2019 OUTDOOR PARTICIPATION REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Outdoor Participant The Next Ethnic A Detailed Methodology Summary Participation Profile Generation Diversity Look Snapshot
image: Thrive Outside San Diego, courtesy of Casa Familiar Americans went Of outdoor Only 17.9 Over the past few years, outdoor EXECUTIVE on one billion participants, percent of the participation has been on track with fewer outdoor 63.3% report total population the growth of the U.S. population, outings in 2018 they recreate recreated but concerning trends are beginning SUMMARY than they did just within 10 miles outside at least to emerge: ten years earlier. of their home. once a week.
That lack of consistent outdoor recreation was perhaps best The moderate participation rate illustrated by the activity of moderate outdoor participants, -2% has declined by nearly two percent In 2018, a little more those embarking on outdoor outings about once a month. over the past decade. In 2018, only 33.2 percent of outdoor participants were than half of the U.S. considered moderate participants, a drop from 35.1 percent just a decade earlier. Overall outdoor outings declined population participated -7.4 by an average of 7.4 outings per The frequency of outdoor activity among youth was equally participant over the past year. in outdoor recreation worrisome. Kids went on 15 percent fewer annual outings in 2018 than they did in 2012. The decline in youth activity at least once. was particularly concerning as youth participation is a strong Youth outdoor outings have indicator of future activity. In fact, adults that were active -1.4% dropped by 1.4 percent over the Unfortunately, this also outside as children were twice as likely to be active when they past three years. became adults. meant that a little less There continues to be a gap between than half of the U.S. the diversity of outdoor participants While the overall picture for outdoor population did not and the diversity of the U.S. population. participation was not promising, there were some bright spots: participate in outdoor In terms of participation by ethnicity, outdoor participants still skewed more Caucasian than the total population, despite Female participation rates recreation at all, and increases in Hispanic and overall ethnic youth participation. increased by an average of Like the broader population, all non-Caucasian ethnic groups 3.2 percent versus last year. very few got outdoors reported going on far fewer outings in 2018 than they did just five years ago. often enough to enjoy Hispanic participation growth More needs to be done to change this narrative, for the health was the strongest among the the full benefits of health of the industry and the health of society. Collective action ethnic groups over the past year. through philanthropy, marketing, and policies at the local, and well-being outdoor state and federal level can help bring not only individuals, but entire communities, to the outdoors and inspire a nationwide From 2017 to 2018, there were activities can provide. outdoor habit. participation surges in some individual activities, like BMX LEARN MORE AT OUTDOORFOUNDATION.ORG. biking and sailing.
3 OUTDOOR PARTICIPATION SNAPSHOT MODERATE PARTICIPANTS OUTDOOR …recreate outdoors about once a month • In 2018, nearly one-third of participants—a total of 98 million Americans—were considered moderate participants. PARTICIPATION • The moderate participation rate has declined by nearly two percent over the past decade. SNAPSHOT • While the percentage of females that make up moderate participants has A dramatic dip in outdoor outings was increased, the overall number females decreased (due to the decline in fueled by declining consistent participation overall moderate participation).
OUTDOOR PARTICIPATION OVER TIME KEY FINDINGS In 2018, just over half of all Americans, 50.5 percent of the population, engaged in outdoor activities. This 3.1 percent increase from 2017 to 2018 continued a three- year streak of modest growth in outdoor participation rates. The number of outdoor More than half of the US population participants also slightly increased. In 2018, 151.8 million people participated in at least 151.8 million Americans one outdoor activity, an increase of 5.7 million participants from 2017 to 2018. participated in at least one outdoor Among the genders, female outdoor participation rates grew by 3.2 percent from 2017 activity in 2018. to 2018, maintaining another three-year growth streak. Another positive trend was that male and female participation rates differed by 0.2 percent, in favor of females, further shrinking the participation gender gap. Since 2016, outdoor participation rates have grown an average of OUTDOOR PARTICIPATION TRENDING 1.4 percent