A Proposal for a Disc Golf Nature Trail at the Allegheny College Recreation Complex

McCann, Liam

A Proposal for a Disc Golf Nature Trail at the Allegheny College Recreation Complex

Persistent URL

https://dspace.allegheny.edu/handle/10456/56805

Author(s)

McCann, Liam

Date Issued

March 24, 2023

Abstract

Outdoor education programs at all levels serve as ideal theaters not only for physical activity but also the cultivation of critical social skills such as resilience, leadership, and communication - all of which are particularly important in the developing stages of adolescence. The sport of disc golf has exploded in popularity over the last decade for its low entrance costs, minimal invasiveness to the surrounding environment and high social potential. Members of the disc golf community are no strangers to environmental stewardship, either; disc golfers exemplify the innate human desire to spend time in nature while thoughtfully considering the impacts of having a presence there. Holistic sustainability has long been a hallmark of Allegheny College’s organizational goals, which foster engagement with the outdoors through various student-led organizations like the Outing Club and offer unique educational opportunities through its renowned Environmental Science and Sustainability department. The valuable product of such an education is a population that is both informed about problems associated with the physical environment and well-equipped to zealously pursue their solutions. When combined, outdoor recreation and environmental education can become a powerful force for promoting sustainability and awareness. The purpose of this project, therefore, is to explore the potential of a disc golf course for Allegheny College as a guided education program wherein players can be presented different environmental topics relevant to northwest Pennsylvania at each hole in an engaging, nondisruptive manner to their game. The final program is entirely digitized in the form of an ArcGIS StoryMap.

Major

Environmental Science

First Reader(s)

Bowden, Richard D.