toedtoes wrote:
Terryallan wrote:
toedtoes wrote:
It's not as simple as "they don't want to go camping". Many people (of all backgrounds) have never experienced nature. They live in cities or suburbs and never range outside of that area, so they never learn what else is out there.
Ca!ifornia State Parks has a program to get kids from inner cities out camping. It has been ongoing for years and is considered an important and successful program.
There are PSAs sponsored by the National Forests, etc., encouraging families of all backgrounds to get out into the forests.
And yes, some folks worry about the reaction to their going camping. An ex-co-worker and his friends would go camping, but are concerned about the reaction when a group of male hispanics show up in a campground. Unfortunately, people are not always welcoming and are willing (even eager) to assume the worst.
In the end, yes, there is a disconnect between camping and minorities. If the industry sees an opportunity to bridge that then more power to them.
I have never understood the negativity towards attempts of inclusion. Inclusion is good.
The problem is artificial inclusion / favoring one over another / making it easier for one just to include them. that is wrong. I disagree with you on the want to. Truth is. If a person, no matter what Race, wants to camp, and have the ability to get the camping supplies. They will. It is pretty much, that simple.
Truth is. there are a lot of Hispanic campers, as there are a lot of Asian campers. Why? because they want to. But there aren't a lot of Black campers, some but not as many as others. Why? Because they don't want to.
There is no artificial inclusion here. As said above it is tapping into a new market.
As for folks camping if they want to, that assumes they know what camping is about and what it can offer. Many folks have never camped. They don't consider camping as a choice, because they don't realize that it can be what they want it to be and not what they see on TV. Offering ways to encourage folks to learn about camping is good.
I would only ask. How did you find out about camping? Let me tell you how "most" not all, but most people find out about it. they find out by talking to their coworkers. At my work place there are several people I have turned on to camping. they love it, and do only because I and a few others told them about it. Are they white? Most of them. Not all.
I also have Asian Black, and Hispanic coworkers, and We told them about it as well, invited them to come stay in our camper, Told them about the cabins you can rent. Wanna know what "most" of them answered? Nope. Not going to sleep in the woods, I camp in the Holliday Inn. Or. I'm not going to a park with a bunch of White people. (yes it was said). I couldn't even get them to go to the RV show with me.
Bottom line. even though we told them how much fun it is, and how economical it can be. how every one gets along. The answer was no. Most of the minorities have absolutely NO interest in camping in any shape or form. Especially when we talked about Bears, Coyotes, and Wolves.
So the truth is. In our diverse society. All groups are exposed to nearly every activity there is. Each group makes a choice as to what activity they want to participate in.
If you will notice. It is also mostly White people that like to go sit in a Deer stand, and "hunt" all day.
