Acknowledging the importance of engaging all Americans in active outdoor recreation, the Outdoor Industry Foundation released a study entitled “The Hispanic Community and Outdoor Recreation.” The Hispanic Community is currently the largest minority population in the U.S., and is estimated to represent 1 in 5 Americans by 2012, yet is currently underrepresented in outdoor activities. OIF will use this study to educate the Outdoor Industry on this burgeoning population with a focus on engaging Hispanic youth.
Conducted by a team of graduate students at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA on behalf of OIF, the study provides insights on how the outdoor industry can encourage Hispanic participation in an active outdoor lifestyle. “As an industry, it's our responsibility to ensure that outdoor activities are inclusive and accessible to all Americans.” said Michelle Barnes, Vice President Outdoor Industry Foundation. “In addition to representing an increasingly large percentage of the population, Hispanics are a growing consumer segment of interest to the businesses in the Outdoor Industry.”
Hispanic youths are the fastest growing segment of the Hispanic population and the most promising for engaging in outdoor recreation. “Today's youth population is diverse by nature – more multicultural than their parents. Reaching and engaging Hispanic youth is paramount to cultivating the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts,” noted Barnes. Fully 1/3 of Hispanics are under the age of 18 and suffer from obesity at much higher rates than the rest of the population. It is important for the health of our nation, and the health of our industry to introduce the active lifestyle to the Hispanic Community, particularly young Hispanics.
The study investigates several factors impacting the Hispanic Community including: culture, language, youth, income and leisure time. Specific recommendations for the outdoor community make this study required reading for all outdoor businesses.
