Acadia National Park Visitor Surveys

ACADIA 2009 - FRONT-END FORM
TIME: ______________

DATE: ___/___/___

DATA COLLECTOR: _____________________________________

WEATHER: ____________________________________
I------------group type-------------I
Contact
Time

Refuse

Survey
I.D. #

Alone

Family

Friends

Other

Personal Group or
Organized Group

# of Children
Present

Comments: explain reason for refusal

OMB Number:
Expiration Date:

Acadia National Park
Visitor Survey
2009

Cadillac Mountain

ID______

Date ________
1

Acadia National Park
- Cadillac Mountain 1. How many people (including you) are in your personal group today? [1.GR3]
Number of people: _____
2a. (Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics)
What kind of personal group (not guided tour/school group) were you with? Circle one. [1.GR5]
1. Alone
2. Friends
3. Family
4. Family and friends
5. Other (Please specify:__________________________)
b. (Topic Area 1 – Individual Characteristics)
Were you and your personal group with the following type of groups? [1.GR6]
(Circle one answer for each group type.)

Guided tour group
School/educational group
Other organized group (such as
business group, scout group, etc.)

Yes
Yes

No
No

Yes

No

3. a. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) When people walk around
the summit of Cadillac Mountain, they can cause impacts to soil and vegetation (e.g. trails
may widen, vegetation may get trampled). We would like to know how much impact you
think is acceptable to see on the summit of Cadillac Mountain. To help judge this, we have
a series of photographs that show different levels of impact to this area. (Please look at
the photographs in Panel A.) Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable
you find it based on the amount of impact shown. A rating of “-4” means the amount of
impact is very unacceptable, and a rating of “+4” means the amount of impact is very
acceptable. (Circle one number for each photograph.) [variation of 5.VERP1]

Photo 1…
Photo 2…
Photo 3…
Photo 4…
Photo 5…

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0
0

2

1
1
1
1
1

2
2
2
2
2

Very Acceptable
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4
3
4

b. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the amount of environmental impact you would prefer to see on the summit of Cadillac
Mountain? [variation of 5.VERP2]
Photo number: ________
c. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management)Which photograph shows
the amount of environmental impact that is so unacceptable that you would no longer visit
the summit of Cadillac Mountain? If none of the photographs represent this condition,
you may indicate that. [variation of 5.VERP3]
Photo number: _________
OR
‰ None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would no longer visit the summit
of Cadillac Mountain.
d. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the highest level of environmental impact that you think the National Park Service should
allow on the summit of Cadillac Mountain? In other words, at what point do you think
people should be restricted from visiting this area? If you think visitor use should not be
restricted at any point represented in the photographs, or not restricted at all, you may
indicate that. [variation of 5.VERP3]
Photo number: _______
OR
‰ None of the photographs show a high enough level of environmental impact to
restrict people from visiting Cadillac Mountain.
OR
‰ The number of people visiting Cadillac Mountain should not be restricted.
e. (Topic Area 6 – Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences) Which photograph
looks most like the amount of environmental impact you typically saw today on the summit
of Cadillac Mountain? [5.VERP4]
Photo number: _______
4.

(Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) One of the ways the
National Park Service can manage the impacts of visitor use on the summit of Cadillac
Mountain is to try to encourage visitors to stay on the trails (not wander off maintained

3

trails). This could be done through several management practices, and we have a series of
photographs that show some of those practices. (Please look at the photographs in Panel
B.) Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable you find it based on the
management practice shown. A rating of “-4” means the management practice is very
unacceptable, and a rating of “+4” means the management practice is very acceptable.
(Circle one number for each photograph.) [variation of 5.VERP1]

Photo 1…
Photo 2…
Photo 3…
Photo 4…

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0

1
1
1
1

Very Acceptable
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4
2
3
4

5.a. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) We would like to know
how many people you think could visit the summit of Cadillac Mountain without this area
being too crowded. To help judge this, we have a series of photographs that shows
different numbers of people at this area. (Please look at the photographs in Panel C.)
Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable you find it based on the number
of people shown. A rating of “-4” means the number of people is very unacceptable, and a
rating of “+4” means the number of people is very acceptable. (Circle one number for each
photograph.) [5.VERP1]

Photo 1…..
Photo 2…..
Photo 3…..
Photo 4…..
Photo 5…..
Photo 6…..

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0
0
0

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1

+2
+2
+2
+2
+2
+2

Very Acceptable
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4

b. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the number of people you would prefer to see? [5.VERP2]
Photo number:_______
c. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the number of people that would be so unacceptable that you would no longer visit the
summit of Cadillac Mountain? If none of the photographs represent this condition, you
may indicate that. [variation of 5.VERP3]
Photo number: _______
OR

None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would no longer visit this area.

4

d. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the highest number of people you think the National Park Service should allow? In other
words, at what point should people be restricted from visiting the summit of Cadillac
Mountain? If you think use should not be restricted at any point represented in the
photographs, or not restricted at all, you may indicate that. [5.VERP3]
Photo number: _______
OR

None of the photographs show a high enough number of people to restrict people from
visiting the summit of Cadillac Mountain.
OR

The number of people visiting the summit of Cadillac Mountain should not be
restricted.
e. (Topic Area 6 – Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences)Which photograph
looks most like the number of people you typically saw today at the summit of Cadillac
Mountain? [5.VERP4]
Photo number:______

6. a.

(Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Another way to judge the
maximum acceptable number of visitors to the summit of Cadillac Mountain is the
number of people on the trails on the summit. We would like to know how many people
you think could walk on the summit loop trail without this area being too crowded. To
help judge this, we have a series of photographs that shows different numbers of people
on a section of the summit loop trail. (Please look at the photographs in Panel D.)
Please rate each photograph by indicating how acceptable you find it based on the
number of people shown. A rating of “-4” means the number of people is very
unacceptable, and a rating of “+4” means the number of people is very acceptable.
(Circle one number for each photograph.) [5.VERP1]

Photo 1…..
Photo 2…..
Photo 3…..
Photo 4…..
Photo 5…..
Photo 6…..

Very Unacceptable
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2
-4
-3
-2

-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1

0
0
0
0
0
0

+1
+1
+1
+1
+1
+1

+2
+2
+2
+2
+2
+2

Very Acceptable
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4
+3
+4

b. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the number of people you would prefer to see? [5.VERP2]

5

Photo number: _______
c. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the number of people that would be so unacceptable that you would no longer walk on
the summit loop trail? If none of the photographs represent this condition, you may
indicate that. [variation of 5.VERP3]
Photo number: _______
OR

None of the photographs are so unacceptable that I would no longer walk on the
summit loop trail.
d. (Topic Area 7 – Individual Opinions on Park Management) Which photograph shows
the highest number of people you think the National Park Service should allow? In other
words, at what point should people be restricted from walking on the summit loop trail?
If you think use should not be restricted at any point represented in the photographs, or
not restricted at all, you may indicate that. [5.VERP3]
Photo number:_______
OR

None of the photographs show a high enough number of people to restrict people from
walking on the summit loop trail.
OR

The number of people walking on the summit loop trail should not be restricted.
e. (Topic Area 6 – Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences) Which photograph
looks most like the number of people you typically saw today walking on the summit
loop trail? [5.VERP4]
Photo number:______
7. (Topic Area 6 – Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences)
How crowded did you feel on Cadillac Mountain today? (Circle one number.) [variation of
5.CROWD1]
Not at all
Crowded
1
2

Slightly
Crowded
3
4

5

Moderately
Crowded
6
7

6

Extremely
Crowded
8
9

8. (Topic Area 2 – Trip/Visit Characteristics) Approximately how long did you stay on
Cadillac Mountain today?
Length of stay: _______________ minutes.
9a.

Do you live in the United States? (Circle one number.) [1.RES3]
1. Yes (What is your zip code? ____________)
2. No (What country do you live in? __________________________________)

b.

In what year where you born? [1.AGE1]
Year born: 19 ___

c.

What is your gender? (Circle one number.) [1.GEND2]
1. Male
2. Female

d.

What is the highest level of formal education you have completed? (Circle one number.)
[1.ED2]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

e.

Less than high school
High school graduate
Vocational/trade school certificate
Some college
Two-year college degree
Four-year college degree
Graduate degree

Are you Hispanic or Latino? (Circle one number.)[1.RACE/ETH2]
1. Yes
2. No
What is your race? (Select one or more.) [1.RACE/ETH5]
1. American Indian or Alaska Native
2. Asian
3. Black or African American
4. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
5. White

Thank you for your help with this survey! Please return this completed questionnaire to the
surveyor.

7

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 and anonymous. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the
information requested. Data collected through visitor surveys may be disclosed to the Department of Justice when relevant to
litigation or anticipated litigation, or to appropriate Federal, State, local or foreign agencies responsible for investigating or
prosecuting a violation of law. 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 10 minutes per response. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any
other aspect of this form to Charlie Jacobi; Acadia National Park; P.O. Box 177; Bar Harbor, ME 04609; 207-288-8727;
[email protected].

8

Question 3a
Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Question 4
Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Question 5a.
Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6

Question 6a.
Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo 5

Photo 6