Future recreation professionals need the ability to analyze the effects of proposed management actions and stakeholder concerns to make good decisions, maintain public support, and comply with state and federal laws. Importantly, when federal funds, lands, permits or licenses are involved, federal law requires consideration of environmental and social effects of proposed actions via the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Many states have similar environmental laws. This paper describes application of a NEPA analysis approach framework as a holistic method for teaching students how to analyze proposed management actions in terms of interested and affected stakeholders' concerns and environmental and social effects. Such a review will allow these future managers to develop recommendations that consider these issues in agency decision-making processes and comply with laws and agency mission.