The Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
Welcome to the exciting world out outdoor recreation! For those of you who are new to venturing outdoors, I have to ask you...what took you so long? There are so many wonderful physical, psychological and social benefits from engaging in outdoor recreation. I have received from lots of viewers lately concerns about how they wish their significant others or family members would be as excited about the outdoors as they were. I felt compelled to gather important and possibly life changing facts about having fun outdoors, Key word here is having fun! For those of you trying, or maybe at the point of forcing your partner to participate outdoors with you, I hope some of this information will inspire your partner or family members to consider engaging in some form of outdoor activity. For the family members reluctant so far to participate, I challenge you to at least trying a few things before giving up on the idea entirely. Your partner, parent, or even your friend is trying to share with you something meaningful and fun to them. They want you to enjoy the benefits they are experiencing and trust me, couples out there, sharing some time outdoors could bring you closer together!
How Nature Healed Me!
I have to admit, I was always a little adventurous but it was not until 2 years ago that I REALLY began to get involved in outdoor recreation and bush craft skills. My giant leap into outdoor recreation was hiking the Appalachian Trail. (A note here, I had never camped besides doing it in my backyard as a child and I had only a few days hiking experience!) I had just overcome 3 months of mononucleosis (aka glandular fever) which left me feeling very depressed because I at that time I also lost my j.ob, my new apartment and most importantly, my health. I had lost so much so quickly but I was determined once my health returned that I would do something truly amazing like hiking the AT. Doctors advised me not to go on the trail so soon following my recovery but something in me knew that hiking would help me get better physically, mentally, and surprisingly, spiritually well too. The trail, despite it being the wettest summers recorded, healed me and brought me much joy. The people I met along the trail truly inspired me and the genuine kindness I experienced from strangers was truly a moving experience.
Enough about me, lets see how outdoor recreation can help you!
The following information bellow is based on The Canadian Benefits Catalog compiled by Missoula County,2009
1 - Recreational activities and overall active living are essential to:
Personal Health
Helps people live longer: can add two years to your life expectancy.
Prolongs independent living for seniors by helping with the healing process of illness's and impairment period typically associated with aging thus keeping seniors vital and involved in community life.
Reduce the risk of: Coronary heart disease and stroke, fighting osteoporosis: which affects 25% of postmenopausal women,Diabetes: the fourth ranking killer disease (after heart disease, cancer, and respiratory disease).
Help prevent cancers particularly in the colon, breast and lungs.
Help prevent and rehabilitate back problems: affecting 25% of adults.
Mental Health and Rehabilitation
Reducing stress, depression, and contributing to overall emotional/psychological well-being critical to personal quality of life.
Outdoor recreation is proven as a therapeutic tool used in hospitals, clinics and communities everywhere (physical recreation, sports, arts/culture) helping to restore physical, mental and social capacities and abilities.
Provide the opportunity for adults to develop their full and holistic potential (physical, social, creative, intellectual and spiritual)
Parks and natural environments have great spiritual meaning for many and arts/culture is a significant way of exploring our spirituality.
Build self-esteem and positive self-image!
Enhance perceived quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Nurtures growth, life skills, and independent living for those with a disability.
Reduces: Self-destructive behavior and negative social activity in youth – an antidote to smoking, substance abuse, suicide, and depression. Crime, racism, and social dysfunction effective with juvenile delinquents, and supports diversity. Isolation, loneliness, and alienation.
2 - Recreation and parks build stronger families and healthier communities. 'Families that play together stay together!'
Recreation is essential to the development of children and youth. We learn motor skills (physical) through play and sports. We learn social skills through play and sports. We learn creativity through play and arts/cultural activity. We develop intellectual capacities and concepts through play – and many other life skills. Children and youth remain connected; couples that share leisure interests are more likely to stay together. Provides safe, developmental opportunities for the latch-key child. Produce leaders who serve their communities in many ways. Builds social skills and stimulates participation in community life. Recreation and parks often build strong, self-sufficient communities (sports groups, arts guilds, adopt-a-park). Culture helps people understand their neighbors, their history, and their environment. Recreation, parks, sports, and arts/culture build pride in a community.
3 - Recreation reduces health care, social service and police/justice costs.
Fitness and well-being reduces both the incidence and severity of illness and disability; lowering health care costs.
Recreation supports families; reducing costs of social service intervention and foster care.
Recreation reduces crime and social dysfunction; reducing police, justice, and incarceration costs.
4 - Recreation and parks are significant economic generators.
Improves work performance; increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, decreased staff turnover, reduced ‘on the job’ accidents. Attract businesses to the community; prime economic development and relocation magnets.
Draw tourism: the third largest and one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. Small investments in recreation, parks, sports, and arts/culture often yield large economic returns – money generated by events, capital development, and provision of ongoing services is spent several times in the community (the multiplier effect).
Parks and open spaces increase property value, and therefore tax revenue, on adjacent land – many developers are automatically including parkland, golf courses, etc. as marketing features.
There you have it! Outdoor recreation is positive for many people. Now, what are you waiting for? Go out there and play!
