09/07/1994 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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question remains about whether the re- m, ported desire for high risk activity is � `7'AC&ty '� ., Index score t real or imagined; further research is ,w' 1455 needed to determine the seriousness of 1 `BasKetball the wishes young people express aboui 2 Public swimming 4jr x r 1145 potentially dangerous activities. 3 n j .9:..9 ot5t r� '- w Tiain Lack of Time Is a Problem • pa' Knowing what keeps young people 5 Tent camping 810 from participating is key to unde- 6 Horseback riding 744 standing their recreational patterns (see Table 4).Surprisingly,our kids of- 7 Football/soccer 724 ten limit their participation because 8 Motorcycle riding 559 they lack free time. Nearly 40 percent reported not having enough time to en- 9 Roller skating 545 gage in the activities they enjoy.Given 10 Fishing in a natural setting 489 the after-school and weekend free time and the many holidays and vacations we normally associate with youth, the ketball in dealing with youth-at-risk Kids Wish List researchers were puzzled about why should not be underestimated. not enough time was named so fre- Given the level of interest expressed When offered the opportunity to quently as a barrier. A comparison of for tent camping by both youth and identify activities they would like to try this data with current youth leisure time adults, this activity should become a for the first time or participate in more studies could yield valuable clues to ex- major focusof family friendly recreation often,respondents identified several ad- plain this phenomenon. proponents.Many of the barriers prob- venturous, high-risk activities such as School Teams Lead Organized ably are due more to a lack of education rock climbing and horseback riding Involvement and information than anything else.For (see Table 3). Recreation providers- example, the basic equipment for tent need to seek innovative ways to provide Table 5 outlines the degree to which camping is relatively inexpensive com- youth the opportunity to experience youth involve themselves in various or- pared to the cost of some of the other these costly activities or to provide suit- ganizations. Not surprisingly, school activities favored by youth. able adventures that are less costly and sports top the list, probably due to the Recreation programmers and orga- dangerous.Among the possibilities,for access and ease of participating in niters should include tent camping example, is the new technology of vir- school and after-school activities. when preparing leisure education cur- tual reality. Opportunities for high ad- Participation in league sports and ricula to help meet this interest and in- venture may be a useful tool in provid- city-sponsored leagues drops as youth crease opportunities for family-orient- ing positive challenges for the ever-in- gel older. The reason for this may be ed recreation. creasing population of youth-at-risk. A that these leagues and programs pri- TABLE 3. YOUTH LATENT DEMAND Activity % 1. •Horseba-kride: 9.0 2 Mter4e a 9.0 3 Dovvnhtllki . - 7.9 t. 4 Airspo,t�� 5:5 5 PWic4 6`. h..::. Wk �:7 7• 8tlt vY �r+ AI 5 rl c �t di 4 J Mal AO •,ri. u $'T � t .k