If you are an ORTM student or thinking about studying ORTM you'll find important details here about Areas of Specialization, course options, and amore. There are examples of recent courses and field work, and updates on events and activities. Please follow the links below for information on related topics.

ORTM Degrees and Specializations

The faculty and students in ORTM tend to share some key attributes.

1. We are very passionate about the outdoors! The faculty have been profoundly affected by our interactions with nature, so much so that we decided to study, research and teach aspects of ORTM as our career and calling.
2. We want the natural environment to be used in a sustainable manner. It’s imperative that outdoor recreation and tourism not destroy the beautiful, ecologically healthy landscapes that attract people, and which hold diverse value for humanity, the non-human world, and our mutual survival.
3. We are passionate about understanding and sharing both positive and negative aspects of ORTM with others, so that the field can improve.

Starting September 2019, the Major in Outdoor Recreation and Conservation (ORC) within the BSc Natural Resources Management (which is being dissolved) transitioned to our Major in Wildland Conservation and Recreation (WCR) within the newly created BSc Conservation Science and Practice (CSP).

ORTM takes an interdisciplinary approach to studying recreation and tourism activities that occur in natural environments. This means that you will be studying outdoor recreation, conservation, and tourism from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, whether you are in the B.Sc. Conservation Science and Practice: Major in Wildland Conservation and Recreation, or the B.A. in Nature-based Tourism Management. For example, we will talk about ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts; the psychology of outdoor experiences; and how to plan and manage activities, landscapes, businesses. You will also be doing outdoor activities and have experiences through field trips, skills classes, field courses, and your own personal and outdoor club connections. UNBC and Northern British Columbia provide unparalleled settings for doing, learning, teaching, and researching outdoor recreation, conservation, and nature-based tourism

Within the context of multiple land and water uses, our WCR Major within the BSc Conservation Science and Practice focuses on natural and social dimensions of wildland and wilderness conservation as a priority, including protected areas planning, management, and impacts, as well as policy, advocacy, and history. We also examine the place of outdoor and nature-based recreation within these environments, and emphasize planning and managing for environmentally, socially, and culturally appropriate recreation, tourism, and development opportunities where congruent with conservation values. Students currently enrolled under the BSc NRM Outdoor Recreation and Conservation calendar requirements pick from four specializations. No area of specialization is required within the new BSc Conservation Science and Practice.

BA Nature-based Tourism Management (NBTM)

The BA-NBTM degree is centred on the growing trend of nature-based recreation and tourism, comprising so-called alternative recreation and tourism attractions, activities and experiences that all involve close interaction with environments, landscapes, and cultures (e.g. ecotourism, adventure tourism, community tourism). This degree examines the various components of both the nature-based tourism system, as well as the provision and socio-ecological impacts of outdoor recreation and education for visitors and residents. We emphasize entrepreneurial perspectives, industry challenges and advocacy, and sustainability issues. There are four areas of specialization in this degree, allowing you to choose an area that most interests you and fits your career aspirations:

• Marketing and Entrepreneurship
• Outdoor Education and Leadership
• Community Tourism
• Environment and Society