Read an interesting article about how the National Park Service is trying to attract younger visitors to the national parks because those visiting now represent an aging population. They're afraid that if the younger generations don't come that the parks will become irrelevant.The average age of out of state visitors to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone is 54, at Death Valley the average age of visitors was 45-64, and overall visits to national parks is down for the 2nd year in a row.
A Kaiser Study found that people aged 8-18 spent about 7 1/2 hours a day on digital media, and a study in Personality and Psychology found that 3 times as many Millenials (people born in the 80's and 90's, don't you just love these designations) are doing less for the environment than Baby Boomers.
Seems they're all just staying indoors texting each other or perhaps taking virtual trips to the parks.
We, like many others our age, have a yearly pass to the parks in Georgia and try to visit some each year.
It's rather scary to think that the younger generation has no interest in the parks, if they don't, what will happen to the parks in the future, will they have to put in flashing lights, video games and interactive animal encounters? Won't that be fun!
It doesn't bear thinking about! It's sad that upcoming generations are so unconnected with the natural world. Most of them don't even seem to know where their food comes from! Hopefully there'll be enough of the others who do care about the environment to turn the tide in years to come.
ReplyDeleteIf children are not taught a love of nature they will not enjoy the National Parks.
ReplyDeleteI am doing my best!