Kelly Goonan
Assistant Professor of Outdoor Recreation | Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT, UNITED STATES
Outdoor recreation expertise with outdoor safety tips, planning national park visits, and planning and management of outdoor recreation.
Biography
Dr. Kelly Goonan is the program coordinator and associate professor of outdoor recreation in parks and tourism at Southern Utah University. A self-described “hybrid recreation ecologist/recreation social scientist”, her expertise is in management of outdoor recreation, natural resources and protected areas.
Dr. Goonan’s research interests include recreation impact analysis, park sustainability and visitor disturbance projections. She has published academic papers in various national journals, including the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration and the Journal of Environmental Management. Dr. Goonan also taught for the Semester in the Parks and Jumpstart - Our National Parks programs at SUU. She has also led Partners in the Parks projects to introduce Honors students from across the country to our great national parks.
Dr. Goonan earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and Spanish with a minor in outdoor studies from St. Lawrence University. She earned a master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Vermont and a Ph.D. in human dimensions of ecosystem science and management from Utah State University.
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Industry Expertise (3)
Education/Learning
Environmental Services
Research
Areas of Expertise (13)
Visitor Use Management
Wilderness First Aid
Resource Management
Recreation Impact Analysis
Recreation Ecology
Outdoor Recreation Management
Outdoor Recreation
Outdoor Education
Natural Resources
National Park Sustainability
Human Dimensions of Ecosystems
Climbing
Americans in the Outdoors
Education (3)
Utah State University: Ph.D., Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management
University of Vermont: M.S., Natural Resources
St. Lawrence University: B.A, Environmental Studies
Accomplishments (4)
Wilderness First Responder (professional)
Certified by the Wilderness Medicine Training Institute
Utah Women's Leadership Exchange Associate, (professional)
2023
Conservation Representative (professional)
Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission
Certificate (professional)
Experiential Education Academy
Links (1)
Languages (1)
- Spanish
Media Appearances (6)
Zion Regional Recreation Management Plan
The Conservation Fund online
2022-01-25
Webinar on visitor use management
2023’s Best Cities for Ice Skating
LawnStarter online
2023-01-04
We looked for cities with plenty of access to ice rinks, skating lessons, and hockey equipment. We also considered climate conditions and local popularity based on hockey teams, figure skating competitions, and Google searches.
2021’s Best Cities for Hiking
LawnStarter online
2021-03-15
Common barriers to access to outdoor recreation and green space include physical barriers such as infrastructure and community planning; lack of transportation (either personal or public); limited financial resources; and social influences including lack of awareness/education, history of exclusion from outdoor spaces, or not having experienced family or friends to introduce you to outdoor activities.
What does it mean to be the only university of the parks?
ABC 4 News online
2020-08-07
Located in the world’s best backyard, Southern Utah University is the University of the Parks thanks to its close proximity to several outdoor recreational areas and its educational partnerships with the National Park Service. SUU is the only designated University of the Parks in the U.S.
Spring Break was "Grand"
SUU News online
2019-03-19
SUU Outdoors has always offered spring break adventures to students, but this year they accomplished their most “Grand” excursion yet. Jake Manning and Kelly Goonan, assistant professors of outdoor recreation, assisted as trip leaders and guides.
Outdoor Recreation Major Publishes Paper on Space Travel Ethics
SUU University News online
2019-01-30
Vesely, who is majoring in outdoor recreation, completed this paper for her class ORPT 2040: Americans in the Outdoors. After Vesely saw a notice announcing that UReCA was accepting submissions for their journal, she decided to submit her paper with the help of Professor Kelly Goonan.
Research Grants (4)
Recreation Impact Inventory
Bureau of Land Management $18,000
Recreation Impact Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment, Arizona Strip District, Arizona. 2015
Recreation Impact Inventory
Bureau of Land Management. $22,000
Recreation Impact Inventory, Monitoring and Assessment, Arizona Strip District, Arizona. 2017
Determination of Standards of Resource and Visitor Experience Conditions to Protect Sensitive Coastal Resources
Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center, Pacific Ocean Parks Strategy Technical Assistance Program $7,427
This research was designed to identify indicators of quality and formulate associated standards of quality for social and recreational resource conditions for the coastal back country of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Implement Multi-Modal Transportation Plan
National Park Service. $157,296.00.
Implement Multi-Modal Transportation Plan, to Improve Visitor Experience, Bryce Canyon National Park.
Articles (9)
Studies in Outdoor Recreation
Oregon State University PressRobert E. Manning With Laura Anderson, Megha Budruk, Kelly Goonan, Jeffrey Hallo, Daniel Laven, Steven Lawson, Rebecca Stanfield McCown, Ben Minteer, Peter Newman, Elizabeth Perry, Peter Pettengill, Nathan Reigner, William Valliere, Carena van Riper, and Xiao Xiao
2022-10-03
Studies in Outdoor Recreation is a standard text in courses on parks and outdoor recreation
COVID-19 and its impact on visitation and management at US national parks
International Hospitality JournalTempleton, A., Goonan, K., Fayal, A.
2021 This paper examines the challenges and opportunities for visits to national parks post-COVID-19, generally and in the specific context of Southern Utah. This paper will critically examine how visitation may change and what adaptive measures and alternative forms of unit management may be necessary.
Visitor satisfaction levels at Southern Utah national parks as the number of visitors increases.
International Journal of Business, Marketing, and Decision SciencesSteed, E., Kroff, M., Goonan, K.
2018 This study investigates the visitors' satisfaction levels to find out if satisfaction levels were decreasing due to the increased visitation levels at southern Utah national parks, which had experienced double digit visitation increases the past two years.
The Effect of Minimum Impact Education on Visitor Spatial Behavior in Parks and Protected Areas: An Experimental Investigation Using GPS-Based Tracking.
Journal of Environmental Management.Kidd, A.M., Monz, C., D’Antonio, A., Manning, R.E., Reigner, N., Goonan, K.A., Jacobi, C.
2015 This research aimed to reduce impacts resulting from lack of knowledge both about the consequences of one's actions and impact-minimizing best practices.
An Analysis of Current Resource Conditions and Visitor Standards of Primitive Campsites Along Lake Champlain.
Journal of Great Lakes ResearchGoonan, K.A., Monz, C.A., Manning, R.E., Anderson, L.
2012 Primitive campsites located on a paddlers' trail on Lake Champlain in the northeastern USA were assessed for their resource condition quality using standard campsite assessment protocols common to campsite monitoring studies.
Indicators and Standards of Quality for Paddling on Lake Champlain.
Journal of Great Lakes ResearchAnderson, L., Manning, R.E., Monz, C.A., Goonan, K.A., Valliere, W.
2012 This study focuses on indicators and standards of quality for paddling on the lake along a non-motorized kayak and canoe trail.
Tradeoffs Among Resource, Social, and Managerial Conditions on Mountain Summits of the Northern Forest
Leisure SciencesVan Riper, C. J., Manning, R. E., Monz, C. A., & Goonan, K. A.
2011 This research examined the relative importance of indicators and standards of quality at three mountain summits in the Northern Forest. The three summits ranged from low to high levels of use, development, and management. Computer-generated photographs were used to present a range of resource, social, and managerial conditions in a stated choice survey.
Defining, Measuring, Monitoring, and Managing the Sustainability of Parks for Outdoor Recreation.
Journal of Park and Recreation AdministrationManning, R., Valliere, W., Anderson, L., Stanfield-McCown, R., Pettengill, P., Reigner, N., Lawson, S., Newman, P., Budruk, M., Laven, D., Hallo, J., Park, L., Bacon, J., Abbe, D., van Riper, C., Goonan, K.
2011 The purpose of this paper is to suggest that management-by-objectives frameworks used in contemporary park and outdoor recreation management can be useful in defining, measuring, monitoring, and managing the sustainability of parks for outdoor recreation.
Assessment and Monitoring of Recreation Impacts and Resource Conditions on Mountain Summits: Examples From the Northern Forest, USA
Mountain Research and DevelopmentMonz, C. A., Marion, J. L., Goonan, K. A., Manning, R. E., Wimpey, J., & Carr, C.
2010 Mountain summits present a unique challenge to manage sustainably: they are ecologically important and, in many circumstances, under high demand for recreation and tourism activities. This article presents recent advances in the assessment of resource conditions and visitor disturbance in mountain summit environments, by drawing on examples from a multiyear, interdisciplinary study of summits in the northeastern United States. Primary impact issues as a consequence of visitor use, such as informal trail formation, vegetation disturbance, and soil loss, were addressed via the adaption of protocols from recreation ecology studies to summit environments...
Courses (9)
HONR 2040 Honors Inquiry and Analysis
Students will engage in learning activities to develop the critical thinking, problem solving, and research skill-sets necessary to investigate complex interdisciplinary questions and problems thoroughly.
ORPT 2040 Americans in the Outdoors
Examines human values, uses, and management of natural settings at the individual, community, and societal levels.
ORPT 3030 Recreation Resources Management
Principles of wildland recreation management including: characteristics of recreation use and users, introduction to planning concepts, management of wildland recreation facilities and infrastructure, and integration with other natural resource uses.
ORPT 3060 Behavioral Aspects of Outdoor Recreation
This course examines the social, psychological, and geographic influences on human behaviors in outdoor recreation settings. An emphasis is placed on current research and critical challenges affecting recreation management.
ORPT 4030 Interdisciplinary Outdoor Education
A course designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and evaluate interdisciplinary outdoor education programs that promote environmental literacy in wilderness, community and education settings utilizing inquiry and experiential education teaching methods.
ORPT 4500 Recreation Ecology
Examines the effects of outdoor recreation activities on biophysical resources. Students with review current knowledge concerning impacts of recreation on wildlife, plants, soil, air and water resources, and ecological processes. Students will also learn and practice methods for assessing and monitoring resource conditions.
ORPT 4740 Organization& Administration for ORPT
Organization, administration, and evaluation of outdoor recreation programs. Topics include: Planning, programming, evaluation, budgeting, human resources, risk management, policy, & procedures.
ORPT 4745 Organization & Administration Lab
The Organization and Administration lab provides students with an opportunity to apply the processes and information from the ORPT 4740 into their own program. The lab will include implementation of a program plan and an in-depth evaluation of that program.
ORPT 4860 Outdoor Recreation Skills Practicum
This course is designed to give outdoor recreation majors and minor experience leading, teaching, and developing skills in the outdoor recreation field.
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