Will More Video Games Get Kids Outside?

There is some irony in the fact that what we do at WELD involves getting people online to get them outside. You could even argue the foolishness of trying to entice people dependent on being plugged in with scenarios so obviously devoid of available electric outlets.

I think the problem, though, is looking at technology as A) always abused when used or consumed, and B) in competition or contrast to the environment.

I should clarify that I do believe we can both get more people outside through technology and make the experience more enjoyable. In fact, I think we must. We’re charged with making Scouting exciting again, for example. I don’t know if we can do it without thinking digital.

Technology is a de facto part of life in the world, especially among youth. (And I do mean “world”; look at mobile adoption rates in Africa.) If we’re going to hook kids on being active outdoors, we have to count on them bringing their devices with them.

But you’d be surprised how much resistance you find to that notion. When we published the question above on the page of the Facebook community we manage for The Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve, it incited quite a reaction — 250 interactions, or about 3 times the normal rate of feedback in this community.

Only a few of the responses were similar to the preceding one. In this one, the author places games and communication versus “survival basics,” at opposite ends of a continuum which not only spans time and complexity of technology, but is perhaps layered with value judgment.

This commenter says no to technology, but for different reasons. He is not denying that technology and an active, outdoor lifestyle (Scouting here) exist in the same time and place. He believes the former detracts from the latter. Two people agreed enough to “like” the comment.

Curiously, he singles out social communication of accomplishment as unnecessary. I don’t think Bob works in marketing. (Insert comment on irony here, too.)

See, I have this vision of a future in which young people get hooked on the outdoors through a combination of heartbeat and digital spark. It might take a trick of game mechanics to get some to climb a mountain, but I’m not above that. They will feel the elements and the thrill of being in them, and they will use devices to know their environment and share the story of their interaction with it, all better than “us old folks” ever could without that technology.

They will go farther, and they will learn more, to boot.

They will make better maps. They will protect endangered species. They will discover the cure for a disease deep in a jungle.

I want to at least be able to watch it on NOVA. Don’t you?

What do you think? Is the video game to blame, or need there be any competition at all?

Plenty of people posted comments in support of connectivity, if you’re wondering. Some pointed out the safety advantages of ubiquitous wireless technology, others mentioned how cell phones make it easy for parents to track kids’ activities and locations. As I would have, some people noted that every photo uploaded to Facebook and every YouTube video is just more promotion of outdoor adventure.

But my favorite response is the one from an actual kid.