Auto-Tour Sparks Tourism

A Technology Clinic class has created an auto-mobile tour on CD to boost tourism and local awareness of historical assets in rural areas of Northampton County. Working with local historians, the students conducted extensive research into cultural traditions, economic status, critical industries, and historic events.

"The issue is how to gain greater recognition of the area to itself and the world, with a focus on tourism," explains Dan Bauer, professor of anthropology, who directs the Technology Clinic program and advised the group along with Larry Malinconico, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences. "Better recognition of these places by members of the community also will encourage them to preserve what's important."

The group created 25 CDs and provided materials for production in greater quantities to the Greater Nazareth Council of Governments. Stopping points along the tour include museums, historical sites, business and cultural attractions, and more. Highlights include the Martin Guitar Factory in Nazareth, Kreidersville Covered Bridge, Siegfried Log Cabin in Bath, Slateford Farm in Portland, Slate Belt Heritage Center in Bangor, Siegfried Railroad Station in Northampton, and Walnutport Locktenders House. The tour discusses the importance of slate, cement, manufacturing, and farming to the history of the region, as well as to the population today.

Technology Clinic is a hands-on course founded in 1986 that brings together students representing different majors to solve the real-world problems of a business, nonprofit organization, or government body. The group creating the auto tour was comprised of Katherine Blair '04, Matt Hontz '05, Josh Keely '05, Christina Morgan '05, Alexis Siemons '05, and Mike Sparrow '04.

"It's been a really interesting experience to work with very different kinds of people," says Blair, who hopes to enter nonprofit management or management and operations consulting. "Beyond the difference in majors, we also have very different personalities and leadership styles, so working together as a team has been one of the most interesting and challenging aspects of the project."