Inside Outdoor Spring 2017

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cent of Gen Z campers, for example,
say they enjoy camping with friends
and family; 89 percent describe camp-
ing as “very enjoyable.” More than
nine in 10 teen campers plan to take
their own kids camping someday.
“Teen campers express strong
opinions about camping in general,”
say KOA researchers. “Not only are
they highly engaged in the planning,
but are enthusiastic about their trips,
and strongly identify with the ben-
efits of camping for them and their
peer group.”
And while many adults assume Gen
Z is too glued to their devices to pull
away long enough to truly appreciate
the campground experience, teens are
no more likely to use technology than
adult campers and go online during
camping trips at the same frequency
as their adult counterparts.
That could be because, “like adult
campers,” note KOA executives, “they
view camping as a way to escape from
their everyday lives.”
In today’s hyper-connected world,
the need to detach from the day-to-
day has arguably never been more
apparent. And the diverse group of
new and young participants being
introduced to the joys of camping
fully understand its inherent ability to
provide such a respite, suggest KOA’s
findings. They also fully embrace the
benefits camping offers in terms of
physical, emotional and social well-
being. What’s more, separate studies
by the Physical Activity Council and
the Outdoor Foundation both found
camping to be the number one “aspi-
rational activity” among non-partici-
pants between the ages of 6 and 24
years old.
It would behoove the industry to tap
into all this excitement.
The Upsides of Camping (% Reporting Great Deal of Impact)
Areas Impacted 2014 2015 2016
Stress reduction 42% 44% 45%
Reducing stress from everyday life 41% 43% 41%
Allowing you to spend more time with family 39% 41% 41%
Emotional well-being 36% 38% 41%
Overall health improvement 34% 35% 39%
Improved relationship w/ family and friends 35% 33% 33%
Leading a healthier lifestyle 31% 33% 36%
Source: KOA
B r a n d n e w
l o o k .
S t i l l # 1 i n
f a m i l y c a mp i n g .
Look to Stansport
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and emergency prep needs.
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Spring 2017 | InsideOutdoor 23