Sustaining Civic Recreation: Understanding What Shapes Climbers’ Contributions to Local Resource Stewardship and Advocacy

Abstract

A new form of recreation-focused collective action has grown over recent decades. Practitioners of shared outdoor recreation interests are coordinating to meet stewardship and advocacy goals. Such "civic recreation organizations" blur the lines between voluntary sport clubs, interest groups, and resource management, promising concentrated recreational benefits and offering the potential for positive impacts for other user groups and stakeholders, land managers, and perhaps even the general public. This study draws insights from leisure, voluntary contributions, and social exchange research to examine how the relationship between a recreationist and a civic recreation organization, recreational commitment, and the likelihood of receiving tangible benefits may impact recreationist's propensity to contribute to civic recreation through organizational membership, donations, and volunteering. The analysis offers theoretical insights into how trust and recreational commitment might support sport-centered local civic environmentalism, with practical implications for civic recreation leaders.

Climbers for Bat Conservation: creating a citizen science program in Red River Gorge Kentucky

“…Regardless, it is obvious that awareness of CBC is required to report bats to the organization. Similarly, Carter (2023) found that familiarity with a civic recreation organization was positively related to rock climbers engaging in volunteer behavior. A local liaison as suggested by the world café data may be able to not only increase the awareness of CBC but also correct any misinformation regarding the organization.…”