Hosted by www.AmericanTrails.org

MARSHALL UNIVERSITY OHV RECREATON COURSES

Currently offered online: PLS 451/551 "Planning and Design of OHV Trails" starts January 12 and runs through May 1, 2009

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE RECREATON: Online college-level courses for trail planning, development and management.

Marshall University welcomes all eligible students. Prospective students must be admitted to the university prior to enrollment. Enrollment information is available at www.marshall.edu/muonline/ohv.asp. Admission questions may be directed to Kelli Raines, Admissions Counselor, at 304-696-2292 or kraines@marshall.edu. You may also contact the instructor, Dr. Raymond Busbee at busbee@marshall.edu.

	Photo courtesty of National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, Inc.

The Marshall University Recreation and Park Resources program, in cooperation with the Nick J. Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute and with advisory assistance from the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, has developed a series of off-highway vehicle courses. Faculty here at Marshall University 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 Park Resources program.

The Recreation and Park Resources program at Marshall University offers a bachelor of science degree with an emphasis in parks and conservation. Marshall University students will now be able to obtain a minor in off-highway vehicle recreation. The first course in the series was offered on campus in the spring of 2003 and the second course was offered in the spring of 2004. Since then, each course has been offered online. Other students from anywhere in the world may enroll in these courses via the Internet. As each of these courses becomes available for enrollment via the Internet, an announcement will be posted on the RTI web page (www.marshall.edu/rti), the National Trails Training Partnership web page (www.NTTP.org), and the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council web page (www.NOHVCC.org).

ON-LINE OHV RECREATION MANAGEMENT COURSES at Marshall University

The first two courses (PLS 450/550 and 451/551) are currently available online and are offered on an alternate semester basis. The third course in the series (PLS 452/552) is currently being prepared to offer online and the fourth course (PLS 453/553) will be online soon thereafter. The rate for undergraduate credit: $186/credit hour; rate for graduate credit: $262/credit hour.

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 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.

Perceived Demand for OHV Courses

Officials of government and non-government agencies that plan, construct, and manage OHV trail systems and others with OHV interests have suggested that little specific course work related to OHV recreation has been available in higher education and that many employees have little academic background in OHV recreation. Based upon this information, Marshall University recognized a perceived need for post-secondary education opportunities in off-highway vehicle recreation. With support and assistance from the Nick Joe Rahall, II Appalachian Transportation Institute and the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, the effort was begun to create this OHV academic program.

Program Objective

The objective 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.

A further objective is to provide a variety of academic options for students at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These options include: For Marshall University Undergraduate Students

• Professional preparation requirements for Recreation and Park Resources majors.
• Elective courses for students majoring in other academic programs.
• A minor in Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation, 12 semester hours, for RPR majors and students in other academic programs.

For Marshall University Graduate Students

• Elective courses (with approval of faculty advisors).

For Distance Learning Students (graduate and undergraduate)

• Individuals may enroll in any of the OHV courses and complete the course requirements via the Internet.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Raymond L. Busbee, Professor, Park and Recreation Resources
Marshall University Huntington, WV 25755
Phone: (304) 696-2922 - FAX: (304) 696-2928 - E-mail: Busbee@marshall.edu

Admission and enrollment information: www.marshall.edu/muonline.ohv.asp.

Admission questions may be directed to Kelli Raines, Admissions Counselor, at 304-696-2292 or kraines@marshall.edu.

National
Trails Training Partnership:

Who we are
Featured training
Training by state
Calendar
Search the training database

More resources:

Bibliography
Quotations
Glossary
Acronyms
Tools
Trailbuilding
Wildlife and trails
Planning
Maintenance
Volunteers
Products & services

Do you need training?
Do you have training opportunities you'd like to publicize?
Are you a trails expert who can teach trail skills to others?
The National Trails Training Partnership wants to work with you to make training more available.

Contact us!