Communication Strategies to Promote Health Sun Safety in Outdoor Recreation Settings

The field of interpretation is increasingly acknowledging the potential for strategic health promotion. The purpose of this paper is to introduce Go Sun Smart (GSS) Resorts, a sun safety program directed to guests recreating outdoors at destination resorts and parks in the United States and Canada. This paper aims to present a sun safety intervention that was designed to promote advanced sun safety practices to the field of interpretation. With a foundation in Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Transportation Theory this paper will present the intervention materials and strategies developed by GSS to showcase the potential to promote health behaviors. Intervention materials that were developed include posters, tip cards, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video, additional electronic and print materials, employee trainings, GSS certification, and an interpretive script for use prior to various outdoor activities.