Participation Data

Last year, more people in the United States participated in outdoor recreation than ever before. And while that should energize anyone who believes in the power of outdoor experiences, it prompts those of us who work in outdoor education and adventure programming to pay close attention.

According to the 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report from Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and the Outdoor Foundation, 183.2 million people ages 6 and older in the U.S. participated in outdoor recreation in 2025. That represents 59 percent of the population in that age group and marks the highest participation total ever recorded, according to OIA.

On the surface, that sounds like a straightforward win for human-powered outdoor recreation. More people hiking, camping, paddling, climbing, biking, exploring parks, and choosing time outdoors speaks to a growing desire for connection with the natural world.

However, the deeper story is asking far more of us.

The report also shows that outdoor participation has become more casual. Since 2019, the outdoor recreation participant base in the U.S. has grown by nearly 30 million people. Yet the average participant now engages in about five fewer outings per year than before the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 – May 2023). In other words, more people participate, but many do so less often.

For outdoor educators, parents, students, and community leaders, that gap shouldn’t be overlooked. Participation alone does not build lifelong outdoor confidence. Repeated experience, skill development, thoughtful instruction, and supportive community help turn a first step outside into a lasting outdoor life.

Outdoor Recreation Growth Points to a New Kind of Participant

The 2026 Outdoor Participation Trends Report confirms what many outdoor organizations, including The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education (NCOAE), have already felt: The outdoor community has expanded. New participants continue to enter the space, and the growth reaches across age, race, ethnicity, gender, income, and education.

For example, the report notes (more…)