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Extreme Weather Affects Outdoor Access

August 30, 2024  |  charles roundtree bloom project, climate change, climate mitigation, extreme heat, kids outside, latino conservation week, outdoor access, outdoor grants, outward bound canada
A young person stands looking down a trail with their back to the camera
Photo courtesy of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project

Many factors influence our ability to engage in outdoor recreation. We need access to free time, transportation, gear, and information about participating safely. For many folks, there are added barriers of navigating ableism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. These forms of prejudice are engrained in physical spaces, outdoor programs, and industry norms, and they prevent many people from feeling safe and welcome in the outdoors. Unfortunately, extreme weather driven by climate change is a new obstacle to add to the list.

With increasing frequency, weather is limiting which activities we can participate in at certain times of year and in certain places. For example, seasons and locations for snow sports are shifting based on new patterns of precipitation and temperature. Weather also is affecting summer recreation. Extreme heat is pushing some recreation programs indoors or into the fall. This year, the organizers of Latino Conservation Week made the decision to move their campaign from July to September to prevent participants from overheating. Outdoor athletes are taking a different approach in response to extreme heat. Heat training is now a regular part of many athletes’ competition preparations. The goal of heat training is to push the body to adapt to higher temperatures and more extreme conditions. Adaptation to heat is possible for everyone, not just professional athletes, but it’s also important to stay safe in the heat by resting, staying hydrated, and getting out of the sun when possible. 

A group of hikers cross a creek in a line
Photo courtesy of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project

The impacts of climate on outdoor recreation are not going unnoticed. This spring, Outward Bound Canada held a summit to discuss the role that a changing climate is playing in its programs. Summit participants noted a number of impacts on their work including physical hazards like wildfire smoke and the need for additional planning to account for potential natural disasters. An additional theme that emerged was the impact of climate change on accessibility. Extreme weather makes it less fun to be outside, which means new recreationists might be less inclined to continue participating in an activity. Fires, storms, and flooding make transportation to outdoor areas more difficult and less safe. The possibility of extreme weather also adds to the stress both youth participants and their adult caregivers feel when they engage in outdoor recreation programming.

Of course, Outward Bound isn’t the only organization dealing with this issue. The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project also is making changes in response to new weather patterns. The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project, a NRF Outdoor Grant recipient, is a Texas-based outdoor program that serves youth affected by incarceration. The program uses time in nature for healing, community-building, and justice work. Recently, hurricanes and extreme heat disrupted routine programming. Program leadership made the decision to stop offering summer camping trips in Texas and have moved the timing of many sessions to be earlier in the day to avoid the heat. The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project is doing its best to adapt its practices, but climate change is taking valuable time and attention from staff that could be dedicated to serving youth needs.

A group of people look up at a camera with backpacks on
Photo courtesy of the Charles Roundtree Bloom Project

Whether it’s an Outward Bound expedition, a Charles Roundtree Bloom Project camping trip, an elite athlete’s training schedule, or a young person wanting to play outside with friends – climate change is shifting our patterns in the outdoors. We need to balance creative planning and good preparation with a more holistic effort to mitigate the drivers of climate change. We need to make sure young people can enjoy the outdoors now and will have a planet to enjoy for generations to come.