Interagency Collaborative to Promote Public Health and Recreation
CSREES is a member of the Interagency Collaborative to Promote Public Health and Recreation, in support of the President's HealthierUS initiative. Departments and their respective cooperating agencies involved in this effort include:
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Agriculture Department of the Interior
Department of the Army
Department of Transportation
The collaborative promotes uses and benefits of the nation's public lands and water resources to enhance the physical and mental health and well being of all Americans. It will help promote healthy lifestyles through sound nutrition, physical activity, and recreation in America 's great outdoors. To this end, the collaboration is focused on the following projects:
- Healthy Lifestyles-Physical Activity and Nutrition;
- Volunteering, Public Service, and Partnerships; and
- Natural and Built Environment.
USDA and its agencies will encourage healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation and conservation, research, education, and outreach programs in conjunction with healthy nutrition through consumer-oriented promotion projects. Forest Service will promote, through its national forest system, locations for the American public to engage in physical activities. In particular, CSREES will provide leadership on nutrition and health; work closely with its Land-Grant University System partners to encourage healthy living and active recreation through cross-discipline research and educational outreach; and identify opportunities for youth recruitment and involvement to encourage active lifestyles and use of public lands.
A recent article in the Spring 2008 Forestry History Today, The Latest on Trends in Nature-Based Outdoor Recreation by H. Ken Cordell, provides outdoor recreation trends in the United States. Historical information is also included and looks at today's nature-based recreation
Call to Activity: Getting Kids Moving in the Great Outdoors. There is growing evidence that today’s children spend less time outside, exploring nature and playing in favor of sedentary activities, such as computer games and TV. This may have a negative impact on the social, physical and emotional health of children. For more information on this topic as well as ideas about what you can do as a parent, caregiver, teacher or concerned community leader to encourage youth participation in outdoor activities read Call to Activity: Getting Kids Moving in the Great Outdoors or http://www.fitness.gov/publications/council/call_to_activity.html
Contact Shirley Gerrior, CSREES national program leader, for more information.
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