A Comparison of the Sentiments and Perceptions of Wilderness Managers and Canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Abstract

Wilderness managers and summer canoeists were studied in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) to determine whether the two groups differ in their wilderness motivations, attitudes, preferences and perceptions. Psychological inventories were used to study the detailed spectrum of the “wilderness experience.” Environmental disposition, a more basic aspect of personality, was studied, using McKechnie's Environmental Response Inventory. There were strong tendencies toward agreement, especially for environmental disposition, which showed that the managers are even more pastoral and less urban than the canoeists. However, regarding details of the human response to the BWCA, there are important differences in degree. The managers are less negatively disposed toward many things that the canoeists find undesirable. The managers seem to have more varied motivations and apparently are more knowledgeable about the BWCA. The canoeists have an inflated image of the wilderness character of the area, relative to the managers, but apparently are more demanding in their expectations and use different criteria to evaluate recreational performance. The managers tend to rate performance higher than the canoeists do in spite of their less pristine view of the BWCA's wilderness quality.Regarding their preferences for wilderness activities, the managers seem to be more cautious and realistic and less fanciful or romantic than the canoeists. They also seem more interested in appreciation of the historical heritage of the area. Paradoxically, the canoeists have a more “purist” attitude than the managers toward natural features and competing uses, but the managers have a more “purist” attitude toward many convenience facilities. These and other differences that are reported and discussed suggest that management services will be less than optimal if the manager's decisions reflect his own attitudes and perceptions.

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