Outdoor Adventure Activities Benefits Catalogue - Outdoors WA

50%40%30%20%10%0%1-6 7-12 13-26 27-52 53-104 > 104Times participated in activity in prior 12 monthsBushwalking Canoe / Kayaking CyclingIce & snow sports Rock climbingFigure 1 Frequency of participation in key outdoor activities, 2006The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians (Department of Health and Ageing,1999) recommends that adults participate in moderate intensity physical activity for 30minutes per day at least five time per week. For children and adolescents, therecommendation is that they participate in moderate to vigorous intensity activity for at least60 minutes every day of the week.When exploring the only available Australian data on the frequency of participation in anyphysical activity for the purposes of exercise, recreation or sport (Australian SportsCommission, 2007), the statistics for 15-24 year olds indicate that only 27% of females and24% of males participation in physical activity the recommended five or more times per week(Figure 2). One in four 15-24 year olds do not participate in physical activity even at leastonce per week, let along five times per week for 30 or 60 minutes each.35%30%25%20%15%10%5%0%12%8%Zero16%15%< once perweek30%29%1-2 times perweek20%19%3-4 times perweek27%24%5+ times perweekFrequency of participationFemalesMalesFigure 2 Frequency of participation in physical activity by 15-24 year olds, 2006These results provide substantial evidence that there needs to be an broad-based approach toencourage participation in physical activities, including outdoor activities, in order for allPage 21