Virginia Beach is for Lovers of Dark Tourism
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Four ODU students conducted a program evaluation for the Unforeseen Circumstances -- Tales of Misfortune Tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 2019. Every year, the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation offers historical tours to educate people in the Hampton Roads area about Norfolk cemeteries and the people buried there. This tour was hosted by a knowledgeable tour guide who told stories of all the mysterious deaths in the cemetery. To determine participants’ opinions of the tour, evaluators distributed a one-page survey to participants at the end of the event. Eighteen participants filled out the survey. The survey items focused on participants’ previous experience of Norfolk Cemetery tours, the way they learned about the tour, likes and dislikes, and willingness to return and recommend the tour to others. After data analysis, evaluators determined that most participants had attended a tour run by the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation before. Education was a main reason many people attended the tour: they enjoyed learning about Norfolk history. Those that stated they had attended this type of tour before also stated that they would like to know more about disease-related deaths. Many participants stated they would attend another tour with some suggested additions. Evaluators recommend that the organization offer an extra day for the tour to accommodate for inclement weather. Also, for the organization to invest in a better-quality speaker that is more equipped for a bigger crowd, this would give the participants a better experience while touring.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Lindsay Usher
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons, Atrium
Start Date
2-8-2020 8:00 AM
End Date
2-8-2020 12:30 PM
Virginia Beach is for Lovers of Dark Tourism
Learning Commons, Atrium
Four ODU students conducted a program evaluation for the Unforeseen Circumstances -- Tales of Misfortune Tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 2019. Every year, the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation offers historical tours to educate people in the Hampton Roads area about Norfolk cemeteries and the people buried there. This tour was hosted by a knowledgeable tour guide who told stories of all the mysterious deaths in the cemetery. To determine participants’ opinions of the tour, evaluators distributed a one-page survey to participants at the end of the event. Eighteen participants filled out the survey. The survey items focused on participants’ previous experience of Norfolk Cemetery tours, the way they learned about the tour, likes and dislikes, and willingness to return and recommend the tour to others. After data analysis, evaluators determined that most participants had attended a tour run by the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation before. Education was a main reason many people attended the tour: they enjoyed learning about Norfolk history. Those that stated they had attended this type of tour before also stated that they would like to know more about disease-related deaths. Many participants stated they would attend another tour with some suggested additions. Evaluators recommend that the organization offer an extra day for the tour to accommodate for inclement weather. Also, for the organization to invest in a better-quality speaker that is more equipped for a bigger crowd, this would give the participants a better experience while touring.