Increasing Diversity in Outdoor Recreation Presents Significant Opportunity for Outdoor Businesses

Key findings in the recently released 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report suggest significant opportunities exist for increasing participation in outdoor recreation among Hispanics and African Americans. The findings – covering the trends and motivations of diverse participants and non-participants – are critical for outdoor industry companies working to engage growing numbers of outdoor enthusiasts and non-profits nationwide working to connect youth and the outdoors.

Perhaps the most interesting finding in the report is that, although the participation rate in outdoor activities is lower among Hispanics and African Americans than Caucasians, those who do participate get outside more frequently than Caucasians. This encouraging news emphasizes the significance of the opportunity diverse groups offer the outdoor industry.

Other highlights from the report include:

Participation in outdoor activities is highest among Caucasians for all age groups. Participation is lowest among African Americans. Participation among African American youth is markedly lower than Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, and the consequences of this are evident in participation rates throughout adulthood.

When youth are asked what motivated them to start participating in outdoor activities, youth ages 6 to 17 of all major ethnicities cite parents, family, relatives and friends as the top motivations. Parents are the leading motivator for all groups, although parents are cited more often by Caucasians (74%) than Hispanics (59%), African Americans (59%) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (65%).

School programs are the fourth most common motivation for youth of all four ethnicities and cited most often by African American youth and Asian/Pacific Islander youth.

When youth participants ages 6 to 17 of all ethnicities are asked why they choose outdoor activities, they cite “fun” most often by a large margin.

Hispanic and African American youth cite a lack of access to places to enjoy outdoor activities in greater numbers than Caucasian and Asian/Pacific Islander youth.
In the coming years, the United States will become a majority minority population, and more than 85% of the population will live in urban communities. The insights in the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report will help businesses and organizations nationwide connect Americans and the outdoors, reverse the inactivity and obesity crisis and ensure future generations conservationists.