wildlife and Fishing in Protected Wilderness Anglers, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts state their reasons for valuing the protection of the wilderness.

Activity 3:

The Price We Pay
Students discuss the pros and cons of ecotourism and examine how their ecotourism plans could be improved to further protect the environment.

Featured video clips in this activity:

Outfitters and Recreation in Protected Wilderness Outfitters and guides appreciate the importance of wilderness preservation.

New Pressures on Canyonlands National Park The popularity of Canyonlands National Park threatens the fragile ecosystem and environment that the park was designed to protect.