NOHVCC, as a
national body of OHV
recreation
enthusiasts,
develops and
provides a wide
spectrum of
programs, materials
and information, or
"tools", to
individuals, clubs,
associations and
agencies in order to
further a positive
future for
responsible OHV
recreation.
To subscribe to the NOHVCC eNewsletter click here
and make your request.
Marshall University OHV
Recreation Management Program
Students and
professional land managers learn current best
practices about the sport; planning, design,
construction, and management of OHV trails and
facilities
Courses available
on-campus and on-line
The Marshall University
Recreation and Park Resources program, in
cooperation with the Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian
Transportation Institute and the National
Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC),
has developed a series of four off-highway vehicle
courses.
The
objective of these courses is to provide both
university students and professional employees of
planning and land management agencies with
state-of-the-art courses dealing with the general
aspects of OHV recreation and the planning,
construction, operation and management of OHV trails
and facilities. Career employees can obtain academic
credit after completing the courses and students
attending other colleges and universities may have
these credits transferred to their own institutions.
The Recreation and Park
Resources program at Marshall University offers a
bachelor of science degree with an emphasis in parks
and conservation. Faculty at Marshall have worked
with the creators of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in Southern West
Virginia from its inception by providing student
interns and employees. Developers of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trail system encouraged the creation
of a series of OHV courses within the Marshall
University Recreation and Parks Resources program.
Marshall University
students will now be able to obtain a minor in
off-highway vehicle recreation. Other students from
anywhere in the world may enroll in these courses
via the Internet.
COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS AND CONTENT
There are now four courses that
comprise the OHV Recreation curriculum, each being 3
units. The same four that are available on campus
are also available online as distance-learning
courses. They are entitled “Introduction to
Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation”, “Planning and
Design of OHV Trail Systems”, “Construction of OHV
Trail Systems”, and “Operation and Management of OHV
Trail Systems”.
PLS 450/550
Introduction to Off-Highway Vehicle
Recreation; 3 semester hours.
A course designed to introduce the student to the
subject of off-highway vehicle recreation in terms
of areas, facilities, vehicle types, use, demand,
professional organizations, legislation, and legal
issues.
Principal topics will include:
History and Evaluation of OHV
Recreation
Equipment and Accessories
Participation, Use, and Demand
Areas and Facilities
Legal, Legislative, and Use Issues
Conflict Resolution
OHV Parks
PLS 451/551 Planning and Design of OHV Trails and Parks;
3 semester hours.
A course designed to guide students through the
process of planning, designing, and construction of
off-highway vehicle trails utilizing
state-of-the-art procedures and technology. Principal topics will include:
Planning and Design
Practices
Design
Considerations Based Upon Mode of Travel
Land Capability Analysis
Factors that
Influence Design
OHV Parks
GPS and GIS Technology
PLS 452/552 Construction of OHV Trail Systems: 3
semester hours
A course designed to
instruct students in contemporary methods and
techniques of constructing OHV trails and related
facilities.
Principal topics will include:
Construction Tools
and Equipment
Preliminary Construction Activities
Tread Foundation and Tread
Trail Reinforcement Techniques
Trail Construction in Wet Areas
Modifying and Rehabilitating Existing Trails
PLS 453/553 Operation and Management of OHV Trail Systems;
3
semester hours.
A course designed to provide participants with
background, guidance, and recommended techniques for
operating and managing OHV trail systems. Principal topics will include:
Organization Structure
Options
Operational
Procedures and Policies
Protection and Law
Enforcement
User Conflicts
Liability and Risk Management
Trail Maintenance
Public Relations,
Consumer Services, and Marketing
Special Events and Activities
AN
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN WORK AND PLAY
“These courses are a great new opportunity for anyone who is
considering a career in parks or recreation, and who
also happens to be an OHV enthusiast,” says National
Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
Communications Director Steve Casper. “It is a dream
of most of us to be able join our work and play in
some capacity, and having a minor degree in OHV
Recreation can do just that. With that title on a resume,
you will be looked up to as an expert in that field
and will likely get the position you really want,"
says Casper.
"And this series of courses
is not just for
students who on the verge of entering the workforce.
It is also designed for folks who already have a
career in the parks and recreation field but want to
become top-notch
experts at making effective
decisions for their OHV programs. Now that the courses
are offered as distance-learning, students can
complete them entirely over the Internet, giving many
more people the opportunity to enroll.," he
continues.
"Lots of
effort went into developing this curricula and the NOHVCC was very involved in the process from the
beginning. Our organization of course wants to see
the best, most qualified individuals in charge of
OHV programs throughout the country and these
courses hit the bull’s-eye when it comes to
achieving that goal. I’ve seen some of the details
in the course layouts and they cover just about
everything you can imagine. And yes, I did notice
that there were several actual riding sessions in
the program!” MARSHALL UNIVERSITY
Named after the much-heralded early American Supreme
Court Justice John Marshall, this state-supported
University offers 2- and 4-year degrees. The
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of
the North Central Association of Colleges and
Schools accredits Marshall University as an
institution of higher learning.
The current rate for
undergraduate credit is $186/credit hour and the
rate for graduate credit is $262/hour.
The
objective of these courses is to provide both
university students and professional employees of
planning and land management agencies with
state-of-the-art courses dealing with the general
aspects of OHV recreation and the planning,
construction, operation and management of OHV trails
and facilities. Career employees can obtain academic
credit after completing the courses and students
attending other colleges and universities may have
these credits transferred to their own institutions.
Hatfield-McCoy Trail System in Southern West
Virginia from its inception by providing student
interns and employees. Developers of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trail system encouraged the creation
of a series of OHV courses within the Marshall
University Recreation and Parks Resources program.
experts at making effective
decisions for their OHV programs. Now that the courses
are offered as distance-learning, students can
complete them entirely over the Internet, giving many
more people the opportunity to enroll.," he
continues.
