Transformative Experiences and Responsible Visitation in Yellowstone National Park: The Case of Canyon Village Concessionaire Seasonal Employees

Authors

  • Leah Coffey University of Tennessee
  • Stefanie Benjamin University of Tennessee Knoxville

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2025-12562

Keywords:

sustainability, National Parks, carrying capacities, transformative experiences,

Abstract

Immersive encounters with nature have the power to catalyze enduring shifts in attitudes towards conservation and foster pro-environmental behaviors. Employing qualitative research methodologies, I delved into the experiences of concessionaire seasonal employees at Canyon Village within Yellowstone National Park (YNP). By exploring how their seasonal roles engendered a heightened reverence for the land, a sense of stewardship, and a deeper connection to the natural world, I conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with concessionaire seasonal employees in Canyon Village from the 2015 and 2023 seasons. I crafted an autoethnography, recounting my own experiences as a seasonal employee in 2015. I identified six themes, with participants highlighting the setting of YNP and the social bonds forged with fellow seasonal workers as pivotal elements of their transformative journey. Recognizing concessionaire seasonal employees as allies to the National Park Service (NPS), they can contribute to the overarching goals and mission of conservation and preservation.

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Published

2025-01-28