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Movies, Internet, and Video Games Decreasing Participation in Outdoor Recreation

A recent study conducted by the Virginia chapter of The Nature Conservancy indicates a dramatic overall decrease in people’s participation in outdoor activities since first studied in 1990. Since then, the level has dropped an average of over one percent per year both in the U.S. and in other countries included in the study. The study provided data on camping, backpacking, fishing, hiking, hunting, visits to national and state parks and forestsIn a recent press release, Stephanie Meeks, acting president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy, noted, “If we lose our connection to the natural world, we’ll lose our appreciation for the food, water, and clean air it provides. And the next generation will feel little compulsion to protect it. We’re facing the most serious environmental threats of our lifetime, particularly in light of the challenges posed by climate change. We need the next generation to both value the natural world in which we live and fight to protect it.”Other studies indicate that this decrease in outdoor activity corresponds to an increase in sedentary activities such as browsing the Internet, watching movies, and playing video games. Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, Peter Kareiva, included an essay with the research findings cautioning that in his experience, most adult conservationists developed a connection with nature in their youth and added, “This alienation from nature is a growing — and troubling — trend worldwide. Today, the majority of humans live in cities, and urbanization is accelerating so rapidly that by 2050 only a small portion of the human population will live outside urban areas. This disconnect could have severe consequences for all of us.”The consequences are not solely limited to environmental concerns. Already, two out of three Americans are overweight and half that number are clinically obese. The current percentage of obesity has doubled since 1980. Not surprisingly, the instance of type 2 Diabetes has risen to epidemic proportions and alarmingly, among children.The solution? Eat less and enjoy the outdoors more(...at Kyles Ford!)