Go Play Outside

Seven hours in front of electronic entertainment, and seven minutes outside. That's what constitutes play for most kids according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. And that lack of outdoor activity is being cited as one of the reasons for rising childhood obesity in legislation just introduced in Congress. The Moving Outdoors in Nature Act would encourage states to collaborate with communities, businesses, and parents to increase outdoor activities.

It's especially important in Wyoming, where the economy is so tied to the Great Outdoors, according to Patrick Fitzgerald with the National Wildlife Federation.  "With the decline that we’re seeing in hunting participation, that has an impact on the state agencies that sell hunting licenses, and also the companies that sell that equipment."

Fitzgerald also says it’s also about restoring balance to kids’ lives. "These state strategies could look at things like walking and biking to school; looking at the school system and after-school programs and seeing how we can have time for outdoor play and outdoor activities."

The  N-W-F, the Sierra Club and the Y-M-C-A are all supporting the legislation.