Gabrielle Venne – Barriers to outdoor recreation and nature-based activities
Gabrielle is a graduate student in the School of Forest Resources
What problem/s are you working to solve?
I am working with the Maine DACF Bureau of Parks and Lands on a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) component. We are hoping to get answers on how to face the barriers to outdoor recreation and nature-based activities within different groups of citizens.
What progress are you making toward solutions?
We have been in discussion about how we want to define DEI as well as how to define outdoor recreation. Our next step is to start communicating with different organizations in hopes of recruiting participants for an interview or focus group to further dive into the barriers people face.
How could your findings contribute to a sustainable future in Maine and beyond?
Sustainability and DEI are two concepts that intertwine. The findings of this project can help make outdoor recreation more accessible for all. Having different communities utilizing outdoor opportunities makes an environment 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. The most challenging thing is finding the time to meet and organize activities with stakeholders 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.