Nature Conservancy Study Finds Today's Kids Are Choosing TV Over Trees
Nature Conservancy-Funded Study Finds Visits to National Parks Decline; Video Games, Television, and Internet Use May Be the Reason
A Nature Conservancy-funded study to be published next month found that per capita visits to U.S. national parks have been declining since 1987, after having risen for the previous 50 years. The drop occurs as the use of electronic media is on the rise -- something that researchers call "evidence of a fundamental shift away from people's appreciation of nature."
"When children choose TVs over trees, they lose touch with the physical world outside and the fundamental connection of those places to our daily lives," said Steve McCormick, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy.
"A simulated waterfall can never compare with the wonder of Niagara Falls, and an electronic world cannot replicate the awe of standing at the base of half-dome in Yosemite or watching the eruption of Old Faithful. These places aren't just part of the American experience; they're part of the human experience -- something no one should miss."
The data was analyzed by University of Illinois ecologist Oliver Pergams and Stroud Water Research Center ecologist Patricia Zaradic with contributions from Conservancy Lead Scientist Peter Kareiva. The project was funded through a National Science Foundation grant to The Nature Conservancy.
While more than two dozen variables were tested, Pergams said that video games, home movie rentals, going out to movies, Internet use, and rising fuel prices explained almost 98 percent of the decline in people visiting national parks.
"It's fairly stunning," Pergams said, but he cautioned that correlation is not the same as causation. "We've shown statistically that the rise in use of these various types of media, as well as oil prices, is so highly correlated with the decline in national park visits that there is likely to be some association."
Pergams and Zaradic ruled out variables such as family income, aging of the population, a recent rise in foreign travel or park capacity as major factors. These variables were tested, but the correlations were not nearly as strong as home entertainment and fuel prices, Pergams said. He added that further research is needed to explain the relationships found in this study.
Both the researchers and McCormick also noted that the results of the study point to a need to find ways to connect children to the special places and natural systems that sustain us all. "We demonstrate our values in the way we allocate our time," suggested Zaradic. "Research indicates that children who experience nature with a mentor develop an appreciation of nature as adults."
"Achieving meaningful conservation in the 21st century takes tremendous commitment, innovation, and collaboration," added McCormick. "Conservation is becoming increasingly more difficult as the pressure to develop natural areas becomes intensified, and we will be relying on the next generation to carry forth this very important work."
Peter Kareiva, Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, added, "Nature cannot just be found in exotic, far-away continents. From each city to every subdivision, there must be access to lands and waters that inspire and teach. This study reminds us that we need to do conservation to connect with children."
The Conservancy continues to step up its efforts to engage young people in environmental and conservation issues through the organization's Web site, such as by offering podcasts for "nature on the go" and by allowing people to join the Great Places Network via email.
The Conservancy has also worked with parents on a "Take Your Child To Nature Day," and at the end of this month, the Conservancy and the National Park Service are sponsoring a "BioBlitz" educational activity at Potomac Gorge near Washington, DC. There are ample volunteer opportunities at many of the 1,400 other nature preserves as well.
The study is set to be published in the Journal of Environmental Management next month.
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Comments: 34
The bigger question for me is why aren't parents focused on taking kids to parks as much as they used to be? It could be a lot of reasons, and it probably depends on the case. For example, many families live apart from grandparents and cousins these days. Instead of going to the Grand Canyon, parents might feel that it is more important to go visit grandma and grandpa. And who can make an argument against that? Then again, parents might be spending more time with electronics themselves -- longer hours at work, more at-home PC time, more PDA mobility, etc. -- that gets in the way of prioritizing the experience of their kids.
Again, it is probably a myriad of issues, but I also think it misguided to look at options for kids rather than the choices of parents.
sorry...couldn't help myself
I do think kids should get out more, but it is an easy thing to say, not do.
Lastly, as for studies, and findings from them? I am too much of a cynic to buy into any of them.
What does it mean if society changes over time to value the outdoors and nature experiences less and less? What does this mean for a culture over the long term?
A child (and well, everyone really) can only use thier past expieriences on which to make a decision. I think it is up to the parent to help guide thier kids until the point where they are old enough to make their decisions.
Video games or climb a tree. I think peer pressure also comes into play here. it is the everyone else is doing it / has it theory. Although video games can become a sort of conversation starter with kids - and in a way become a a source for social interaction. A kid will see another playing with a portable game console, and will walk up to him, watch and ask them about the game.
So if I had to choose only between parent of kid, I would choose parent. But I hate one or the other choices - life is far too complex to narrow down to that. Each person, family is different with different circumstances. I choose parent, as I think they help set up a child's experiences. A kid needs other kids to play with - in a safe environment (thinking of how congested neighborhoods have become here on the East Coast)
Sandy, I don't think it is hard to get a kid outdoors, if they have other kids to play with.
I don't think it means to value it less, but rather differently. I think a family may take fewer trips. Gas prices do make things difficult. How we work is different now. Longer hours, more people working weekends, both parents are now working. The cost of living has increased, and it seems quicker than how well people get paid. Are we taking less trips because we can;t afford to take as many? A walk in a nearby park is free, but will that show up in this study?
Is it just the Parks that are feeling a decline? How about other outdoor activities? Did the study mention beaches, amusment parks, parks in the city?
What does this mean for a culture over the long term?
Only time will tell, but there seems to be a big push for environmental related issues. A stronger push than I remember. Will this help get people more involved in Parks? I am not very good are prognosticating.
Actually, I'd say that my son has a much greater appreciation for nature than I had at six years old. I'm seriously generalizing, but that would argue that electronics are not necessarily bad for nature.
If that is how my comments came accross, it is because I am not always good at expressing my opinions eloquently. I don't t think society is lessing the value, but changing how we interact with it. Patrick, that is a great example.
Furthermore, who should be most responsible for getting children into nature? I've seen the Scouts mentioned above -- should third-party organizations like schools and groups take more initiative in connecting kids with the Earth?
Do you think that being online helps people connect with nature is new ways?
Check it out and continue this great discussion!
I have to wonder if open areas will suffer from disinterest or even fear?
let them experience other life forms......as infants i believe we all know and feel the connection to nature......
ok.....so....KICK em outta the house...thats what i do....
i tell my kids....go explore...take a chance...and be home at 5:30....
perhaps we don't have money to take a long trip-- but what about the local park? I know in Michigan there are metroparks in just about every town-- some have two or three with trails and lakes. it costs THREE dollars a car to enter the park.
and do parents REALLY need to work all these extra hours? I just read that 43% of people admit to checking in at the office EVERY DAY of a vacation. I just don't understand it! What's the point of working long hours-- to have time off? to make more money that's spent on what?
another issue that I think weighs in here . . . weight. many parents and kids are out of shape and overweight. it's tiring to trudge through the woods or play at a park. and doing so might remove someone from their climate-controled environments where they might sweat.
i'm inclined to think many parents are teaching their kids that the way to be entertained is to sit infront of some electronic. how many parents come home from work to sit in front of the TV? and how many would resist a kids request to go to the park or the lake-- because mom or dad is tired from work?
We are different now than fifty years ago. And to this bitter cynic, many of those are NOT good changes.
Yes, yes, yes. I think it may be the only way. My husband works for a land trust, and they do a lot of outreach into the local schools. He reports that the children absolutely love the opportunity to visit the conservation areas, and that he is constantly surprised at how little they actually know before hand. These kids are thirsting for a connection with nature that they simply are not getting anywhere else.