On average, American kids spend just four to seven minutes playing outdoors each day. And, on average, adults spend upwards of 10 hours staring at a screen.
However, a growing body of research proves what we know anecdotally: Nature has a multitude of positive benefits for our physical and mental health.
With prompting from REI, a growing number of people have chosen to #OptOutside during the biggest holiday shopping day of the year: Black Friday.
Rather than dedicate the day to store aisles and smart phones, people are opting to take a break from tradition and spend more time with family and friends out in nature.
Since REI first started the #OptOutside movement in 2015, more than 15 million people and 700 organizations have participated.
Join us in this movement to help promote the benefits of the outdoors, and #OptOutside this Black Friday.
With prompting from REI, a growing number of people have chosen to #OptOutside during the biggest holiday shopping day of the year: Black Friday.
Where to #OptOutside
To help you prepare, we’ve partnered with REI staff to curate a special list of unique outdoor experiences in San Diego to enjoy with your loved ones.
In addition to these top picks, the Get Outside San Diego park-finder has other options to follow your Thanksgiving festivities:
- Burn off Thanksgiving calories at a park with (a little) altitude;
- Grab your dog and head to one of the region’s many dog parks;
- Enjoy a nature walk around San Diego County’s many lake loops and river trails; or
- Choose an adventure of your own at a park near you
GOSD is a web tool dedicated to helping San Diegans quickly choose from 1,100+ San Diego County parks to enjoy outdoor activities. Its goal is to encourage more people to get out into nature, use parks and open spaces and better understand the need for and value of such lands.
If you participate, don’t forget to share your adventures on social media using #OptOutside and #getoutsidesd.
#OptOutside Year-Round
One of the most important values San Diegans hold dear is our region’s access to beaches, bays, mountains, deserts, canyons and other spectacular outdoor amenities.
However, according to The San Diego Foundation Parks for Everyone report, while 45 percent of San Diego County total land area is green space, many low-income, ethnically diverse communities have limited access to parks and open spaces.
As reflected in the 2018 Impact Report, The San Diego Foundation Opening the Outdoors Program closes this gap by providing children and families in park-poor communities with equitable access to nature through grantmaking.
As this year closes, please consider giving more San Diegans the opportunity to #OptOutside and experience the best of San Diego’s beautiful and healthy environment.
