Not only is the trend toward electronic gadgetry luring youths away from self-guided play, it is also making them feel less comfortable in the great outdoors, she said.
One of the problems is fewer open spaces for self-guided play by an increasingly urban population, Goldstein said.
“Lives are very structured now,” she said. “It's all about balance, isn't it?”
In a state like California, bonding with the outdoors should be a natural because of assets like the world-class Sierra, the expansive deserts and the long coastline, she said.
“In California, we have an embarrassment of riches,” Golstein said.
One challenge for organizations like the Stewardship Council is overcoming changing demographics — cultures that might not emphasize outdoor activities such as camping or families different than the typical two-parent ones, Battey said.
They're trying.
One of the grants the council awarded went to the State Park Foundation for its camping program for economically disadvantaged families, providing equipment and guidance as a way to introduce them to the experience.
At the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, teenagers eagerly sign up for social programs the district offers, but there isn't exactly a clamor for teen recreation classes, even though golf and tennis are popular with adults, said Lisa Rudloff, superintendent of recreation and community services with the district.
“It's hard to program for that group,” she said. “We don't give up trying.”
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