COVID-19 and Outdoor Recreation Participation
Throughout the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed much of what we consider “normal.” Heightened safety concerns and restrictions have redefined our ideas of work, family, social connection, and more. The outdoor recreation industry saw its fair share of changes too, as production issues, budget cuts, and increased demand lead to an extreme shortage of sporting goods. Everything from mountain bikes, to soft top surfboards, to cameras was hit by this new influx of outdoor recreation participants. A recent study conducted by the Outdoor Industry Association, in collaboration with NAXION took a look at who was going outside for the first time, why they were doing so, and if they planned on continuing their participation after COVID restrictions were lifted.
Compared to 2019, those who participated in an outdoor activity in 2020 were more likely to be female, younger, slightly more ethnically diverse, more likely to live in urban areas, and belonged to a slightly lower income bracket. Participants gravitated towards activities such as walking and running, cycling, birdwatching, and fishing, due to the low barrier to entry all of these activities share. Choice of activity was also shaped by opportunity, with most participants choosing activities that could be done close to their homes. While most participants learned about their outdoor activities from prior knowledge, friends, and family members, social media was the gateway for 22% of those surveyed.
So what’s all this mean for us? In order to understand these implications better, we caught up with Cami Jung, an owner of P.F. McMullin Co, a ski and snowboard shop in Santa Ana, CA. She’s been an owner for 11 years, worked at the shop for 10 years prior, and can absolutely shred. Their unbeatable prices, wide range of snow goods, and friendly staff have made them an Orange County staple for years. Over the past year, they saw a huge increase in new participants, and had the privilege of being many people’s first experience with the outdoor industry. Despite an absolutely awful year of snow and capacity restrictions at ski resorts, Cami’s shop finished their season with record numbers.
Cami is stoked about the increasing diversity in outdoors recreation that began to emerge due to COVID. In addition to the individual demographics mentioned above, she’s seen a tremendous growth of families starting to engage in outdoor sports. This influx has started to shift the entire culture of outdoor recreation to a more inclusive and community minded world. This sort of inclusivity is essential not only for the future of outdoors businesses, but for nature conservation as well, particularly in the political realm. On the downside, the general public’s miseducation and irresponsibility could be a significant threat to nature. Cami brings up the issues of disposable masks, single use plastics, and other environmentally harmful practices. Experienced outdoors enthusiasts tend to be more aware of these threats, whereas many new participants lack the care or education.
As outdoors enthusiasts, professionals, and amateurs, we all carry the responsibility of caring for our environment and sharing it with others. This responsibility has never been more important than now, as 60% of new outdoors participants plan on continuing their involvement once restrictions lift. If we want to protect our favorite places, grow our businesses, harness political support for environmental conservation, and share the beauty and adventure of Earth with others, then we must learn to welcome these newcomers, and teach them how to responsibly interact with the outdoors.
For the full study report, visit the Outdoor Industry Association’s report here.
For more on Cami and P.F. McMullin Co., visit their website here, and be sure to follow them on Instagram, @pfpowder.