Trevor Gaines-Perry ’23 surveys MC Woods use, sets up legacy for MC Woods Committee
March 15, 2023
Of the notable features on Maryville College’s campus, the 140-acre College Woods — a twisting weave of protected and managed wilderness encompassing more than half the total land of the historic institution — rank high.
Open to collegiate and community activities, and home to the famous RT Lodge as well as a disc golf course, the Woods offer something for everyone, but maintaining so much variety can be a challenge without any data regarding what and how the resources are being used. Enter Trevor Gaines-Perry ’23, a senior majoring in Health and Wellness Promotion.
“I’ve always been adamant about getting outside and being physically active, and here at Maryville, we’re fortunate enough to be at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and have tons of acres of woods and trails that I don’t think a lot of people utilize,” Gaines-Perry said. “That’s why I wanted to look at who uses the woods, and how.”
Gathering information
The Maryville College Woods host a number of Senior Studies, traditionally in the biology and chemistry departments. Gaines-Perry’s is the first to examine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of people utilizing the many services. Logistically, the study involves three distinct data collection methodologies: trail counters, a voluntary survey, and in-field observation.
With assistance from the Maryville College Woods Committee and grants from both Mountain Challenge’s Coyote Fund and the senior study funds, Gaines-Perry purchased three TRAFx trail counters – a programmable device that “senses and detects the infrared wavelength that people emit,” according to the TRAFx website. Unlike a camera which captures images, the trail counters only log a timestamp of when someone passes in front of the sensor, which is then added to a total, non-identifying tally.
The trackers are housed in 6-by-6 wooden posts dug out with the help of Maryville College’s Facilities Operations and secured with concrete and packed dirt. A small hole is drilled on the front end pointing toward the trail, and the back is secured with a steel plate.
“The people over in Facilities Operations have been a great help, and the hands-on work has been really enjoyable,” Gaines-Perry said.
Two counters are set along the perimeter trails, and the final third counter is located near the Mountain Challenge ropes course. Each is able to run independently and requires minimal maintenance; data can be downloaded on-site through a device like a USB drive, and then uploaded to a computer.
The low maintenance design means that even after his Senior Study is completed, the counters can and will remain in use for data collection by the Maryville College Woods Committee. Future findings could help determine new trails and possible improvements.
At each post is a small sign that explains the trail counters’ purpose, and five other larger signs have been placed along the trails to encourage visitors to scan a QR code which leads to the short Maryville College Woods Use survey, a less than 5-minute questionnaire about visitor habits which will help Gaines-Perry collect qualitative evidence for types of Woods usage.
“We understand how it looks like there’s a little camera just right on the trail, but they aren’t cameras,” said Gaines-Perry, who would eventually like to become a national park ranger after graduation and is currently applying for seasonal positions in Alaska and Montana to guide tourists on outdoor excursions. “And we don’t want to scare people. So, we put up some laminated signs directing any questions back to the MC Woods Committee.”
Because the trackers can’t differentiate one person coming back from a jog from two distinct individuals, Gaines-Perry is also including the survey and observation as data collection methods. Associate Professor of Exercise Science and senior study advisor Dr. Jeremy Steeves explained how the tri-part model worked.
“It’s the standard best practice for this sort of research,” Steeves said. “The count from the trackers gives you the numbers. You’ve got the survey which defines why and what people are doing when they pass the infrared beam, and then you’ve got the direct observation where you can track the demographics of visitors in a confined area: things like what they’re doing, age, gender, and if they’ve got kids, are with a friend, or have a pet.”
Promoting and safeguarding the MC Woods
After falling in love with the trails himself, Gaines-Perry started to notice how few students he was seeing on his own forays.
“Part of Trevor’s motivation for choosing this senior study was not seeing as many students using the woods as community members,” Steeves said. “He thought there must be a reason.”
The Woods’ acreage makes up more than half of the College’s campus, but Steeves and Gaines-Perry suspect that most foot traffic occurs in the other 123 acres.
For those hesitant to go into the Woods, both Steeves and Gaines-Perry offered the following advice: “If you’re uncomfortable alone, consider taking a friend or a pet,” Steeves said. “Mountain Challenge also hosts some walks, and on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., they have Camp 4. I’m sure they’d be happy to give a tour or plan a group walk.”
“Start small — you don’t have to go straight to the woods,” Gaines-Perry added. “Get out and just walk down your street for a short while. It’s like dipping your toe in the water: you have to kind of force yourself a bit, but it’s that first step that’s the hardest. Even back before I took up hiking, I had to twist my own arm to make it a habit.”
