OutdoorNebraska

2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 5 S TAT E W I D E C O M P R E H E N S I V E O U T D O O R R E C R E AT I O N P L A N Youth Pilot Study 2: Outdoor Recreation Survey The Outdoor Recreation Survey was the other pilot study completed by 726 students to understand youth outdoor recreation preferences. This study targeted fourth and fifth grade students that attended the NGPC sponsored Fort Kearny and Ponca State Park Outdoor Discovery Programs in 2019. Students were asked where they play once they get home from school. Seventy-three percent indicated they play at their house and 36% at a neighborhood park. 1 This shows many of the respondents find outdoor entertainment near their homes, but over a third use their neighborhood park as an area to recreate. Since proximity of a nearby park can influence visitation, it was asked if there was a neighborhood park near where the respondents live. Over two-thirds indicated yes. Frequency in which respondents use the nearby park also was asked. Over half indicated they use the park only on weekends or once a week. This isn't particularly surprising given the school and home schedules of youths, but should be taken into consideration when planning programs and events at parks. Students were asked if they go to state park or recreation areas outside their hometown. Sixty percent of participants indicated yes. Participants were then asked which activities they participate in at parks (Figure 4.11). What limits youth from going outdoors also was asked (Figure 4.12). A majority of these reasons cannot easily be influenced by providers of outdoor recreation. However, it does help understand which areas to focus on when trying to get youth outdoors. For example, technology could be used as a catalyst to get youth outdoors. Once there, outdoor skills-based or self-guided learning can take place. Youth also were asked to indicate if an adult had ever taken them fishing or hunting, and if it was within the past year. Fifty-seven percent had gone fishing and 43% had gone hunting with an adult in the last year. Keep in mind, there could be a correlation with more youth participating in these activities due to the location and availability of opportunities compared to other regions, such as the Metro region. Additional survey data in the metro region is needed to truly reflect the percentage of youth participating in these activities. Nonetheless, it's still interesting to see participation of these recreation activities because it gives providers a sense of the level of interest in these activities. This study was a great way to understand the different desires and limitations of going outdoors for youth. Providers of recreation should consider this when trying to determine if the needs of youth have been met in the outdoor recreation they offer. Be mindful of demographics and demand outlined in your specific region when determining recreation amenities to offer. 1 Percentages in this study may add up to more than 100% because participants could select more than one answer. Source: "Youth Outdoor Recreation Survey." Conducted by NGPC. (2019). Lincoln, NE. Figure 4.11: Top 5 Outdoor Recreation Amenities Used By Youth 75.4% Swimming Pools 71.1% Playgrounds 66.4% Fishing 65.1% Biking 58.3% Picnicking Figure 4.12: Top 5 Limitations that Prevent Youth from Recreating 68.1% Weather 61.7% Homework 53.1% Technology 28.7% After-school Clubs and Activities 28.5% Care for Family 68

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