Creating Change > Physical Environment Level: Natural Environment >

Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: An Ecological Approach

• The Individual
• The Social Environment
• The Physical Environment
• Policies and Regulations
  

Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: The Individual

The role that the natural environment plays in physical activity is very much a matter of individual perspective. Let’s say, for example, you need to walk up a hill to get to work. One person may consider the hill a barrier to walking to work every day; another may see it as a challenge; and yet another may barely register the hill at all. Research shows that people who do not consider hills—or other factors in the natural environment—as a barrier to physical activity are often already active (McGinn et al., 2007).

When it comes to the natural environment, different people will have different perspectives on the exact same situation. You will need to be open to these perspectives in order to create change.

Strategies

You can address concerns about the natural environment on an individual level by:

• Educating clients, customers, members, or community members about how to dress properly for the weather
  
• Providing (or helping members or customers find) alternative activities when the weather is too cold or too hot
  
• Listening carefully to concerns raised by clients and members about the natural environment addressing difficulties whenever possible
  
  • If sidewalks and paths are not shoveled, approach those responsible

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Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: The Social Environment

Strategies

Many communities and municipalities work hard to create socially appealing programs and spaces that encourage people to get outside and be active. You can address concerns about the natural environment on a social level by:

• Offering a variety of affordable winter activities
• Locating programs in residential neighborhoods
• Offering opportunities for a wide range of abilities and skills
  • Skating, sledge hockey, and even broomball can be offered on the same outdoor rink
    
• Free or affordable lessons can help encourage people to try new activities
  
• Encourage family and inter-generational activities when possible

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Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: The Physical Environment

Strategies

As much as we wish we could control the natural environment, we can’t. We have to accept and work with it. You can address concerns about the natural environment by improving/enhancing the physical environment:

• Ensure snow is promptly removed from parking lots and sidewalks surrounding your workplace and advocate for snow removal in your neighbourhood
  
• Offer natural outdoor recreation opportunities
  
• Advocate for and build playgrounds that meet universal design standards
  
• Ensure that green space is preserved and created in your community
  
• Provide alternatives to outdoor programming in areas with extreme climates

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Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: Policies and Regulations

You can address concerns about the natural environment by developing policy and implementing regulations:

• Advocate for shelters at bus stops
  
• Advocate for water fountains in parks; benches and lighting on trails and walking paths; and footbridges over natural trouble areas (e.g., rivers, drainage areas, etc.)
  
• Looks at how your organization and community can implement the Land Use Framework
  
• Advocate and work with transportation and city planners regarding safe sidewalks and paths, especially in the winter
  
• Encourage/implement funding opportunities to support outdoor activities with schools and other recreation programs
  
• Encourage employees to be active in the outdoors
  
  • Outdoor reaction programs as a part of staff development
    
  • Longer lunch hours, so employees receive more sunlight in the winter months

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Supporting Physical Activity in the Natural Environment: Useful Links

• Active in the Summer Heat
  
• Being Active Outside
  
• Health, Place and Nature: How Outdoor Environments Influence Health and Well-being
• In Alberta . . . Recreation and Parks Matter
  
• Take the Roof off Winter
  

References

McGinn, A.P., Evenson, K.R., Herring, A.H. & Huston, S.L (2007). The relationship between leisure, walking, and transportation activity with the natural environment. Health and Place, 13, 588–602.