Research Statement

My interest areas and publication record include topics such as natural resource management, learning transfer in outdoor/adventure education, decision-making in avalanche terrain, the use of technology in natural settings, pedagogy, programming, public land management, climbing stewardship, and service learning.

 

Research Keywords

  • Snow Science/Avalanche Forecasting
  • Service Learning
  • Public Land Use
  • Nature-Based Outdoor Recreation
  • Learning Transfer
  • Historical Recreation Use
  • Heuristic-based Decision Making
  • Civic Engagement

Presentations

  • Furman, N., Rose, J., Rushford, N., & Stocksdale, B. (2018, October). Supporting public lands in an age of uncertainty: The Urban Ranger Program. Presentation at the Annual Conference for the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education and the Wilderness Education Association, Snowbird, Utah. Presentation, Presented, 10/26/2018.
  • Rushford, N., Furman, N., Rose, J., & Stocksdale, B. (2018, April). Community collaboration through outdoor public service: The Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program. Presentation at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, Burlington, Vermont. Presentation, Presented, 04/23/2018.
  • Furman, N. (2018, April). Multipitch efficiency. Intermountain Student Outdoor Leadership Seminar. Ogden, Utah. Invited presentation. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 04/14/2018.
  • Rushford, N., Stocksdale, B., Furman, N., & Rose, J. (2018, March). The development of the Urban Ranger Program. Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Utah Recreation and Parks Association, Provo, Utah. Presentation, Presented, 03/20/2018.
  • Furman, N., Sarnoff, P., Hall, G., & Watson, C. Healthy starts young: Getting youth on bikes (October, 2017) Panel Moderator at the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit. Bryce Canyon, Utah. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 10/04/2017.
  • Gatti, E., Brownlee, M., & Furman, N. (2017, May). Engaging underrepresented groups via an urban trail ambassador program. Presentation submitted to the 2017 National Outdoor Recreation Conference for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, Scottsdale, Arizona. Presentation, Presented, 05/01/2017.
  • Furman, N. (April, 2016). Top managed belays and multipitch transitions. Intermountain Student Outdoor Leadership Seminar. Ogden, Utah. Invited presentation. Presented on 4/7/2016. Invited Talk/Keynote, Accepted, 03/01/2016.
  • Furman, N., Zajchowski, C., & Brownlee, M. (2016). The role of heuristic decision-making in outdoor adventure: Opportunities and limitations. Presentation submitted to the Annual Conference for the Associaiton of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Presentation, Submitted, 03/01/2016.
  • Furman, N., Gauci, M. Brownlee, M., & Bricker, N. (2016) Assessing motivations for college students engaging in outdoor recreation. Submitted to the Research Symposium of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Presentation, Submitted, 03/01/2016.
  • Zajchowski, C., Furman, N., & Brownlee, M. (2016) Heuristic is not a dirty word: Using cognitive shortcuts to manage risk. Presentation submitted to the International Conference of the Association of Experiential Education. Presentation, Submitted, 02/29/2016.
  • Marchand, G., Frauman, E., & Furman, N. (2015). Outdoor programs: Your message positioned in evidence-based knowledge. The National Conference of the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Atlanta, Georgia. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 11/18/2015.
  • 2015, Furman, N. & Bricker, N. (2015). Adventuring advisors and appreciative inquiry. Univesity Academic Advising Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 03/23/2015.
  • Bentley, A. & Furman, N. (2014). Electronic technology, mental health, and nature exposure. International Conference of Society for Human Ecology, Bar Harbor, ME. Presentation, Presented, 10/16/2014.
  • Furman, N. & Pall, C. (2013). Strategies for climber education. Annual Conference of the Access Fund, New Paltz, NY. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 10/01/2014.
  • Saxman, B., Bentley, A., McEachern, N., Rushford, N., & Furman, N. (2013). Spinergy: Developing bicycle programming on campus. Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, College Park, MD. Presentation, Presented, 11/01/2013.
  • Furman, N., Morris, S., VanTine, D. (2013). The nuts and bolts of teaching for transfer. The Annual Conference for the Northeast Regional Association of Experiential Education, Beckett Corners, MA. Presentation, Presented, 03/11/2013.
  • Furman, N., Sibthorp, J., & Pohja, M. (2012). Can we really teach for transfer? Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, Snowbird, UT. Presentation, Presented, 11/03/2012.
  • Furman, N. & Marchand, G. (2011). Top ten reasons to join the AORE Research and Publications Committee. Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, San Antonio, TX. Presentation, Presented, 11/12/2011.
  • Furman, N. & Shooter, W. (2011). Avalanche education: The use of the Obvious Clues Method for decision making. Research Symposium at the Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, San Antonio, TX. Presentation, Presented, 11/12/2011.
    https://www.dropbox.com/home/Presentations?preview...
  • Jordan, S. Saxman, B., & Furman, N. (2010). Mentoring strategies in outdoor programs. Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, Keystone, CO. Presentation, Presented, 11/13/2010.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2010). The transfer of expedition behavior skills from the National Outdoor Leadership School to life post-course. Research Symposium at the Annual Conference for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, Keystone, CO. Presentation, Presented, 11/13/2010.
  • Shooter, W. & Furman, N. (2010). Intuition or cognition: The dual process approach to judgment and decision-making for outdoor leaders. International Conference of the Association for Experiential Education, Las Vegas, NV. Presentation, Presented, 11/06/2010.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2010). The effects of a treatment curriculum on the learning transfer of prosocial behavior in adventure education. Outdoor Leadership Research Symposium, Estes Park, CO. Presentation, Presented, 02/20/2010.
  • Furman, N., Erpelding, M., & Zimmer, T. (2009). The role of heuristic-based decision-making in outdoor education: A 2-sided debate. Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education. Minneapolis, MN. Presentation, Presented, 11/13/2009.
  • Furman, N., Erpelding, M., & Zimmer, T. (2008). An investigation of Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory. Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. San Diego, CA. Presentation, Presented, 11/07/2008.
  • Furman, N. (2008). Exploring experiential education from the vantage point of lifelong outdoor educators. Rocky Mountain Association of Experiential Education. Gunnison, CO. Presentation, Presented, 03/22/2008.
  • Furman, N. (2007). Rock climbing impacts on the granite of Yosemite National Park and their implications for the sandstone of Zion National Park. Intermountain Leisure Symposium, Provo, UT. Presentation, Presented, 04/05/2007.

Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts

  • Wasatch Front Urban Rangers Program-Jordan River Commission. PI: Nate Furman. Co-PI(s): Jeff Rose. Jordan River Commission, 07/01/2017 - present. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program. PI: Nate Furman. Co-PI(s): Jeff Rose. Utah Bureau of Land Management, 04/01/2017 - 04/01/2020. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Youth Development and Urban Outreach: Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. PI: Nate Furman. Co-PI(s): Jeff Rose. DOI National Park Service, 05/23/2016 - 09/30/2018. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program. PI: Nate Furman. Co-PI(s): Matthew Brownlee. Outdoor Foundation through the Jordan River Commission, 09/01/2016 - 05/01/2017. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Bonneville Shoreline Trail Urban Ranger Project. PI: Matt Brownlee. Co-PI(s): Nate Furman. Outdoor Foundation through the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, 09/01/2015 - 12/01/2015. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Utah Parks4Kids. PI: Nate Furman. Co-PI(s): Jeff Rose. 01/01/2018 - present. Total project budget to date: $0.00

Consulting

I provide consulting services for non-profit, outdoor recreation programs, adventure education programs, and goverment entities.  Utilyzing the combination of extensive field and practitioner background with academic and professional experience, I work with clients to develop solution for their recreation and programming needs.  Examples of former clients include Pine HIll Park, Northland College, SUNY Plattsburgh, and Westminster College.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Peru
    In my role as a board member of, and instructor for, the School of International Expedition Training, I have developed a strong interest in Peru. I have spent over a year traveling, climbing, and guiding throughout the Cordillera Blanca. I work with Quechan families in the region and have a strong affinity for everything Peruvian...except maybe for eating guinea pig.
  • Greenland
    I participated in a six-member expedition to Greenland in 2007. We completed a number of first ascents on the peaks that surround the area. I published an account of the trip in the 2008 edition of the American Alpine Club journal.
  • United States of America
    I rely on using public lands for my recreational pursuits and professional career. As a program coordinator and guide, my interests are forever woven into the fabric of public lands. In Utah, having the opportunity to use lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Parks, and State Parks is the highlight of many citizens' experience, but concerns about unchecked extraction industries pose significant threat to this resource. Determining a balance between extraction industries, motorized recreation, and non-motorized recreation will forever be an issue that our society must negotiate.

Publications

  • Furman, N. & Rose, J., Rushford, N.,Brownlee, M. (2018). Supporting Public Lands in an Uncertain Age: The Wasatch Front Urban Ranger Program. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Vol. 37. Accepted, 10/22/2018.
  • Furman, N. & Rushford, N., Rogers, L., Bricker, N. (2018). Wilderness With Honors: Assessing an Extended-Duration Outdoor Orientation Program. (pp. 267-269). Vol. 10. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. Published, 09/01/2018.
  • Zajchowski, C., Brownlee, M., & Furman, N. (2016). Rx: Heuristic processing in outdoor adventure education. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 8(2), 118-134. Published, 11/25/2016.
  • Dustin, D., Furman, N., Bricker, N., Cederquist, J., & Schumann, S. (2016) The Relevance of Campus Recreation to Higher Education: A University of Utah Example. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership 9(1), 1-8. Published, 03/01/2016.
  • Dustin, D., Furman, N., Dickinson, T., & Bricker, N. (2015). Wilderness with Honors. The International Journal of Wilderness 21(2), 38-41. Published, 09/01/2015.
  • White, K., Brownlee, M., Furman, N., & Beeco, A. (2015). Climber access trail mapping and GPS visitor tracking in Indian Creek Utah. Technical report submitted to the Bureau of Land Management. Published, 05/01/2015.
  • Furman, N. & Bentley, A. (2015). Technology in Adventure Programming. In R. Black & K. Bricker (Eds) Adventure Programming and Travel for the 21st Century. Venture Publishing: State College, PA. Published, 03/01/2015.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2014). The development of prosocial behavior in adolescents: A mixed methods study from NOLS. Journal of Experiential Education, (37)2, 1-16. Published, 04/01/2014.
  • Shooter, W. & Furman, N. (2014). Through adventure education: Using a socio-ecological model in adventure education to address environmental problems. In B. Watchow et al. (Eds.), The Socioecological Educator: 21st Century Renewal of Physical, Health, Environment, and Outdoor Education. (pp. 139-152). Springer: Netherlands. Published, 03/20/2014.
  • Furman, N., Shooter, W., and Tarlen, J. (2013). Environmental factors affecting the predicted decisions of backcountry skiers: An examination of the obvious clues method decision aid. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 5(3), 226-241. Published, 06/01/2013.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2013). Leveraging experiential learning techniques for transfer. Learning Transfer in Adult Education: New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2013(137), 17-26. . Published, 03/01/2013.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2012). Adventure programs and learning transfer: An uneasy alliance. In B. Martin and M. Wagstaff (Eds.) Controversial issues in adventure education. Champlain, IL: Human Kinetics. Published, 10/04/2012.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2011). The transfer of expedition behavior skills from the National Outdoor Leadership School to life post-course. Conference Proceedings of the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. Keystone, CO. Published, 11/01/2011.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2011). The transfer of expedition behavior skills from the National Outdoor Leadership School to life post-course. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 3(2), 87-90. Published, 11/01/2011.
  • Sibthorp, J., Furman, N., Paisley, K., Gookin, J. & Schumann, S. (2011). Mechanisms of learning transfer in adventure education: Qualitative results from the NOLS transfer survey. Journal of Experiential Education, 34(2) 109-118. Published, 08/17/2011.
  • Shooter, W. & Furman, N. (2011). Contextualizing recent judgment and decision-making concepts for outdoor leadership research. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 3(3)189-203. Published, 07/01/2011.
  • Furman, N. (2011). A primer on controlled and automated decision-making for outdoor leaders. Journal of the Wilderness Education Association. http://www.weainfo.org/en/art/133/. Published, 03/23/2011.
  • Furman, N. & Sibthorp, J. (2010). The effects of a treatment curriculum on the learning transfer of prosocial behavior in adventure education. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 2(2), 9-11. Published, 11/01/2010.
  • Rose, J., Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Furman, N., & Gookin, J. (2010). Adventure education learning mechanisms across populations: Qualitative results from the National Outdoor Leadership School. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 2(2), 16-18. Published, 11/01/2010.
  • Furman, N., Shooter, W., & Schumann, S. (2010). The roles of heuristics, avalanche forecast, and risk propensity on the decision-making of backcountry skiers. Leisure Sciences, 32, 453-469. Published, 09/01/2010.
  • Schumann, S., Furman, N., & Shooter, W. (2009). The effect of decision-making factors, risk taking propensity, and environmental conditions on predicted decision-making in hazardous terrain. Abstracts from the Symposium for Experiential Education Research, Montreal, Canada. Journal of Experiential Education, 32(3), 280-284. Published, 10/01/2009.
  • Shooter, W., Furman, N., & Schumann, S. (2009). The effect of heuristic traps, risk taking tendency, and environmental conditions on predicted decision-making in hazardous outdoor terrain. Movement, Environment, and Community: A Newsletter for the Monash University Education Department. May, 2009. Published, 06/03/2009.
  • Furman, N. (2008). Ascents in the Fox Jaw region of Greenland. American Alpine Journal. p. 207-209. Published, 11/01/2008.
  • Furman, N. (2008) The multiple intelligence theory of Howard Gardner and its (mis)applications for wilderness education. Newsletter of the National Outdoor Leadership School. Fall, 2008. Published, 10/01/2008.
  • Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Gookin, J., Furman, N., & Schumann, S. (2008). Predictors of participant development though adventure education: Replication and extension of previous findings from NOLS. Research in Outdoor Education, 9, 60-74.. Published, 08/01/2008.
  • Sibthorp, J., Paisley, K., Furman, N., & Gookin, J. (2008) Long-term impacts attributed to participation in adventure education: Preliminary findings from NOLS. Research in Outdoor Education, 9, 86-102. Published, 08/01/2008.
  • Haas, C. & Furman, N. (2008). Operation recreation: Adventure challenge: Teaching programming through problem-based learning theory. Schole: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 23, 60-65. Published, 05/01/2008.
  • Paisley, K., Furman, N., Sibthorp, J., Gookin, J. (2008). Student learning in outdoor education: A case study from the National Outdoor Leadership School. Horizon: Newsletter for the Association for Experiential Education, May, 2008. Published, 05/01/2008.
  • Sibthorp, J., Paisley, K., Gookin, J., & Furman, N. (2008). The pedagogic value of student autonomy in adventure education. Journal of Experiential Education 31(2), 136-151. Published, 03/01/2008.
  • Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., Gookin, J., Furman, N., & Schumann, S. (2008, January). Predictors of participant development though adventure education: Replication and extension of previous findings from NOLS (abstract). Abstracts from the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Research Symposium, (p. 15-17). Martinsville, IN. Published, 01/24/2008.
  • Sibthorp, J., Paisley, K., Furman, N., & Gookin, J. (2008, January) Long-term impacts attributed to participation in wilderness education: Preliminary findings from NOLS (abstract). Abstracts from the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Research Symposium, (p. 115-117). Martinsville, IN.. Published, 01/24/2008.
  • Furman, N., Sibthorp, J., Schumann, S., Paisley, K., & Gookin, J. (2008). Learning transferable lessons from adventure education: Qualitative results from a NOLS transfer survey (abstract). Conference Proceedings of the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education Research Symposium. San Diego, CA. Published, 01/24/2008.
  • Paisley, K., Furman, N., Sibthorp, J., & Gookin, J. (2008). Student learning in outdoor education: A case study from the National Outdoor Leadership School. Journal of Experiential Education, 30(3), 201-222. Published, 01/01/2008.
  • Furman, N. (2007). Rock climbing impacts on the granite of Yosemite National Park and their implications for the sandstone of Zion National Park. Journal of Recreation and Leisure, November, 2007. Published, 11/01/2007.
  • Sibthorp, J., Paisley, K., Gookin, J., & Furman, N. (2007). The pedagogic role of participant autonomy in adventure-based programming (abstract). NRPA Leisure Research Symposium. (pp. 254-257). Indianapolis, IN. Published, 10/18/2007.
  • Furman, N., Paisley, K., & Sibthorp, J. (2006). Student learning on expedition-based outdoor education courses (abstract). In W. Taylor, G. Kay, T. Coates, G. Hanley, L. Morgan, & B. Wolfe (Eds.), Proceeding and Research Symposium Abstract of the 20th Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference. (pp. 142-144). Whitmore Lake, MI: Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. Published, 11/15/2006.
  • Furman , N. (2004). Dyno for the manky chickenhead, bra! Lessons learned from teaching bouldering to NOLS students. NOLS Newsletter. Summer, 2004. Published, 10/21/2004.