Here is an interesting article from Scientific American that reports that Americans are visiting parks, forests, campsites, and fishing holes with less and less frequency. Is this because people are becoming afraid of the outdoors, or are they too busy with technological toys, or too busy working? If people are not using the outdoors, what will their opinions be in debates about the environment and preservation?
Are Americans Afraid of the Outdoors?
Americans have been visiting national parks and other natural reserves less and less since 1987, new research confirms. Outdoor pursuits, ranging from camping to hunting, have entered a persistent and growing decline.
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The conservationists believe that the electronic world has supplanted the natural world as the leading diversion. Their statistical analysis shows that the increase in video games, movie rentals and other electronic entertainment most closely matches the decrease in camping and park visits, as opposed to income, vacation time, park overcrowding, foreign travel or other potential causes.
…Plus … there’s the fear factor. “You didn’t have the concept of
stranger danger [in the past],” Louv says. “If you are raising a generation under protective house arrest, will they have a joyful experience in nature?”