About UAlberta's Augustana Campus

I have worked at Augustana Campus since 1994. My previous degrees are from the University of Alberta (BSc Forestry, MSc Wildland Recreation) and the University of Victoria (PhD Geography). At my university and for professional organizations, I have served on the following:

• Manager, Augustana Miquelon Lake Research Station (2015-)

• Community Service-Learning Committee (2015-)

• Sustainability Committee (2012-)

• Chair, Camrose Wildlife and Stewardship Society (2009-)

• AB Parks Social Science Working Group (2013-)

• World Commission on Protected Areas, IUCN (1994-)

• Tourism and Protected Areas Specialty Group, WCPA (1996-)

• Protected Areas Working Group, Beaver Hills Initiative (2008-)

My research program focuses on the conservation aspects of ecotourism, biogeography, park interpretation, and rural sustainability. First, I am seeking to understand the actual and potential roles of ecotourism in promoting conservation (eg. wildilfe festivals, conservation volunteers, bird watchers, whale watchers, park users, and Christmas Bird Counts). Second, I use biogeography principles to help conserve birds in rural landscapes (eg. Purple Martins, owls, shorebirds, forest songbirds). Third, I examine teaching and learning issues related to environmental education (eg. park interpretation effectiveness, undergraduate research, and field studies). Last, colleagues and I are evaluating planning processes and management efforts in promoting rural sustainability.

Selected Publications from 2017 onward

• Moore, S.E., G.T. Hvenegaard, and J. Wesselius. 2018. Efficacy of directed studies courses: a comparison of instructor and student perspectives on course dynamics. Higher Education. DOI: 10.1007/s10734-018-0240-7.

• Hvenegaard, G.T. 2017. Visitors’ perceived impacts of interpretation on knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Tourism and Hospitality Research 17(1): 79-90.

• Hallstrom, L., G.T. Hvenegaard, J.L. Stonechild, and N.J. Dipa. 2017. Rural sustainability plans in Canada: An analysis of structure, content and influence. Journal of Rural Studies 56: 132-142.

• Asfeldt, M., G. Hvenegaard, and R. Purc-Stephenson. 2017. Group writing, reflection, and discovery: A model for enhancing learning on wilderness educational expeditions. Journal of Experiential Education. DOI: 10.1177/1053825917736330.

• Lemieux, C.J., M. Groulx, E. Halpenny, H. Stager, J. Dawson, E.J. Stewart, and G.T. Hvenegaard. 2017. “The End of the Ice Age?”: Visitor motivations to experience disappearing world heritage and the climate change communication imperative. Environmental Communication. DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2017.1400454.

• Asfeldt, M., R. Purc-Stephenson, and G. Hvenegaard. 2017. Students’ perceptions of group journal writing as a tool for enhancing sense of community on wilderness educational expeditions. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership 9(3): 323-339.

• Van Loon, A., J.D. Ray, A. Savage, J.H. Mejeur, L. Moscar, M. Pearson, M. Pearman, G.T. Hvenegaard, N. Mickle. K. Applegate, and K.C. Fraser. 2017. Migratory stopover timing is predicted by breeding latitude, not habitat quality, in a long-distance migratory songbird. Journal of Ornithology 158(3): 745-752.

I teach a variety of courses in environmental studies and geography, including:

• AUENV 120: Human Activities and the Natural Environment

• AUGEO 230: Geomorphology; including lab

• AUGEO 231: Climatology; including lab

• AUENV 252: Wildlife Diversity of Alberta

• AUENV 320/420: Parks and Wilderness

• AUENV 334: Field Studies in Environmental Science and Ecology

• AUENV 327: Environmental Education and Heritage Interpretation

• AUENV 421: Environmental Science: History and Impacts