Outdoor Recreation: Go Outside and Play

Family and friends are enormously important in encouraging participation in new outdoor activities, especially for young people, according to a report by the Outdoor Foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. Trying something new and improving personal health also were cited among the top reasons why increasing numbers of Americans are becoming active outdoors.

For a fourth consecutive year, the Outdoor Foundation has produced its annual Outdoor Recreation Participation Report to benefit those businesses, government agencies, and organizations who are addressing the issue of youth inactivity as it relates to the great outdoors.

Among its key findings, the study continues to note an overall decline in outdoor recreation participation by children ages 6 to 12, though the pace of the decline appears to be slowing. Overall, nearly 50 percent of Americans age 6 and older enjoyed outdoor recreation in 2009, a slight increase from 2008. Above all, perhaps the most notable finding is one that has long been recognized by recreation managers and researchers -- most youth are introduced to outdoor activities by parents, friends, family and relatives.

The Division of Watercraft and other divisions in ODNR share in offering diverse opportunities to get people to become active in outdoor recreation, especially Ohio’s youth (www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com). ODNR programs involving mineral resources and soil and water offer opportunities to explore outdoors in addition to other popular activities such as fishing, wildlife watching, camping, biking, hiking and boating.

Many other programs are led by community partners who provide sustainable outdoor recreation activities and opportunities that accommodate various interests and abilities. A number of parks and recreation programs, for example, are supported by funding through grants awarded annually by the Division of Watercraft. Many of these local boating programs have been highly successful in introducing young Ohioans to the joys of recreational boating. The Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism also is a great resource for information on many activity events and programs. (See Related Links)