7 Nature and Background of Outdoor Recreation

 

 CHAPTER 7: Nature and Backgroun d of Outdoor Recreatio n

 

What Is Outdoor Recreation? Outdoor recreation is organized activities done during one’s free time for his/her own personal reasons, where an interaction between man and an element of nature is present.

 

Reasons People Engage in Outd • •

•

• •

oor Recreational Activity Some do it for personal satisfaction and enjoyment. Perhaps, it is a time away from the day-to-day routine. Others do it to be in touch with nature, which they rarely have the chance to do, especially for those who reside in highly urbanized areas. Many do it for personal pursuit such as photography, collecting sea shells, reaching the top of Mt. Apo, conquering the rapids of Cagayan River, River, or attaining a certain fitness level. Some individuals or groups do it as part of outdoor or environmental education, such as birdwatching, plant naming, etc. Whatever reason there may be, people engage in outdoor recreation for their own sake and  pleasure  pleasure,, voluntarily , and of their own choice.. choice

 

Some Popular Outdoor Recreati onal Activities WATER LAND

• Mountaineering • Trekking/Hiking

• Swimming • Snorkeling

• • • •

• • • •

Diving Surfing Canoeing Kayaking

• • • •

Whitewater Rafting Sailing Fishing Bamboo Rafting

Camping Backpacking Picnic Bird-watching

• Mountain Biking • Orienteering • Canyoneering • Rock Climbing

AIR • Parasailing • Skydiving • Paragliding

 

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation 1. Physical Ben Benefit fits • Being outdoors prevents a person from having a sedentary life.  It allows people to move, whether by walking, 

running, swimming, biking, paddling, etc. Since the surge of electronic gadgets pushed many people, young and old alike, into a sedentary life, outdoor recreation creates a great

distraction from these gadgets and helps them to be on the move. • Movements expend energy, promote cardiovascular and muscular fitness, and improve the function of the immune system.

 

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation 1. Physical Ben Benefit fits • Being outdoors prevents a person from having a sedentary life.  It allows people to move, whether by walking, 

running, swimming, biking, paddling, etc. Since the surge of electronic gadgets pushed many people, young and old alike, into a sedentary life, outdoor recreation creates a great

distraction from these gadgets and helps them to be on the move. • Movements expend energy, promote cardiovascular and muscular fitness, and improve the function of the immune system.

 

Benefits of Outdoor Recreation • The table taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), shows a guideline of general physical activities defined by level of intensity. Also note to them that MET is the ratio of exercise metabolic rate. One MET is defined as the energy expenditure for sitting quietly, which for the average adult approximates 3.5 ml of oxygen uptake per kilogram of body weight per minute (1.2 kcal/min for a 70-kg individual). For example, a 2-MET activity requires two times the metabolic energy expenditure of sitting quietly.

 

2. Psyc Psycho ho-E -Em mot otio iona nall Bene Benefi fits ts • Engaging in outdoor recreational activities helps people to rest, relax, de-stress or unwind, and feel revitalized. • Being outdoors also improves self-esteem, confidence, and creativity. • Outdoor recreational activities contribute to a person’s personal and spiritual growth.

 

3. Social Benefits • Outdoor activities are ways for families to become through activities. • closer Spending time family-bonding outdoors also allows a person to meet and interact with others who share the same passion for outdoor recreation, helping form lasting friendships a sense of community. • and Outdoor recreation also promotes stewardship. stewardship.  Activities done outdoors help in making people realize the great things that nature provides mankind with. Increased knowledge and appreciation helps them understand how personal actions can strongly affect the environment. Thus, people’s feelings and connection with nature are the greatest motivation for them to care for the natural environment and advocate for its preservation.

 

4. Economic Be Ben nefits • People who have a relaxed body and mind tend to be more productive at work, translating into efficiency at the workplace. • Ecotourism creates jobs and other economic activities which can, one way or another, contribute to economic growth.

 

5. Spi piri ritu tua al Bene Benefi fits ts Positive outdoor experiences can stir up spiritual values.  Being one with nature brings certain calmness within a person.  Being one with nature strengthens an individual as it heals, rejuvenates, and soothes the body and soul.

 

Do You Need to Be Athletic to to Be Able You Need to Participate in Outdoor Activities? No. Outdoor recreation involves a lot of physical activity, it does require you to have athletic level of but skills to benot able to participate. However, you need to be  physically fit to be able to carry out the activity.  Are you PHYSICALLY FIT? FIT?

 

Questions That Can Help Asses s Your Physical Fitness

 Are you able to carry out your day-to-day tasks as a student with alertness and vigor without undue fatigue? If not, then perhaps you need to rethink. • Have you been spending too much time with your gadgets? • Has your body been getting enough rest and sleep? • What about your nutrition and eating habits, have you been dependent on fast food, chips, and sodas? •  Are you eating eating on time? • Have you been heavily stressed with school work?

 

Considerations in Assessing How One Has Been Eating

 

Considerations in Assessing How One Has Been Eating  Aside from lack lack of sleep, sleep, the food that the the body takes in is equally vital for a person to be fit. Good eating does not  just end on the plate, but al also so includes includes the correct eating eating habit, behavior, or pattern that are being established.

 

What Is the “Leave No Trace Se ven Principles”? It is a set of universal outdoor ethics that guides one in the activities to do with nature. It also provides the framework for making decisions in outdoor recreation.

 

The “Leave No Trace Seven Prin ciples” Principles Are…

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare •

• • • • • • •

Before going to a place, check if your planned activity is permitted. Make sure to know the rules, guidelines, and safety procedures they have set. Some places require certain permits or clearances. Make sure you have the needed equipment for your activity and the skills needed to undertake the activity activity.. Plan how to cope in case emergency arises. Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Learn when areas are most crowded and try to avoid those times. To minimize environmental impact and for safety reasons, keep group numbers small. Repack food to minimize waste. When trekking, maps and compass must be used to avoid markings or leaving of marks on rocks and the like.

 

Principle 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces •

Walk, run, bike, or camp on durable surfaces like established tracks, rocks, gravel, and dry grasses. •  Avoid walking w alking on soft surfaces like soft plants. You might be trampling on a young tree or pasture and this will cause vegetation damage.

•

Use existing trails or campsites; no need to build a new campsite that will alter the environment. • To avoid erosion, walk in single file in the middle of the trail. •  Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show. show. • When camping, keep the campsite small and discreet. •

Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and rivers to protect the waters.

 

Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly •

• •

“Pack it in, pack it out” means everything you brought should be brought back with you including left-over food or fruit peel. Nothing should be left. When camping, cat holes are dug (6–8 inches deep) for human waste and covered just the same with soil and weeds or leaves on top. Dishes should be washed 200 feet away from lakes or rivers. Biodegradable soap must be used. Scatter strained dishwater.

 

Principle 4: Leave What You Find •

Examine archeological structures, old walls, and other heritage artifacts but do not touch nor leave marks on them. • Leave nature as you found them. Do not take any plant, rock, or marine animal with you. •  Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals. • Do not build structures or furniture, or dig trenches.

 

Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts • •

Use lightweight stove for cooking; campfires can cause lasting impacts. If fires are permitted, use fire rings or mound fires that are already setup.

•

Keep fires small and use only sticks from the ground than can be broken by hand. Never burn plastics or other substances that emit toxic fumes. Burn all wood to ash and make sure fires are completely out. Scatter the cool ash.

• •

 

Principle 6: Respect Wildlife • •

• •

Observe wild animals from a distance and they should be avoided during sensitive times such as mating, nesting, or raising the young. Do not feed wild animals or birds as it is not their natural food. The food might damage their health or alter their natural behaviors and even expose them to predators. Protect wildlife and protect your food as well by storing and securing the trash well. In case you decide to bring your pets along, make sure it is allowed and you can control them. Otherwise, do not bring them with you.

 

Principle 7: Be Considerate of Other Visitors • •

Respect people who live and work in the countryside. Respect other visitors and let them have a momentous experience as well.

•  Allow the sound of nature nature to prevail, not your noise o orr your radio. • Be courteous; yield to others on a trail. • Camp away from trails and other visitors.