MODULE: NATURE AND BACKGROUND OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

Prepared by: AIRA ANGELICA HERMIDA

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 4 (GRADE 12)

Overview:

Recreation is derived from the Latin word recreare which means to be refreshed. Choices
for recreation vary from person to person. What makes one happy may not be so for others.
Therefore, recreational activities depend on one’s interests, pursuits, and needs which may be
reflective of one’s beliefs and level of gratification. For example, a natural park may serve as a
bonding place for a family to have a picnic, a great fitness area for a jogger, and a place to
commune with nature or meditate for others.

Module Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should have:

1. Define outdoor recreation;

2. Identify the different outdoor recreation activities;
3. Enumerate reasons for engaging in outdoor recreation; and
4. Explain the benefits derived from participating in outdoor recreation activities.

Course Materials:

Read
What is outdoor recreation?

Consider the following activities: bird-watching, caving or spelunking, camping, and

snorkeling. When and why do people engage in the mentioned activities? What is a common
factor among them? Answering these questions will lead to answering what outdoor
recreation is all about. Were your answers the same or close to the following?

 Done during vacation or school break

 They want to have fun
 Done outdoors with nature

Putting the answers together, 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.

Let us break down the ideas to have a common understanding of the terms. When we
hear “free time”, what does it mean to you as a student? “No classes” easily come to mind and
consequently will be able to use the “free time” to do things which you want to do but have
been unable to do so because of the “lack of time”, such as continuing a project or undone
homework, or perhaps, going out with friends to watch a movie. A day can be divided into
three parts according to Clayne R. Jensen (2006): the existence time, subsistence time, and free
time. Existence time is time spent for biological needs like having a meal, sleeping, and other
personal care. Subsistence time refers to the hours spent for economic purposes such as going
to work, chores, and for students, hours spent in school, and school work. Free time, therefore,
is all the remaining time after. How one decides to spend free time varies from person to
person. Perhaps, to those who have been busy with workload or school work, this is the best
time to do recreational activities, to relax, and to rejuvenate.

Recreation is derived from the Latin word recreare which means to be refreshed. Choices
for recreation vary from person to person. What makes one happy may not be so for others.
Therefore, recreational activities depend on one’s interests, pursuits, and needs which may be
reflective of one’s beliefs and level of gratification. For example, a natural park may serve as a
bonding place for a family to have a picnic, a great fitness area for a jogger, and a place to
commune with nature or meditate for others.

The outdoors in a broad sense is a space outside an enclosed area. Narrowing it down,
outdoors, as used it in this discussion, includes the natural environment and resources which
comprises the land, water, wildlife, vegetation, open space, and scenery. The outdoors may be
in their most natural state or “semi-natural” state, which is a state where it had gone through
some human modification but has retained its natural features.

People engage in outdoor recreational activities for varied reasons. 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 Rivers, or attaining a certain fitness level. Some individuals or groups do it as part of
outdoor or environmental education, such as bird-watching, plant naming, etc. Whatever
reason there may be, people engage in outdoor recreational activity for their own sake and
pleasure, voluntarily, and of their own choice.

BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION

What are the different outdoor recreational activites?

The Philippines is rich in natural resources. Despite being in a relatively small country,
Philippines is surrounded by all kinds of land formations and natural water resources. In fact,
it has been listed in The World Factbook (Maps of World, n.d.) as having the fifth longest
coastline in the world. Its natural environment has so much to offer. Whether on land, on
water, or even in the air. It hosts varied outdoor recreational activities, some of which are the
following:
LAND WATER AIR

Mountaineering Swimming Parasailing

Trekking/Hiking Snorkeling Skydiving

Camping Diving Paragliding

Backpacking Surfing

Picnic Canoeing

Bird-watching Kayaking

Mountain Biking Whitewater Rafting

Orienteering Sailing

Canyoneering Fishing

Rock Climbing Bamboo Rafting

What are the benefits of outdoor recreation?

Fun and pleasure are perhaps the immediate answers of the majority who have
experienced outdoor activities. However, there is more to it than just the fun. Studies have
shown that being close to natural environment is healthy. Aside from the fresh air and the
amazing sight of nature, the outdoors has positive effects on the general wellness of an
individual most especially if it is done with regularity. Wellness encompasses the general state
of a person (physical, social, psycho-emotional, and spiritual) and in the end contributes to a
better quality of life.

Physical Health Benefits

Being outdoors prevents a person from having a sedentary life. It allows people to
move, whether by walking, running, swimming, biking, paddling, etc. With the surge of
electronic gadgets, more and more people (children and adults alike) are unconsciously
getting stuck with a sedentary life, contented with playing their computer games, tablets or
cellphones, or watching television for hours. Green space is now called “screen space”.
Unknowingly, a great part of their day was spent sitting or lying down with gadgets in their
hands. The outdoors is a great distraction from these gadgets. It helps people to be on the
move. It gets their hearts pumping and their bigger muscles at work. Such movements expend
energy, promote cardiovascular and muscular fitness, and improve the function of the
immune system.
Psycho-Emotional Benefits

Engaging in outdoor recreational activities helps people to rest, relax, de-stress or

unwind, and feel revitalized.

Nature has its own way of positively distracting a stressed mind and calming it down.
As Kuo and Sullivan (2001) explained it, “natural setting and stimuli such as landscape and
animal seem to effortlessly engage our attention, allowing us to attend without paying
attention.” This alone helps reduce stress and prevents some cases of depression and anxiety.

Being outdoors also improves our self-esteem, confidence, and creativity. There is a
sense of “feeling good” whenever one achieves the goal in a particular activity such as
reaching the peak of a mountain or learning a skill of paddling in canoeing.

Lastly, outdoor recreational activities contribute to one’s personal and spiritual growth.
It allows an individual to discover his/her inner spirit and sense of self, creating new
behaviors and identity. A person identifies with the activities that he/she does such that
he/she becomes “biker”, “diver”, and “mountaineer.” Then, that individual identifies more
with who he/she is at work. In the end, engaging in these activities contributes to satisfaction
in life and makes life happier.

Social Benefits

Outdoor activities are ways for families to become closer. They can be a “family-
bonding activity” as each family member participates in an activity, achieves a common goal,
and goes through the same experience.

Spending time outdoors also allows one to meet and interact with others who share the
same passion for outdoor recreation. Participating in a team will help form lasting friendship
and develop a community.

Outdoor recreation also promotes stewardship. Activities done outdoors in the natural
setting help in making people realize the great things that nature provides mankind. 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.

Economic Benefits
People who have a relaxed body and mind tend to be more productive at work. This
translates into efficiency at the workplace.

“It’s more fun in the Philippines!” as the Department of Tourism slogan goes. Indeed, it
is more fun as well for everyone involved in ecotourism activities in the Philippines. It has
been rewarding for the local folks as ecotourism in the country created jobs and other
economic activities which have, one way or another, contributed to our economic growth.

Spiritual Benefits
Positive outdoor experiences can stir up spiritual values. Being one with nature brings
certain calmness within a person. It strengthens an individual as it heals, rejuvenates, and
soothes the body and soul.

Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

The Leave No Trace Seven Principles

 Plan ahead and prepare.

 Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
 Dispose of waste properly.
 Leave what you find.
 Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).
 Respect wildlife.
 Be considerate of other visitors.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

When you’re poorly prepared, you’re more likely to run into problems. Lack of good research
can lead to situations where you can become fatigued or fearful, and you may be forced to
make poor choices.

Planning ahead includes doing research about your destination and packing appropriately.

 Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
 Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies.
 Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
 Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller
groups.
 Repackage food to minimize waste.
 Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

When exploring your surroundings and setting up your picnic or overnight camp, seek out
resilient types of terrain. Ideal durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock,
gravel, dry grasses or snow.

In popular areas, front country or backcountry:

  Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
 Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
 Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
 Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when it's wet or muddy.

In pristine areas:

 Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.

 Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Dispose of Waste Properly

This principle applies to everything from litter to human waste to rinse water.

 Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods.
Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. Always leave a place cleaner than you found
it.
 Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from
water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. (Some highly
impacted areas, like Muir Base Camp on Mount Rainier or riverside campsites in the
Grand Canyon, require human waste to be packed out, too.)
 Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
 To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and
use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

While campfires are a timeless camping ritual, they can also be one of the most destructive
ones. Far better choices include a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light.
Stargazing is an excellent alternative, and is best enjoyed when your campsite is in total
darkness.

 Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires.
 Keep fires small. Use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
 Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
 Don't bring firewood from home, which could introduce new pests and diseases. Buy it
from a local source or gather it responsibly where allowed.

Leave What You Find

The adage “take only pictures, leave only footprints” still holds, although leaving fewer
footprints is even better.
  Preserve the past: Examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and
artifacts.
 Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
 Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species: Clean boot soles, kayak hulls
and bike tires off between trips.
 Do not build structures, furniture or dig trenches.

Respect Wildlife

Don’t approach animals. Both you and the wildlife will enjoy encounters more if you master
the zoom lens on your camera and pack along a pair of binoculars.

 Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.

 Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors,
and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
 Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
 Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
 Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors

“Treat others the way you would like to be treated” is a rule that applies in the outdoors, too.

 Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.

 Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
 Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock, such as horses and
mules.
 Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
 Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
 Manage your pet.