All in the training: Techniques for enhancing karst landscape education through show cave interpretation

ABSTRACT

Despite the abundance of karst terrains and a universal lack of knowledge about the role they play in supplying freshwater resources, informal environmental education through guided show cave tours is poorly understood. This study evaluated techniques for educating cave guides on how to disseminate information about human–karst interactions to cave visitors. Results revealed the educational quality of material at both privately- and publicly-owned caves is lacking. This study also demonstrated that, by using informal learning theories as a guide, cave managers can alter existing tour content and guide training procedures to increase the educational quality of tours without negatively impacting entertainment value.