Here is a list of our favorite Family Outdoor Recreation links for the week of Feburary 4th, 2008. Enjoy!
Favorite Photo: Artists Viewpoint, Yellowstone National Park, by ebroskie1234 via flickr.com.
Scientific Analysis of National Park Visitation Decline:
I think that everybody has suspected this, but we now have conclusive scientific evidence that there is a fundamental shift away from nature based recreation.
-----
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
After 50 years of steady increase, per capita visits to U.S. National Parks have declined since 1987. To evaluate whether we are seeing a fundamental shift away from people's interest in nature, we tested ... visitation to various types of public lands in the U.S. and National Parks in Japan and Spain, (ii) number of various types of U.S. game licenses issued, (iii) indicators of time spent camping, and (iv) indicators of time spent backpacking or hiking... All four time series are in downtrends, .. suggest that typical declines in per capita nature recreation began between 1981 and 1991, are proceeding at rates of -1.0% to -1.3% per year, and total to date -18% to -25%.
..... In conclusion, all major lines of evidence point to an ongoing and fundamental shift away from nature-based recreation.
-------
More on National Park Visitation Decline
Scientific American looked at the same data and examined weather or not the declining trend was driven by fear of the outdoors in an article called "Are Americans Afraid of the Outdoors?" It is an interesting article, although the title is a little misleading in that the data suggests that it is an international trend, not just an American one.
Getting Outside With Kids
The Arizona Republic posted an article on ten ideas for playing outside more. We did a similar thing this week too.
Geocaching:
We interviewed Michael Jacobus, publisher of Geocacher Magazine, a new magazine dedicated to the sport of Geocaching.
Citizen Science:
The folks over at Birdfreak.com have a post that can help your kids become scientists by participating in the 2008 Great Backyard Bird Count.
Photo of the Week:
Glen Rainwater posted an awesome shot of 5 mule deer with an almost fall-color backdrop. Excellent shot Glen!