It is up to decision makers at the field, state, and national level to balance the different effects of their projects against those of competing projects or programs and make the "right" decision. The approach to decision making throughout this text is that of the decision maker who considers the benefits and costs of alternative recreation activities and programs, then chooses the most beneficial one possible at the lowest possible cost. The emphasis is on how decisions ought to be made to maximize benefits. This text is written for college students who are preparing to become managers of parks and recreation areas, forests, wildlife, and related natural resources. The first section of this book establishes an appropriate framework for consumer decision making, and presents unique definitions of quantity and price appropriate to outdoor recreation. The second section focuses on the demand for outdoor recreation. The final section introduces benefit-cost analysis of public recreation projects and programs.