Colorado State Programs & People
An idyllic setting to study ecotourism
Published August 2007
Imagine a three-credit class where part of your experience includes toughing it out aboard a graceful tall ship in clear blue waters.
Students enrolled in RR 382 spend eight days sailing aboard a tall ship named William H. Albury, Flagship of the Bahamas.
You and your classmates labor to conduct field research while gaining practical, real-world experience and skills. Guest lecturers include well-known local researchers and environmental leaders as well as authorities on local archeology.
For the second summer in a row, Colorado State University students spent eight days in the Bahamas with Stuart Cottrell, associate professor and global tourism coordinator, gaining firsthand knowledge about sustainable development of marine ecotourism.
The course was offered by the Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Department, or HDNR, in the Warner College of Natural Resources and CSU Study Abroad. Participants included 11 undergraduate students with majors in Anthropology, Business, Horticulture, Environmental Engineering as well as Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, or NRRT.
Worldwide ecotourism
Marine ecotourism is becoming increasingly significant worldwide as marine protected areas have become popular destination attractions with increased economic potential. Lack of management and protection policies to mediate increased visitation threatens to destroy delicate marine or ocean-life natural environments and ecosystems.
Highlights of the Colorado State experience included on-campus preparation via lectures in snorkeling and sailing skills, lessons from United States Coast Guard Auxiliary professionals on boating safety and navigation, challenges of marine tourism in the Galapagos Islands and instruction on hurricane impacts on coastal zones by graduate assistant Jonathan Vigh at the CSU Department of Atmospheric Science from the Schubert Research Group.
During the trip, highlights included meetings with local authorities including the Abaco coordinator for Marine Turtle Research, presidents of Friends of the Environment as well as the Light House Historical Association. They also met with Nancy Albury, a local archeologist, who spoke to the group about rare findings of crocodile and tortoise remains in the area and Nan Hauser, President and Director of the Center for Cetacean Research and Conservation who spoke about her Humpback whale research in the Cook Islands.
CSU students learn navigation and boating safety as part of the class.
The key trip aspect was the visit to the controversial Bakers Bay Development site on Guana Cay being developed by Discovery Land Company followed by a deck side chat Troy Albury, local dive shop owner/operator and key spokesperson for Save Guana Cay Reef Group against the development.
All this, in addition to eight days sailing aboard a tall ship, named William H. Albury, Flagship of the Bahamas, and soaking up the local culture via meetings in local schools, visiting local sites and entertaining guests onboard the boat, and attending a fast pitch softball match featuring the Abaco Pirates.
Itinerary packed with adventure
Departing from Denver with transfers to Marsh Harbour from Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach or Miami, the class began the Bahamas adventure on the dock at Conch Inn Marina for orientation and an evening lecture on deck. On day two, the CSU group set sail for new adventures on the Abaco Sea.
Students played an active role in the navigation and operation of the vessel, sailing to different Bahamian Cays and settlements, such as Hope Town and Man-O-War Cay. They snorkeled on a number of coral reefs and visited several marine-based parks and preserves during the week. However, this three-credit class wasn't a pleasure cruise, but a working, sailing journey involving teamwork, lectures, data collection and a firsthand marine ecotourism experience.
Students worked hard for their three credits. Grading for the course included:
- written exam on readings, class lectures, and Bahamian Culture
- reflection journal outlining student's personal philosophy of the role of marine ecotourism as a sustainable development alternative
- ecotourism group project paper requiring the development of an intervention strategy for a sustainable tourism project
- participation evaluation based on attendance, a series of individual exercises, and group participation score
The 2007 participants in RR 382 pose for a group photo.
Students in Summer 2007 session of RR 382 Marine Ecotourism – Bahamas Encounter:
- Ehren Samuelson, NRRT
- Adam Pitchford, NRRT
- Ellen Michelson, Environmental Engineering
- Jamie Cline, NRRT
- Megan Tilley, Anthropology and Art
- Shawna Wood, NRRT
- Jarrett Wilson, Business and Horticulture
- Bobby Bowling, NRRT
- Breanna Jane Burgess, Communications
- Max Silver, Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
- Jessica Apted, Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
For more information about the class, including plans for a similar Summer 2008 course, contact Stuart Cottrell.
