The purpose of outdoor recreation is to provide an enjoyable experience and benefit the people who participate in it. This can be accomplished in many different ways. These ways ensure a healthy lifestyle, improve mental health, and create a new outdoor space. In addition, the benefits of outdoor recreation are cost-effective.
Creating new outdoor space
In late 2015, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced $61 million in grant funding for 26 cities to kickstart local efforts to increase outdoor recreation in America’s most vibrant communities. The grant funding will help DEP update SCORP, the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. It also will work with the ecotourism industry to better connect local communities with the wonders of nature.
The department also announced the creation of the America the Beautiful Challenge, a public-private competitive grant program that will award $1 billion over the next ten years to fund conservation, restoration, and outdoor recreation in the most beautiful places in the country. A vital part of this initiative is developing a standardized set of local conservation guidelines, ensuring that communities can identify and take advantage of the most relevant and valuable resources.
Exercise
Outdoor recreation has long been a part of human evolution. People have sought the great outdoors to be healthy for thousands of years. As time passes, the connection between the outdoors and humans is changing. These changes have implications for the human-nature relationship and the benefits of nature for human health.
It is now known that nature provides beneficial physical, emotional, and mental health benefits. In addition, the synergistic effect of outdoor exercise and nature can help in the fight against physical inactivity and non-communicable diseases.
Exercise is essential for all ages. The benefits of exercising include: metabolism and cardiovascular system enhancement, enhanced social well-being, better psychological and emotional health, and reduced risk of illness. However, many people do not exercise. This is a problem.
Mental health
Among the many benefits of spending time in nature, studies have shown that it positively affects mental health. Studies suggest that exposure to green and blue spaces can lower stress and anxiety and increase socialization and resilience.
Using a systematic review approach, researchers gathered and evaluated the available literature on the mental health effects of outdoor activities. Results indicated that a majority of relevant studies exhibited a significant positive impact.
In particular, studies showed that time spent in an outdoor setting could reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Researchers are currently attempting to quantify the effects of outdoor adventures and determine if they are causally linked.
A recent study found that a nine-day hiking trip through the Alps was linked to reduced stress and improved mental health. The same was true for an analysis of youth and young adults.
Social aspect
Outdoor recreation is a great way to spend time with friends and family. It also provides physical and mental benefits. Outside helps you feel better, reduces stress and anxiety, and increases confidence. Plus, the outdoors is a great place to find new adventures.
One of the best ways to get outside is to visit a park. Aside from providing physical fitness and other health benefits, gardens can also serve as a community hub. This recreation can increase your social connection with other people, improve your creativity and reduce stress.
One of the most common ways to get outside is by playing sports. The benefits of playing outdoor sports can include lifelong learning, social inclusion and a reduction in anti-social behaviour. In addition to the positive effects on physical and mental health, outdoor activities promote community cohesion and reduce crime.
Cost-effectiveness
Outdoor recreation is a fast-growing sector of the economy. In the US, the outdoor recreation industry supports 238,000 jobs and generates $1.8 billion in state and local tax revenue. It also provides a wide range of benefits to the community.
Benefit-cost analysis is an essential tool in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an outdoor recreation program. The benefit-cost ratio is a financial performance measure that allows you to compare the financial performance of an outdoor program with a commercial enterprise.
A benefit-cost ratio of 1.0 or above is a prudent use of public funds. When a balance falls below this, a change in the balance may indicate a financially disruptive event.
Benefit-cost analysis does not apply to all types of outdoor programs. However, it can be applied to able-bodied, non-commercial outdoor recreation programs.