Why KidsOutdoors?
Why now?
There’s never been a better time to get outdoors! We often see and hear in the media that young people are spending too much time playing computer games or watching TV. They are spending less and less time outside. We believe that young people who discover the freedom of the great outdoors are better prepared for the challenges of life through the skills they develop.
The Government has also set a national target for 85% of school-age children to participate in two hours of PE and sport per week by the end of 2008 (2006/7 School Sport Survey). The KidsOutdoors campaign sets out a clear call to action; an identifiable need for a change in policy and practice on a range of levels - from Government policy to local youth groups.
What is KidsOutdoors?
The KidsOutdoors Campaign aims to inspire a million new outdoor adventures. We want to encourage young people to embrace outdoor activities – it makes doing things outdoors a more attractive alternative to TV and computer games.
KidsOutdoors hopes to change perceptions of today’s young people and challenge them to spend more time outdoors.
Download our 'why your body loves getting outdoors' poster
Our aims
- To get more people outside, living healthier lifestyles by encouraging parents and young people to engage in 1 million outdoor adventures across the UK
- To get involved in youth organisations as a member or an adult volunteer
- Provide more information for young people and parents on what is going on in their local area
- To empower local youth Groups with the ability to run better programmes with better materials and equipment
- To give young people a greater voice on an issue that we know matters to them
- To develop ‘Urban Scouting’ further so that more children from socially deprived areas also have opportunities to get outdoors
- To highlight the skills developed through outdoor activities - self-reliance, self-awareness, teamwork, lateral thinking
- To promote diversity, integration and understanding in our communities through outdoor activities
- To call for a halt to the erosion of outdoor space for physical activity
- To raise £10 million for investment into facilities and resources to encourage young people in the UK to experience outdoor adventure
Young people and children who spend time outdoors are healthier and less overweight and outdoor activities bring children and young people together from across different schools and social classes.
One of KidsOutdoors core principles is that it exists to help young people develop into future citizens through adventure, international friendship and the opportunity to change the world for good. KidsOutdoors is national initiative, integrated fully with current Government agendas on childhood obesity.
Why the Scouts?
KidsOutdoors is a campaign led by The Scout Association. Founded 100 years ago, the Scout Movement has grown into a global fellowship of over 28 million Scouts who enjoy its benefits across 216 countries and territories.
The Scouting formula is simple. Using volunteer adult leaders and basic facilities, Scouting helps young people from all backgrounds to develop universally valued qualities of trust, empathy, confidence, integrity and a spirit of adventure. Life skills are learned to help young people become tomorrow’s happiest, healthiest and most productive citizens, some of whom will be tomorrow’s leaders.
Our Research
The Scout Association has commissioned brand new studies into attitudes towards outdoors lifestyles. We will announce our full results shortly, but now you can read some of our key findings about what young people and parents think about the outdoors.
