13 Feb 2008
A study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that Americans are shifting away from earlier patterns of nature-based recreation. One bellwether statistic, cited in the study, shows that visits to National Parks -- which had steadily increased throughout the 20th century -- have been in decline for the past 20 years.
The study paints a disconcerting picture of an America that is fundamentally withdrawing from outdoor experiences in natural areas. Experts attribute the downward trend to factors ranging from increasing fuel prices to increases in the amount of time Americans spend in front of electronic screens: video games, televisions and computers.
While there are a few bright spots -- the number of backpackers, for instance, actually has increased slightly -- the alarming news from this study is that "all major lines of evidence point to an ongoing and fundamental shift away from nature-based recreation."
Visitors to this website already understand the importance of giving their kids -- and themselves -- a daily GREEN HOUR. Now, it may be that spreading the word has never been more important!
For more details on the PNAS study, please read:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Evidence for a fundamental and pervasive shift away from nature-based recreation
National Public Radio
Americans Spending Less Time in Nature
