Community – Active citizenship
Community / active citizenship covers a very broad range of benefits identified through the studies. These included volunteering, community engagement, social connectedness and inclusion, social integration, and cohesion. There was significant emphasis on the value of outdoor sports for providing opportunities for social interaction for people with disabilities, autism, disengaged youths, or for the reintegration of young people at risk. Also, elderly people who may be at risk of social isolation can benefit from engagement in outdoor activities. It was shown that older people (50+) who participated in regular walking reported greater social participation and lower loneliness than those who are less physically active.
As outdoor sports provide opportunities for social interaction, connectedness, and relationships, they were highlighted as a contributor to bonding capital for families, groups, and communities.