Why Outdoors?
Being outdoors has significant impact on a broad range of areas in our lives. Substantial research has been conducted on the value of and the outdoors across a variety of domains. From babies, to children and youth and throughout adulthood the outdoors holds benefits for all.
Key Benefits
Active Lifestyles
Physical literacy
Fundamental movement skills
Lifelong active lifestyle habits
Pathways to sporting success
Easy access to active outdoor recreation
Health Benefits
Mental health
Physical health
Well-being
Social networks
Active lifestyles
Education Opportunities
Engagement on learning tasks
Skills such as leadership and resilience, as well as practical outdoor skills
Curriculum outcomes are achieved
Caters for a variety of learning styles
Enables an integrated curriculum
Increased Tourism
Increase visitor numbers to outdoor sites, including National Parks
Highlights regional areas as places of interest
Encourages active outdoor recreation as tourism
Economic gain to areas of interest
Provides employment opportunities
Improved Environmental Awareness and Sustainability
Spending time in the natural environment encourages:
* connection to place
* knowledge of local outdoor places
* an understanding of the natural world
* increased motivation to protect natural spaces
* environmental stewardship
Employment Opportunities
Increased employment in outdoor careers
Contribution to a skilled workforce
Development of the outdoor recreation sector with trained guides
Skilled and trained outdoor educators working in schools to deliver curriculum
Greater contribution to the economy from the outdoor industry
.
Walking, Running and Cycling, accounts for 33% of total outdoors recreation by residents aged 15+ in NSW
.