SYLLABUS
GEOGRAPHY OF RECREATIONAL LAND USE (575)
Diana Gauss Richardson
Spring 2015
Phone: 594-5476; Office: Storm Hall 301B; email: drichard@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hrs: Office hours: T 11:00 – noon, 3:30 – 4:30; W 1:00 – 3:00; Th 11- noon, and specific appointments.
My door is usually open, so please feel free to drop by anytime even if it is outside of office hours. Check
Blackboard (BB) for notices, assignments, posting of scores, other relevant course information.
TEXT:
1) Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv
2) Articles, other readings; on BB or distributed in class
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Geography of Recreational Land Use examines the importance of society,
environment and location in the use, management and quality and of recreation areas. The significance of
recreation in our lives is reviewed through a historical context and carried through to current trends, including
land use changes over time. Land use policies at the local, state, and federal levels are included in the
examination of the establishment of areas set aside for recreation. Direct observation of practices and policies
will occur with required field trips to local (San Diego) city and federal recreation areas, as well as a 4-day trip
to Yosemite National Park. (There will be an extra charge for this).
ASSIGNMENTS:
1) Responses to readings in Louv. Respond to specific questions about the readings in Louv. Each set of
responses should be approx. 2-3 pages (1.5 space, max. 12pt. font); 30 points each, for a total of 90 points.
These questions will be posted on BB.
2) Group presentation on recreational areas in San Diego. Your group will choose from the following list
of recreation areas and describe its attributes. Specific suggestions for attributes are shown in the
assignments link on BB. Presentation should be in power point (or Prezi) and each of the group
members should play a definite role in the presentation. Groups will be composed of 3 to 4 people.
Recreation areas to choose from include the following areas, and each group will have a different area.
 Mission Bay Park
 Mission Trails Regional Park
 Old Town State Park
 Torrey Pines State Park (Reserve)
 San Diego National Wildlife Refuge
 Cabrillo National Monument
A paper to accompany the presentation will include only your portion of the presentation and should be
3 to 4 pages in length. You will go into greater detail in the paper than in the presentation on your
portion of the topic. Paper should be MLA format, with sources cited on separate sheet. The total point
value for this project will be broken up into 1) group presentation (group organization and dynamics): 25
points; 2) your individual portion of the presentation (familiarity with information, organization, slides
chosen): 35 points; and 3) paper (quality of information, well researched, relevant sources,
organization): 30 points; the total value is 90 points.
FIELD TRIPS
Two local field trips and one 4-day trip will be scheduled during the semester. See course schedule
below
 Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
 Balboa Park
The Yosemite Field trip is scheduled for April 16 – 19 (4 days, Thursday through Sunday). The other field trip
times will be determined based on class availabilities. Field trips offer a spectacular opportunity to learn first
hand about how land use decisions are made, integrating a variety of factors such as physical geography,
historical and cultural inputs, environmental factors and issues, and development of policy.
Attendance at all field trips is mandatory, but I am always willing to work with you if you have something come
up which prevents your attendance.
Waiver and Release of Liability form must be signed before attendance can occur at field trips and scavenger
hunts.
EXAMS: Three exams will be given during the semester on material included in lecture, BB readings, and on
the local field trips. Any material in lecture, including readings incorporated into the power-points, may be
included in the exams. Each exam will be worth approximately 30-40 points and could include multiple
choice/true-false/matching and short answer/short essay. See Course Schedule for dates of exams; each will
cover only the material prior to the exam, i.e., they are not comprehensive. No make-up are scheduled
(exception-individual make up is allowed under extreme emergencies). Scantron 882 (green) required.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory, and worth 20 points. (Arriving late or leaving early will be
counted as an absence). You may be excused from class without point penalty, or leave early or arrive late, if
you let me know ahead of time, or under emergencies. Unexcused absences will result in loss of points on an
increasing scale: first unexcused absence minus 2 pts., second unexcused absence minus additional 3 pts., third
unexcused absence minus additional 4 pts., etc. Example: 2 unexcused absences would result in the deduction
of 5 points from the total of 30 points available for attendance points. But, class will be so much fun that you
won’t want to miss it!! 
GRADES: Course grade based on total score. Total score includes papers/assignments, exams and attendance.
Grading will be based on the following percentages:
A 91% and above; A- 90%; B+ 89%; B 81-88%; B- 80%; C+ 79%; C 71-78%; C- 69-70%; D+ 68%; D 6067%; D- 59%; F 58% and below.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: You will be expected to think critically about recreation and its meaning to our
society, especially in terms of land use; to demonstrate knowledge of historical events/people/policies that led to
the protection of areas for recreation; to understand socioeconomic backgrounds, regional trends, landscape
differences and political structures/policies that lead to a variety of recreation types and amounts of recreational
lands; to put these ideas into the context of sustainability; to know the difference between governmental
agencies and polices from the local to the federal level in how recreation lands are established and managed; to
be able to interpret maps and other geographic representations; to recognize the complex relations between
nature and culture/society as it pertains to recreational lands; and to present opposing viewpoints and alternative
hypotheses on spatial issues. Your knowledge on these outcomes will be reflected in your presentations, papers
and exams.
Academic Integrity: The faculty and staff demand the highest levels of academic and professional integrity in
all work at San Diego State University. Plagiarism, cheating on exams, copying another student’s work, or any
other type of academic dishonesty, will be referred directly to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities
for disciplinary action. If plagiarism occurs, you will receive zero points on the exam or assignment.
Americans with Disabilities Act (DA) Accommodation:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of
your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that
accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until
you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your
cooperation is appreciated.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Date
(Week
of)
January
20
Jan. 27
February
3
Feb. 10
Topic
Readings Due
First day of class – introductions
and syllabus review
Introduction to
Recreational Land Use,
Background of Recreation in
human activities, Socioeconomic
influences.
Historical and Cultural Influences
on land use
Political Structures of Recreation
none
Louv – Parts I, II
Louv – Parts III,
IV, V
Louv – Parts VI,
VII
Reading 1 BB
1st set of Louv Responses due
Feb. 5
2nd set of Louv Responses due’
Feb. 12
3rd set of Louv responses due
Feb. 26
Group presentation – Mission Bay Park –
March 5
Feb. 17
Urban Recreation
Exam 1 -Feb. 19 (material
through Feb. 17)
Feb. 24
Regional Recreational land uses
Readings 2 BB
March 3
State Parks – History
Readings 3 BB
Mar. 10
Mar. 17
State Parks and Recreation Policies
Exam 2 – March 19 (material
from Feb. 26 through March 12)
Reference
General Plans
Readings 4 BB
Mar. 24
Federal Lands: Historical context
Mar. 31
April 7
SPRING BREAK!
Your choice
Federal Lands: Managements
areas and policies I
Federal Lands: Management areas
and policies II;
No class April 16; YNP field trip
Conclude Federal Lands
Recreational Land Uses
Ecotourism
Reading 6 BB
Apr. 14
Apr. 21
Apr. 28
May 5
International Recreational Land
Use;
Conclusion
Material Due
Readings 5 BB
Group presentation – Mission Trails
Regional Park – March 12
Group presentations - State Parks – March
26
Recreate, renew, restore…
Group presentation – Cabrillo National
Monument – April 9
Group presentation – San Diego National
Wildlife Refuge – April 23
May 7
Exam 3 – May 7 (material from
March 17 through May 5)