GTFO

Since getting hurt, I've watched the history of Steamboat and Howelson Hill documentary a few too many times. Even though steamboat is an incredibly active town, the schools were even more outdoor oriented back in the day. It is the same story I've seen over and over. Kids who used to walk home for lunch in Switzerland are instead going to their local Mickey D's. Recess and free time is being trumped by classwork. It is as if it is a belief that without time to blow off steam, kids will somehow be smarter in today's world

Here in steamboat, every kid used to learn to ski on Howelson Hill for the last hour of the school day three times a week for free. Video recorded kids learning how to do everything from hockey stops to slalom gates and ski jumping.

Having a 'class' of an outdoor activity that is specific to a community not only makes kids healthier, but guarantees that they will always be aware of outdoor outlets in their area. If you are 23 and have lived in a town your whole life but haven't rafted down the local river, it isn't likely that rafting would be a first choice weekend activity. It would most likely be something familiar like watching TV.

I know what I'm writing is similar to what I wrote for mobilize.org last year, but unlike taking a fellow peer outside, if the activity is within school curriculum, there would be no doubt that it would reach 100% of the local population. Last year in high school, I wasn't even required to take gym class. ON top of that, the gym class that is in curriculum at the moment has nothing to do with activities in the community but, at the name infers, in a gym. Last time I checked, it didn't inspire me to discover the great mountain biking in Steamboat.

In reality, this isn't something that will change quickly in national curriculum, but if local governments championed the cause, it would be a huge step forward.

I fear the day when I don't see any kids hitting a hockey puck against their garage door, or when nobody gets scrapes and bruises from roughhousing. That is why local communities need to come together and make sure kids get the character boosting experiences they deserve.