Gab Venne – Exploring barriers to outdoor recreation
2023 Mitchell Center Intern
Academic Program: Forest Resources, UMaine
Project: Barriers to outdoor recreation faced by Underrepresented Minority groups in Maine
Team Leaders: Sandra De Urioste-Stone, UMaine School of Forest Resources; Rex Turner, Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
What problem/s are you working to solve?
I am working with the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands on a diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) project. We are hoping to get answers on what or if there are any barriers to outdoor recreation and nature-based activities within underrepresented individuals in Maine.
What progress are you making toward solutions?
We have made progress on different definitions (i.e., outdoor recreation, DEIJA, etc.). Our next step is to start to reach out to a few different organizations in hopes of recruiting participants for an interview and potentially later on a focus group to further dive into citizen’s barriers to outdoor recreation.
How could your findings contribute to a sustainable future in Maine and beyond?
Sustainability and DEIJA are two concepts that are intertwined. The findings of this project will help make outdoor recreation more accessible for all. Having different communities utilizing outdoor opportunities makes the environment more welcoming and can also make it more sustainable.
Why did you get involved with this internship project?
I got involved with this internship project because qualitative work, which involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences, has always been an interesting research method for me and I wanted to further explore it.
What do you find rewarding about collaborating with stakeholders? Most challenging?
I think that being able to hear everyone’s perspectives, topics, and ideas allows for more diversity within the project and different areas to further dive into. Being able to communicate on a regular basis with a stakeholder has also been an eye-opening experience even though the most challenging thing is finding the time to meet and organize activities with a stakeholder as everyone is always very busy.
Where do you hope to be in five years?
I am still very unsure of where I want to be in five years. For now, I love being able to work on projects that many different citizens can benefit from and see where the outcomes take me.
What’s your ultimate Maine experience?
My ultimate Maine experience is to make sure that I enjoy the outdoors as much as I can as well as contribute to nature-based recreation and make it more accessible for all.