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pdfVisitor Services Project — Bryce Canyon National Park
Introductory script used in contacting visitors:
Hello! The National Park Service is conducting a visitor survey at Bryce Canyon
National Park to gather your opinions about the park’s programs and services.
Participation is voluntary. If you decide to participate we would like to have the survey
mailed back. The mail-back questionnaire takes about 20 minutes to complete during or
after your visit. Would you like to participate?
IF NO: Thank you. IF YES: Thank you. I have a few quick questions for you. Who in
your group (at least 16 years old) has the next birthday?
Questions 1-4: Topic area 2⎯Trip/visit characteristics
Question 5: Topic area 1⎯Individual Characteristics
1) What type of group are you traveling with today?
2) (If with an organized group-tours, school, etc.) How many people are in your
group?
3) How many adults, 18 years and older, are in your personal group?
4) How many children, 17 years and younger, are in your personal group?
5) How old is the person who will complete the questionnaire?
So we can thank you and remind you to mail back the questionnaire, please write your
name, address, and email address/phone number. Thank you. Be sure to mail the
questionnaire—your opinions are important!
Training for interviewers: each interviewer receives 1-1/2 hours of training on how to
conduct interviews. This training goes over every aspect of interviewing, including
conducting the interviews using a sampling interval, avoiding sampling bias, and how to
handle all types of interviewing situations, including safety of the visitor and the
interviewer. Quality control is ensured by monitoring interviewers in the field, and by
checking their paperwork at the end of each day of surveying.
1st follow-up printed on a scenic park postcard (sent to all participants 11 working days
after completion of survey)
Dear Visitor:
Thank you for participating in the Bryce Canyon
National Park visitor study. We look forward to
hearing from you.
A select number of people were contacted for
this study, so your opinions are very important!
If you have already returned your questionnaire,
thank you. If not, please mail it today.
After eight months, look for the survey results at:
www.psu.uidaho.edu/vsp.reports.htm.
Eddie L. Lopez, Superintendent
Bryce Canyon National Park
2nd follow-up note and letter with replacement questionnaire (sent to non-respondents
21 working days after completion of survey)
United States Department of the Interior
IN REPLY REFER TO:
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Bryce Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 640201
Bryce Canyon, UT 84764-0201
September 2, 2009
Dear Visitor:
The National Park Service would like to thank you for participating in the Bryce Canyon
National Park visitor study. As of today, we have not received your questionnaire.
Because only a select number of visitors were contacted, each visitor's comments are
very important.
If you have already returned your questionnaire, thank you. If you have not returned
your questionnaire, please mail it today. Unless your questionnaire was mailed in the
last few days, we would appreciate you completing another one. We are enclosing a
replacement questionnaire.
In approximately eight months, the results of the visitor survey will be posted on the
Visitor Services Project website at www.psu.uidaho.edu/vsp.reports.htm.
If you have any questions regarding your questionnaire, please contact Margaret
Littlejohn, National Park Service Visitor Services Project Director by phone 208-8857863 or email: [email protected].
Thank you for sharing your opinions with us.
Sincerely,
Eddie L. Lopez, Superintendent
Bryce Canyon National Park
3rd follow-up letter with replacement questionnaire (sent to non-respondents 35 working
days after completion of survey)
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
IN REPLY REFER TO:
Visitor Services Project
PSU, College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
P.O. Box 441139
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139
September 22, 2009
I am writing about the visitor study at Bryce Canyon National Park, in which you agreed
to participate. As of today, we have not received your completed questionnaire.
The waiting period for incoming questionnaires is almost over and we have not yet
received yours. I would appreciate you completing another one unless you mailed it
within the past few days.
a
The staff of Bryce Canyon National Park is anxiously awaiting the survey results. They
want to use your ideas and opinions in making decisions about what services and
programs to provide for visitors in the future.
I urge you to complete the enclosed questionnaire and return it by October 6th. Your
contribution to the success of this study is greatly appreciated.
In approximately eight months, the results of the visitor survey will be posted on the
Visitor Services Project website at www.psu.uidaho.edu/vsp.reports.htm.
Should you have questions regarding your questionnaire, please contact me by phone:
(208)-885-7863 or email: [email protected].
Sincerely,
Margaret Littlejohn
Director, Visitor Services Project
Social Science Program
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Visitor Services Project
Bryce Canyon National Park
Visitor Study
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
OMB Approval 1024- (NPS# 08)
Expiration date:
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Bryce Canyon National Park
P.O. Box 640201
Bryce Canyon, UT 84764-0201
IN REPLY REFER TO:
July, 2009
Dear Visitor:
Thank you for participating in this important study. We want to learn
about the expectations, opinions, and interests of visitors to Bryce
Canyon National Park. This information will help us improve our
management of this park and better serve you, our visitor.
This questionnaire will be given to only a select number of visitors, so
your participation is very important! It should only take about 20 minutes
after your visit to complete.
When your visit is over, please complete the questionnaire. Seal it with
the stickers provided on the last page and drop it in any U.S. mailbox.
If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Littlejohn, NPS VSP
Director, Park Studies Unit, College of Natural Resources, P.O. Box
441139, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139, phone:
208-885-7863, email: [email protected].
We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Eddie L. Lopez
Superintendent
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
DIRECTIONS
At the end of your visit:
1) Please have the selected individual complete this questionnaire.
2) Answer the questions carefully since each question is different.
3) For questions that use circles (O), please mark your answer by
filling in the circle with black or blue ink, or a pencil with dark
(e.g. #2) lead.
4) Seal it with the stickers provided.
5) Drop it in a U.S. mailbox.
Thank you!
PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement:
16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorizes collection of this information. This information will be
used by park managers to better serve the public. Response to this request is
voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the
information requested. Your name is requested for follow-up mailing purposes
only. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all name and address files
will be destroyed. Thus the permanent data will be anonymous. Please do not
put your name or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire. An
agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Burden estimate statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to
average 20 minutes per response. Direct comments regarding the burden
estimate or any other aspect of this form to Margaret Littlejohn, NPS Visitor
Services Project, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box
441139, Moscow, ID, 83844-1139; email: [email protected].
Please go to the next page Î
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
Your Visit To Bryce Canyon National Park
NOTE: In this questionnaire, personal group is defined as anyone that you are visiting the
park with, such as spouse, family, friends, etc. This does not include the larger group
that you might be traveling with, such as school, church, scouts, or tour group.
1.
a) Prior to your visit, how did you and your personal group obtain information to
plan your visit to Bryce Canyon National Park (NP)? Please mark ( ) all that
apply in the left column. [2.TPLAN11]
•
O
Obtained no information prior to visit Î Go to part b of this question
O
Friends/relatives/word of mouth
O
Travel guides/tour books (such as AAA, etc.)
O
Park publications, maps, brochures, etc.
O
Newspaper/magazine articles
O
E-mail/written inquiry to park
O
Phone inquiry to park
O
Television/radio programs/videos
O
Bryce Canyon NP website: www.nps.gov/brca/
O
Park concession website: www.xanterra.com
O
Other websites
O
State welcome center/Chamber of commerce
O
Information from local motel or other business
O
Other (Please specify)
b) From the sources marked above, did you and your personal group receive the
type of information about the park that you needed? [2.TPLAN12]
O
No
O
Yes Î Go to Question 2
c) If NO, what type of park information did you and your personal group need that
was not available? Please be specific. [2.TPLAN13]
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
2.
a) On this trip, did you and your personal group stay overnight away from home
inside Bryce Canyon NP or in the area within 50 miles of the park, including
Panguitch, Escalante, Tropic, etc.? [3.TRIPC13]
O
Yes
O
Î
No
Go to Question 3
b) and c) If YES, how many nights did you and your personal group spend in the
following types of accommodations? Please write the number of nights stayed.
[3.TRIPC15]
b) Number of nights
inside park
c) Number of nights
outside park within 50 miles
Lodge, motel, cabin, rented condo/home, or bed & breakfast
Camping in developed campground
Ô
At which location in park?
Backcountry campsite
Personal seasonal residence (summer home)
Residence of friends or relatives
Other (Please specify below)
b)
3.
c)
a) In what town/city did you and your group stay on the night before your arrival
at Bryce Canyon NP? If you stayed at home, please write the name of your
hometown. [3.TRIPC16]
State:
Nearest town/city:
b) In what town/city did you and your group stay on the night after your
departure from Bryce Canyon NP? [3.TRIPC17]
State:
Nearest town/city:
Q. 4: Topic area 3 ⎯Visitor activities and use of park resources
4. a) On this visit, did you and your personal group hike at Bryce Canyon NP?
O
Yes
O
No
Î
Go to Question 5
•
b) If YES, where did you hike? Please mark ( ) all that apply.
O
Along canyon rim
O
Into canyon below the rim
•
c) How much total time did you spend hiking in the park? Please mark ( ) one.
O
Less than 2 hours
O
Between 2 and 4 hours
O
More than 4 hours
5.
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
a) As you were planning your trip, what activities did you and your personal
group expect to include on this visit? Please mark ( ) all that apply in the left
column. [3.ACT24]
•
b) On this visit, what activities did you and your personal group participate in?
Please mark ( ) all that apply in the right column.
•
a) Activities
expected ( )
b) Activities actually
participated in ( )
•
•
O
Sightseeing/Scenic driving
O
O
Day hiking
O
O
Photography
O
O
Attending ranger-led programs/activities
O
O
Horseback riding
O
O
Bicycling
O
O
Overnight backpacking
O
O
Camping in developed campgrounds
O
O
Picnicking
O
O
Nature study (plants, animals, etc.)
O
O
Riding shuttle bus
O
O
Shopping in gift shops/bookstores inside park
O
O
Stargazing /Astronomy
O
O
Other (Please specify below)
O
Expected:
Actual:
c) Which one of the above activities that you and your personal group participated
in was your primary reason for visiting Bryce Canyon NP? Please list only
one response. [3.ACT23]
6.
On this visit to Bryce Canyon NP, how long did you and your personal group
spend visiting the park? [3.TRIPC11]
Number of hours if less than 24 hours, OR
Number of days if 24 hours or more
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
7. a) For this trip, please mark ( ) all of the locations in Bryce Canyon NP that you
and your personal group visited. Use the map to help you identify the locations
that you visited. [3.ITIN1]
•
O
Did not stop at any locations in the park Î
To Antimony
North
0
0
0.5
1 Kilometer
Go to Question 8
O
Mossy Cave
O
Park entrance sign
O
Fairyland Point
O
Visitor center
O
Sunrise Point
O
Bryce Canyon Lodge
O
Sunset Point
O
Inspiration Point
O
Bryce Point
O
Paria View
O
Farview Point
O
Natural Bridge
O
Rainbow Point
O
Yovimpa Point
O
Other (Please specify)
1 Mile
0.5
Bryce Canyon
Airport
To 89
12
63
Mossy
Cave
Fairyland Point
Rim
T rai
l
Visitor Center
Sunrise Point
Lodge
Sunset Point
Inspiration Point
Rim
T ra i l
Bryce Point
Paria View
Swamp Canyon
To Tropic and
Escalante
BRYCE
CANYON
NATIONAL
PARK
Farview Point
Natural
Bridge
Agua
Canyon
Rainbow Point
Yovimpa
Point
b) On this visit, what site in Bryce Canyon NP did you and your personal group
visit first?
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
c) On this visit, which of the above sites did you most enjoy?
8.
•
a) Please mark ( ) all information services and facilities that you or your personal
group used within Bryce Canyon NP during this visit. [6.EVALSERV21]
b) Next, for only those information services and facilities that you or your personal
group used, please rate their importance to your visit from 1-5.
c) Finally, for only those information services and facilities that you or your
personal group used, please rate their quality from 1-5.
a) Information services and
facilities used
•
Mark ( )
b) If used,
how important?
1=Not important
2=Somewhat important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important
O
Assistance from park staff
O
Bryce Canyon NP website:
www.nps.gov/brca/ (used before or during visit)
O
Bulletin boards
O
Junior Ranger program
O
Park brochure/map
O
Park newspaper – The Hoodoo
O
Park radio information stations:
AM 1610 and/or AM 1590
O
Ranger-led programs
O
Roadside exhibits
O
Sales items in visitor center bookstore
(selection, price, etc.)
O
Self-guided nature trails
O
Visitor center exhibits
O
O
Visitor center video
Park road directional signs (inside park)
c) If used,
what quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
9. a) Please mark ( ) all recreational services and facilities that you or your group
used within Bryce Canyon NP during this visit. [6.EVALSERV21]
•
b) Next, for only those recreational services and facilities that you or your group
used, please rate their importance to your visit from 1-5.
c) Finally, for only those recreational services and facilities that you or your group
used, please rate their quality from 1-5.
a) Recreational services and
facilities used
•
Mark ( )
O
Access for disabled persons
O
Backcountry campsites
O
Bryce Canyon Lodge
O
Canyon Trail Rides horseback rides
O
Developed campgrounds
O
General store
O
Gift shop in Bryce Canyon Lodge
O
Parking areas
O
Picnic areas
O
Recycling bins
O
Restaurant in Bryce Canyon Lodge
O
Restrooms
O
Showers/laundromat
O
Shuttle bus
O
Trails
O
Trash cans/dumpsters
b) If used,
how important?
1=Not important
2=Somewhat important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important
c) If used,
what quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
10. a) It is the National Park Service’s responsibility to protect Bryce Canyon’s natural
and cultural resources/attributes and visitor experiences that depend on these.
How important is the protection of the following to you and your group? Please
mark ( ) one answer for each attribute/resource [6.OPMGMT4]
•
Attribute/resource
Not
Somewhat Moderately Very Extremely
important important important important important
Clean air
O
O
O
O
O
Geologic features
O
O
O
O
O
Scenic drive/scenic views
O
O
O
O
O
Interpretive/informational
programs
O
O
O
O
O
Recreational opportunities
(hiking, camping, biking, etc.)
O
O
O
O
O
Human/cultural history
O
O
O
O
O
Solitude
O
O
O
O
O
Natural quiet/sounds of nature
O
O
O
O
O
Plants and animals
O
O
O
O
O
Night sky/stargazing
O
O
O
O
O
Learning/educational
opportunities
O
O
O
O
O
b) Did anything detract from your enjoyment of any of the above features or
qualities?
O
Yes
O
No Î Go to Question 11
If YES, how? Please explain:
11. a) Bryce Canyon NP interpretive programs and exhibits discuss topics such as:
geology, American Indian culture/history, pioneer history, night skies/astronomy
and plants/animals. Please mark ( ) all of the topics you learned about on this
visit. [3.LEARN1]
•
O
Did not learn about any topics on this visit Î Go to part c of this question
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
b) Please mark ( ) in column b how much your understanding of each topic
increased during your visit.
•
•
c) Next, mark ( ) in column c which topics you would be interested in learning
more about on a future visit.
a) Learned on
this visit?
( )
b) Increase in understanding?
•
Not at all A little
Somewhat A lot
c) Interested
on future visit?
Yes
No
O
American Indian
culture/history
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Geology
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Night skies/
astronomy
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Pioneer history
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Plants/animals
O
O
O
O
O
O
d) Please list any additional topics you and your personal group are interested in
learning about Bryce Canyon NP.
Q. 12: Topic area 1⎯Visitor characteristics
•
12. Please mark ( ) your awareness level, both before and after your visit, of each
safety issue at Bryce Canyon NP.
BEFORE visit
AFTER visit
Not Somewhat Very
aware aware
aware
Safety Issue
Not Somewhat Very
aware
aware
aware
O
O
O
Need for appropriate footwear
O
O
O
O
O
O
Danger from lightning strikes
O
O
O
O
O
O
Need to drink plenty of water
O
O
O
O
O
O
How to cope with altitude
sickness
O
O
O
O
O
O
Danger of health/safety risks
from feeding wildlife
O
O
O
O
O
O
Danger from hiking off trails
O
O
O
O
O
O
Danger from climbing over
railings
O
O
O
O
O
O
How to minimize sun exposure
O
O
O
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
13 a) Please indicate how crowded you and your personal group felt by people
and/or vehicles during this visit. Please mark ( ) one for each. [5CROWD2]
Not at all
A little Moderately Very
Extremely
How crowded?
Crowded crowded
crowded crowded
crowded
•
People
O
O
O
O
O
Vehicles
O
O
O
O
O
b) If you felt “extremely crowded” or “very crowded,” please list the specific park
location where you and your personal group felt crowded.
•
d) What time of day did you feel crowded? Please mark ( ) all that apply.
O
Morning
(before noon)
O
Afternoon
(Noon-6 pm)
O
Evening
(after 6 pm)
14. a) Currently, Bryce Canyon NP provides a shuttle bus to transport visitors around
the main park area from May to September. On this visit, did you and your
personal group ride the park shuttle bus? [3.TRANS2]
O
O
Yes
No Î b) If NO, why not?
Ð
c) If YES, where did you park your vehicle before boarding the shuttle bus?
Please mark ( ) one. [5.TRANS7]
•
O
Ruby’s Inn
O
Shuttle Boarding Area (opposite Ruby’s Inn)
O
Visitor center
O
Trailer drop-off lot (opposite visitor center)
O
Sunset Point
O
Ruby’s Inn Campground
O
Other (Please specify)
d) How can the shuttle system and services be improved for your next visit?
[6.EVALTRAN6]
15: Topic
area 7 Park
⎯Visitor
opinions
Bryce Q.
Canyon
National
Visitor
Studyon park management
15. Units of the National Park System, such as Bryce Canyon, are established to
preserve places with outstanding natural and cultural resources and to provide
ways for visitors to enjoy these resources.
a) In your opinion, how important is it to conduct scientific research about natural
and cultural resources in Bryce Canyon NP?
Not
important
Somewhat
important
Moderately
important
Very
important
Extremely
important
Don’t know
O
O
O
O
O
O
b) Do you think conducting scientific research about resources at Bryce Canyon
NP is a good use of the following?
Public lands
O
Yes
O
No
O
Don’t know
Public monies
O
Yes
O
No
O
Don’t know
c) Are you and your personal group interested in learning about the latest
research that is being conducted at Bryce Canyon NP?
O
O
Yes
No
Î
Go to Question 16
d) If YES, how would you and your group prefer to learn about this research?
Please mark ( ) all that apply. [3.FVIS3]
•
O
Park website
O
Brochures
O
Ranger-led programs
O
Exhibits
O
Other (Please specify)
16. On this visit, were you and your personal group part of the following types of
groups? Please mark ( ) one for each. [1.GR6]
•
a) Commercial guided tour group
O
Yes
O
No
b) School/educational group
O
Yes
O
No
c) Other organized group (such as
business group, scout group, etc.)
O
Yes
O
No
17. On this visit, what kind of personal group (not guided tour/school/other organized
group) were you with? Please mark ( ) one. [1.GR5]
•
O
Alone
O
Family
O
Friends
O
Family and friends
O
Other (Please specify)
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
18. a) On this visit, how many people were in your personal group, including yourself?
Number of people [1.GR3]
b) List the number of vehicles that you and your group used to arrive at Bryce
Canyon NP? [1.GR4]
Number of vehicles
c) On this trip, how many times did you and your personal group enter Bryce
Canyon NP? [3.TRIPC5]
Number of entries
O Don’t Know
OR
19. For you and your personal group on this visit, please provide the following. If you
do not know the answer, please leave it blank. [1.AGE3]
Current
age
U.S. Zip Code
or name of
country other
than U.S.
Number of visits made
to Bryce Canyon NP
(including this visit)
lifetime
Yourself
Member #2
Member #3
Member #4
Member #5
Member #6
Member #7
20. a) Does anyone in your personal group have a physical condition that made it
difficult to access or participate in activities or services at Bryce Canyon NP?
[1.GR2]
O
Yes
O
No Î Go to Question 21
b) If YES, on this visit, what activities or services did the person(s) have difficulty
accessing or participating in? Please mark ( ) all that apply.
•
O
Bryce Canyon Lodge
O
Campground
O
Ranger-led activities/programs
O
Restrooms
O
Trails
O
Viewpoints
O
Visitor center
O
Visitor center exhibits
O
Other (Please specify)
Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Study
21. a) & b) When visiting an area such as Bryce Canyon NP, what one language do
you and most members of your personal group prefer to use for the following?
[1.LANG2]
a) Speaking:
O
English
O
Other (Specify)
b) Reading:
O
English
O
Other (Specify)
c) In your opinion, what services in the park need to be provided in languages other
than English? Please specify a service or mark ( ) None.
•
O
O
None
Service(s):
22. If you were a manager planning for the future of Bryce Canyon NP, what
would you propose? Please be specific. [6.OPMGMT7]
23. Is there anything else you and your personal group would like to tell us about
your visit to Bryce Canyon NP? [6.OPMGMT8]
24. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the visitor facilities, services, and
recreational opportunities provided to you and your personal group at Bryce
Canyon NP during this visit? Please mark ( ) one. [6.EVALSERV1]
•
Very poor
Poor
Average
Good
Very good
O
O
O
O
O
Thank you for your help! Please seal the questionnaire with the stickers provided and
drop it in any U.S. mailbox.
Printed on recycled paper
Visitor Services Project
Park Studies Unit
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
P.O. Box 441139
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Modified | 2008-08-27 |
| File Created | 2008-08-27 |