Abstract
The research literature on outdoor recreation as it relates to human health is vast and growing. To
help policymakers take new and emerging findings into account when designing recreation and park
services and initiatives for the 21st century, this paper summarizes the salient issues and identifies
Outdoor recreation contributes to wellness mostly through prevention, and the most
beneficial outdoor pursuits are those that become part of one’s life, done on a regular basis.
Many participants embark on a ―career‖ in a particular activity, becoming more devoted to it and
adapting their participation to changing life circumstances (e.g., Bryan 1970; Stebbins 1992).