Responsible Travel Practices and Experiences

This unit teaches students how to recognize and choose ethical souvenirs, wildlife experiences, and nature-based activities while respecting local laws, customs, and Indigenous communities. Students learn to evaluate tours and attractions for animal welfare and conservation impact and to plan low-impact, culturally sensitive outdoor experiences.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the environmental, cultural, and animal-welfare impacts of common souvenir purchases and tourism experiences using a provided rubric to justify sustainable alternatives.
• Evaluate wildlife tours, animal attractions, and nature-based activities against criteria for legality, conservation outcomes, animal welfare, and community benefit, and rank options for responsible travel.
• Apply legal and cultural protocols—including respectful photography practices and engagement with First Nations communities—by completing scenario-based exercises and a planning checklist.
• Demonstrate the ability to design a low-impact nature-based outing (e.g., birding, diving, botanical walk, hiking, dark-sky viewing, or sailing) by producing a trip plan that includes risk mitigation, conservation best practices, and strategies to support local communities.