Forrest is an outdoor educator and social scientist with expertise in outdoor and environmental ethics, outdoor experiential leadership, expeditionary learning, and adventure program organization and administration. His applied and interdisciplinary scholarly work follows two primary tracks: one focuses on participant outcomes associated with outdoor education programs, and the other explores relationships between humans and the natural environment, with a specific focus on outdoor/environmental ethics and societal health and well-being.
Forrest held previous positions as the assistant director for the Adventure WV wilderness orientation and adventure education program at West Virginia University, as well as faculty and graduate program director in Outdoor Education Leadership at Prescott College. He has instructed field courses throughout the United States and has developed and led multiple expeditions to New Zealand, Chilean Patagonia, and Peru.
Forrest holds a dual-title PhD from The Pennsylvania State University in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Environment and Recreation, Park and Tourism Management.
Courses Taught
- LAP 501: Life Act Prog/PersonalTraining
- OUT 551: Backcountry Based Experience
- OUT 552: Water Based Experiences
- OUT 693: Teaching Assistantship
- RMP 411: Recreation Risk Management
- RMP 490: Recreation & Tourism in Soc
- RMP 970: Teaching Practicum
Selected Publications
Schwartz, F., Taff, B. D., Lawhon, B., & VanderWoude, D. (2018). Mitigating Undesignated Trail Use: The Efficacy of Messaging and Direct Site Management Actions in an Urban-Proximate Open Space Context.. Environ Manage, 62(3), 458-473. doi:10.1007/s00267-018-1054-1
