January 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 33

res e a rch updat e

By Jeff Jacobs,
Kelly Bricker, Nina
Gordon, William
Hendricks, Marni
Goldenberg, and
Jerusha Greenwood

An Outdoor Bill of Rights
for California Children

I

''

A solid case for connecting children with nature and the outdoors.

like to play inside, 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are, " says a fourth

grader in the 2005 book Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Yet, children
are more active when they are outside rather than inside. Multiple studies indicate that childhood obesity is on the rise. Yet, participating in outdoor activities
results in children being healthier, doing better in school, having better social
skills and self image, and leads to happier and more fulfilled lives, Louv writes.

shutterstock

However, the 2008 Public Opinions and Attitudes
on Outdoor Recreation in California (POA) study indicates many children prefer spending more time
playing on computers than on playgrounds. Not
having someone within their family who participates in outdoor activities has kept children from
spending time outdoors, according to this study
published in 2008 by the California Department of
Parks and Recreation.
The California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks
and Tourism created the California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBR) for the purpose of recommending a fundamental list of 10 experiences
every child in California would benefit from before
entering high school.
The 2008 POA study measured participation in
the COBR activities. More than 50 percent of California youth had participated in all 10 activities, with
80 percent of youth participating in six of the 10,
most often participating in and around their neighborhoods or in their community. Many participating
in these activities are doing so within formal educational and recreation settings. Outdoor recreation
activities for all youth should remain a high priority and support and recognition for educational and
recreation programs should continue to be supported and recognized for their ability to engage youth
in outdoor activities.

The California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights
With recent concerns about youth detachment from
the natural world and outdoor activities, a lack of

	

physical exercise, and increased health risks, the
California Roundtable on Recreation, Parks and
Tourism created the California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights (COBR). COBR lists 10 outdoor
activities all children " should have a chance to experience between the ages of 4 and 14 " (and beyond). The activities are designed to be simple and
achievable with the goal of promoting outdoor recreation and a connection to nature and heritage.

The top 10 activities ranked include:
  1.  Play in the water (94.5 percent)
  2.  Play in a safe place (87.7 percent)
  3.  H ike, bike or ride on a trail (85.1 percent)
  4.  Explore nature outdoors (84.9 percent)
  5. Visit a California historic site or
history museum (84.6 percent)
  6.  Learn to swim (84.4 percent)
 7.  Play on a sports team (75.8 percent)
 8. Celebrate your heritage (74.1 percent)
 9. 
Go camping overnight (73.8 percent)
10.  Catch a fish (57.9 percent)
Participating in these activities results in children being healthier and happier while strengthening family bonds. COBR activities appeal to
children, parents, and organizations because they
are fun, often educational, provide challenges, and
result in potential physical, social, personal, and
emotional benefits. COBR also serves as a catalyst in promoting collaboration among organizations and agencies. For example, the YMCA can
offer swim lessons, local historical societies can be

www.NRPA .ORG

JANUARY 2010

Parks & Recreation	

31
January 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2010 - Parks & Recreation
