The world according to GORP (and other STOR programs)
and environmental agencies, and natural features. It’s useful for any guide or outfitter anywhere in the country.
State & Local GORP The state and local courses are for guides in the coast- al areas of Oregon, South Carolina, and Wisconsin and for guides on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. • The state course covers statewide symbols (such as for the state tree, state fish, etc.), economics, tourism and environmental agencies, and natural features. • In the local course, guides learn to identify the plants and animals in the regions where they work. They also learn more about the history of their region and become familiar with environmental agencies and travel and tourism organizations in their communities that can help them enhance their work. Oregon’s Marine Reserve Area Training This series of six online courses covers Oregon’s system of marine reserves—from how they function to what habitats and organisms they host. Participants also can take courses about each of the five reserves. “Know Your Community” This online course is for tourism industry professionals who work along the Oregon South Coast. It provides an overview of restaurants, lodging, and other ame- nities as well as local tours and guided excursions. It’s also a primer on the economic impact of tourism on the coast. It’s organized into four modules, each of which covers a group of three to five communities. “Practical Customer Service” In this online course, participants learn how to interact effectively with customers and how to create a positive work environment. It includes a module on tsunami safety.
Guide and Outfitter Recognized Professional (GORP)
This series of online courses gives guides and outfitters a deeper understanding of their industry and the re- gions where they operate—it also gives them strategies and resources for enhancing and promoting their busi- nesses. Guides can take just some of these courses, but certification requires them to complete all four. Guides with a lot of experience get credit for what they bring to the table and can move on from a section as soon as they can pass that section’s quiz with a perfect score. But they also can keep taking a quiz until they get all of the answers right. We designed it this way so that all participants demonstrate that they know the same content. Global GORP This business course covers universal topics like group management, customer service, interpretative pre- sentations, and more and is applicable to any guide anywhere in the world. National GORP This course covers national symbols (such as for the national bird (bald eagle), etc.), economics, tourism
14 The NET Effect | Extension Foundation/NTAE
Powered by FlippingBook