Young Kiwis missing out on experiencing great outdoors

Young New Zealanders are missing out on outdoors experience largely because of busy parents and safety worries, says Outward Bound.

The school at Anakiwa, in the Marlborough Sounds, yesterday described the trend as disheartening and called for action from parents, teachers and Government officials.

Outward Bound director Steve Hall said demand for its courses continued to rise, but the organisation had noticed a drop in the number of youth who had an understanding of and confidence in dealing with the great outdoors.

Nor did they have suitable clothing to tackle the elements.

"Years ago this rarely happened because people owned the right apparel and, if they didn't, they simply borrowed it from a relative or friend," said Mr Hall.

Some parents sent their children on Outward Bound courses as their "once-in-a-lifetime" outdoors experience.

"Increased pressures on parents' time and an often unwarranted over-emphasis on safety have got people worried. Schools feel uncomfortable and generally wary about planning outdoor education.

"While safety is always paramount, the accidents that do occur these days in the bush have sometimes been overstated."

Mr Hall said young children had a natural interest in the outdoors from an early age.

"Unfortunately, limited educational focus in this area and lack of support by parents is simply putting a lid on that enthusiasm."

He said parents should take their offspring on outdoors trips at least twice a year.

"That's all it takes to encourage a love and appreciation of the outdoors in children.

"New Zealand has some of the most stunning scenery and diverse natural environment in the world.

"To ignore that and not encourage an appreciation of it is a great loss, as it helps to cultivate greater understanding and a sense of value of the environment."

New Zealand was founded on a pioneering spirit and the challenges of battling the elements, said Mr Hall.

"Sharing outdoors experience with friends and family can provide some of the most enduring memories for people."

It also built up confidence and self-esteem.

Principals' Association national president Pat Newman said he "couldn't agree more".

Sadly, teachers were backing off taking children on activity trips because, if there was an accident, they would be publicly pilloried, even if it was later proved they were not responsible.

More children were killed or injured travelling in their parents' cars than on outdoor adventures, he said.

Where schools could no longer afford the cost of outside-the-classroom education, most children missed out altogether on those experiences, said Mr Newman.

Sport and Recreation New Zealand spokeswoman Deb Hurdle said people tended to do things closer to home "and often the great outdoors is further afield".

The Department of Conservation had put a lot of time and effort into developing the "front country" rather than the back country because people tended to tramp for an hour before turning back, she said.

Sometimes it was a time factor or they were worried about their fitness.

Ms Hurdle agreed that for many young New Zealanders school camps were their only opportunity to have an outdoors experience.

But safety was a concern and it was harder to get volunteer supervisors with the necessary experience.

"Camps are invaluable but it is really important that they are well run or kids will be put off and never go again."