Trends in Outdoor Recreation
Brenda Adams-Weyant
Consulting Recreation Planner
February 17, 2011
How are trends useful?
• What is trend data?
• Helps you decide how to prioritize
investments in your recreation program.
• Prepares you for requests for new
recreational facilities.
• Keeps you relevant to society.
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• Produced by the Outdoor Foundation
since 2007
• Measures participation in outdoor
recreation of Americans ages 6 and older
• Surveys track 40 recreation activities.
• Variety of reports available at:
http://www.outdoorindustry.org/research.php
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• Nearly 50% of Americans ages six and older
participated in outdoor recreation in 2009. That’s
a slight increase from 2008 and equates to a
total of 137.8 million Americans.
• The gateway activities — fishing, running,
camping, bicycling and hiking— are popular,
accessible and often lead to participation in
other outdoor activities.
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• 42% of outdoor participants said the economy
impacted how often they participated in outdoor
activities in 2009.
• 62% of outdoor participants travel one hour or
less to participate in outdoor recreation.
• The participation rate in outdoor activities of
Americans with walking routes near their home
is 20% higher than those without, and the
participation rate of those with nearby biking
routes is nearly 25% higher than those without.
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• This study continues to track an overall
downward slide in outdoor recreation
participation among 6 to 12 year olds.
– 2009 - 62%
– 2008 - 64%
– 2006 - 78%
• A lack of time and interest keeps youth from
getting outdoors more.
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• For youth ages 6 to 17, “fun” is the most common
motivation for participating in outdoor activities.
Discovery and exploration are common motivators.
• Most youth are introduced to outdoor activities by
parents, friends, family and relatives.
• Decreases in outdoor recreation among youth may
mean shrinking numbers of outdoor enthusiasts for
future generations.
• Helpful resource: Children & Nature Network http://www.childrenandnature.org/
2010 Outdoor Recreation
Participation Report
• Outdoor recreation participants are more likely
to support land conservation.
• A larger percentage of outdoor participants
believes that developing local parks and hiking
and walking trails is important.
• Outdoor recreation participants are more likely
to have volunteered and donated to support
environmental and conservation efforts.
Trends in Wildlife Related
Recreation
• Trends between 1996 and 2006
• Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service, National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlifeassociated Recreation
• Conducted every 5 years since 1955
• National and state-level reports available at:
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/fishing.html
Nationwide Participation Trends
•Fishing -15%
•Hunting: -11%
•Wildlife Watching (away from home): 13%
Are land managers with traditionally large hunting
and fishing programs adapting to the changing
times? Will they remain relevant to society?
National Survey on Recreation and
the Environment (NSRE)
• NSRE represents the continuation of the ongoing
National Recreation Survey series that began in 1960.
• Focuses on outdoor recreation participation and
personal demographics.
• Surveys people 16 years and older in the United States.
• Surveys track more than 80 recreation activities.
• More than half the US states use NSRE data during their
SCORP development.
• Reports and data at:
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends/index.html
Recent Trends in Nature-based
Recreation, 1999-2008
• Nearly 60% of nature based recreation occurs in
forested settings.
• The fastest growing activities:
View/photograph flowers, etc
78%
View/photograph natural scenery
61%
Driving off road
56%
View/photograph other wildlife
47%
View/photograph birds
38%
Kayaking
29%
Visiting water (other than ocean beach)
28%
Backpacking
24%
Visiting nature centers
23%
(NSRE data, 2009)
Recent Trends in Nature-based
Recreation, 1999-2008
• Strongest declining activities:
Downhill skiing
-16%
Picnicking
-17%
Canoeing
-18%
Migratory bird hunting
-19%
Day hiking
-21%
Snowmobiling
-27%
Mountain biking
-33%
Snowshoeing
-37%
(NSRE data, 2009)
Reasons why kids do not spend
more time outside (NSRE)
Reason
Interested in music, art, reading, etc.
Male
%
Female Total %
%
50.6
66.7
58.3
38.5
57.4
47.5
51.0
39.9
45.7
More involved in indoor sports
34.6
42.7
38.5
Time at mall shopping hanging out
25.3
29.8
27.4
20.4
32.1
26.0
Don't have transportation
15.0
25.3
20.0
Don't have anyone to play outdoors with
16.2
20.6
18.3
It is not safe to play or do sports outside
18.1
10.1
14.2
Injured or developed health problem
10.3
5.0
7.8
 Interested in Internet, text messaging
 Interested in video games, DVDs, and TV
 Neighborhood does not have good access
Common themes
• Hunting and fishing declining
• Need to get kids outdoors to ensure a future
conservation constituency
• Decline in snow-dependent recreational
activities
• Obesity epidemic is raising awareness of the
value of public lands. The health care industry is
becoming a stronger partner with land
managers.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the fate of biodiversity and intact
ecosystems may depend less on rates of
habitat loss or invasive species, than on
public perception of whether conservation
should be supported at all.
Zaradic, Pergam, and Kareiva 2009
Additional Resources
National Association of Recreation Resource Planners:
www.narrp.org
Outdoor Foundation: http://www.outdoorindustry.org/research.php
US Fish and Wildlife Service:
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/fishing.html
US Forest Service (NSRE):
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends/index.html
University of Georgia:
http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/nsre/IrisReports.html
Brenda Adams-Weyant
Consulting Recreation Planner
brendaaw@verizon.net