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Home >> Reports >> Outdoor Recreation in America 2002Purchase This ReportOutdoor Recreation in America 20022002
The natural world beckons us in many ways, and the enjoyment that people derive from outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, snorkeling and sailing is evident throughout this report. Just as evident is the fact that most people don’t participate very often in outdoor activities, even when the activity is their favorite sport of all. For most Americans the activities described in this report are special events, frequently connected with travel, vacations and summer camps. They are precious experiences that restore the spirit and remain happy memories for years. Unfortunately these kinds of activities are often crowded out of our busy lives by work, study and other obligations. One example is the alarming statistic from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research: the average amount of time spent outdoors each day by children aged 9 to 12 declined 60% between 1981 and 1997, from 1 hour and 58 minutes to 47 minutes. TV was not the only culprit: time spent at school and doing homework rose 29% and 28% respectively. With time spent outdoors so precious, it’s imperative that fields, trails, parklands and playing fields be easily accessible. For this reason, SGMA International has been working for years, along with other organizations, to restore federal funding programs for recreational facilities. In 1999, following nearly a decade in which no federal funds were devoted to this effort, Congress granted a total of $22.5 million for states and inner cities to buy or improve recreational facilities. By 2002, the total appropriation had grown to $174 million. As this publication was in preparation, future funding was uncertain. Whatever the outcome this session, SGMA International and its allies will continue to press for federal support of these vital programs. This 24 page full color annual study contains participation figures for 35 outdoor activities (from 1998-2001) -- ranging from archery to horseback riding to water skiing. It also lists various sales figures -- retail sales of outdoor footwear (hiking shoes, recreational boots and sport sandals) and wholesale sales of outdoor equipment (camping, fishing, hunting, snow sports, and water sports). 2002 Edition (24 pages - PDF: 364k) Customers who purchased this report also purchased the following reports:
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