As Childhood Obesity Rates Rise, Youth Outdoor Participation Declines

New Report: The Outdoor Foundation Releases Outdoor Recreation Participation
Study

Findings include increase in overall participation and declining youth
participation

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Outdoor Foundation today announced the
release of the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, the only detailed
study of its kind tracking American participation trends in outdoor
recreation. The findings highlighted in the report are areas of both
opportunity and concern: while overall participation in outdoor recreation
among Americans is increasing, the connection to nature among youth is
declining.

The 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, is based on an on-line
survey capturing responses from over 60,000 Americans ages six and older and
covers 114 different outdoor activities, making it the largest survey of its
type examining participation in sports and outdoor activities. The survey
represents a collaborative effort among The Outdoor Foundation, Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association, National Golf Foundation, and SnowSports Industries
America.

The report provides important insights into trends in participation in outdoor
recreation among all Americans, with focused looks at youth, diversity, and
gender.

According to the report, over 50% of Americans participated in outdoor
recreation in 2007, getting outside 11.36 billion times -- either close to
home, in a nearby park or on an overnight trip.

While the increase in participation comes as good news to the outdoor
recreation industry, the report also reveals over an 11% decline in
participation in outdoor activities among youth age 6 to 17 with the sharpest
declines among youth age 6 to 12.

The insights detailed in the 2008Outdoor Recreation Participation Report are
critical to efforts nationwide seeking to understand and reverse the growing
inactivity crisis among youth and the growing disconnect between youth and the
outdoors.

"Children in America are suffering from the effects of obesity and inactivity
at unprecedented levels," said Chris Fanning, executive director of The
Outdoor Foundation. "Teaching youth the benefits of a healthy active outdoor
lifestyle will ensure healthier children, healthier communities, and healthier
businesses."

Key findings contained in the report are:

Participation Among All Americans
-- Participation in outdoor activities increased in 2007 to 50.0% of
Americans - from 134.4 million American participants in 2006 to 138.4
million Americans.
-- Americans made an estimated 11.36 billion outdoor excursions in 2007
--
either close to home, in a nearby park or on an overnight trip.

Youth Participation
-- Participation among youth ages 6 to 17 dropped over 11% in 2007.
-- Participation among boys and girls age 6-12 experienced the sharpest
drop. Girls had the biggest decline falling from 77% to 61%. Boys fell
from 79% to 72%.
-- Most youth are introduced to outdoor activities by parents, friends,
family, and relatives.
-- For youth, "fun" is by far the most common motivation for
participating in outdoor activities. Other motivators include
discovery,
exploration, new experiences, and exercise.

Diversity
-- Participation in outdoor activities is highest among Caucasians for
all
age groups. Participation is lowest among African Americans.
Participation among African American youth is lower than Caucasian,
Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, and the consequences of
this
are evident in participation rates throughout adulthood.
-- Although the participation rate in outdoor activities is lower among
Hispanics and African Americans than Caucasians, those who do
participate get outside and make more outings than Caucasians.

Gender
-- Among males, participation in outdoor activities exceeds participation
in indoor activities and team ball sports for ages 25 to 65.
-- Among females, although indoor fitness activities are more popular
than
team ball sports and outdoor activities for age groups 18 and under,
participation in outdoor activities increases among female
participants
between 18 and 44.

Over the next four weeks, The Outdoor Foundation will release additional
in-depth analysis of each segment studied in the report.

A full copy of the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report can be
downloaded from The Outdoor Foundation website at
http://www.outdoorfoundation.org/research.

About The Outdoor Foundation
The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization established by
the Outdoor Industry Association Board of Directors to inspire and grow future
generations of outdoor Americans. Learn more about The Foundation at
www.outdoorfoundation.org or email at info@outdoorfoundation.org or call
303.444.3353.

SOURCE The Outdoor Foundation

Trevor FitzGibbon for The Outdoor Foundation, +1-202-431-7474; or Christine
Fanning of The Outdoor Foundation, +1-202-271-3252,
cfanning@outdoorfoundation.org