News
20/02/2008
Chief Scout leads national debate on kids outdoors
Chief Scout Peter Duncan joined Members of Parliament on BBC2’s The Daily Politics to discuss The Scout Association’s recent report into the need to promote outdoor activities to young people.
As part of the KidsOutdoors campaign, Peter explained how our research showed that around 8 million kids don’t get enough exercise and that parents spend worryingly little time doing outdoor activities with their children.
Along with fellow guests Health Minister Ben Bradshaw MP and Chris Grayling MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, he discussed how parents need to overcome their anxiety about time and money pressures, lack of knowledge about activities in the area and concerns about safety.
Peter said: ‘The basis of this campaign is to really say something very simple, for parents and kids to get out there and do stuff, see the natural world and get the heart pounding. That’s the heart of it - because it’s a now thing.
'There is stuff out there that they can do, it just requires a bit of effort to do it. It doesn’t have to be a complicated effort, you can do a very simple thing - go out with your parents, go on a cycle ride. That’s the starting point!’
Read the KidsOutdoors report
Visit the KidsOutdoors website for activity ideas as well as videos, photos and real stories of outdoor activities that kids are doing all around the UK.
