Erin Ciampa

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

Advisor(s)

Sandra De Urioste-Stone

Committee Members

Sabrina DeTurk, Jessica Leahy, Becca Stanley

Graduation Year

May, 2025

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Summit vegetation is incredibly fragile and is susceptible to damage from a variety of factors, such as climate change and human trampling. Environmental researchers are working hard to find a solution to restore this vegetation, but they cannot keep up with the consistent impacts of human behaviors. This study aims to find if there is a connection between visitors' level of place attachment and visitors' behaviors in protected areas. Using data collected through paper surveys administered to hikers (N=381) on Sargent Mountain in Acadia National Park, this study investigates the relationships between place attachment and (1) visitors' demographics and (2) visitors' willingness to volunteer or donate and their awareness of restoration efforts. The results show there is a significance between visitors' level of place attachment to Acadia National Park and their engagement with civic behaviors. This work shows the significance of both emotional bonds and functional needs in fostering long-term, place-based stewardship behaviors and highlights the importance of park education in building attachment and promoting sustainable conservation practices. By examining this intersection between attachment and behavior in a national park setting and specifically on summits, this thesis contributes to a broader understanding of how place attachment can inform natural resource management strategies, promoting sustainable park use and preservation.

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