Outdoor Recreation in America, is a survey conducted for the Recreation Roundtable by Roper Starch Worldwide. The national survey tracks participation in diverse outdoor recreation activities and is designed to measure recreation participation, motivations for this participation, and attitudes of the public toward recreation. For executive summaries of the research, click below:

Outdoor Recreation in America 2003

Outdoor Recreation in America 2001

Outdoor Recreation in America 2000

Outdoor Recreation in America 1999

Outdoor Recreation in America 1998

Outdoor Recreation in America 1997

Outdoor Recreation in America 1996

Outdoor Recreation in America 1995

Outdoor Recreation in America 1994

KEY FINDINGS OF THE 1996 RECREATION ROUNDTABLE SURVEY: OUTDOOR RECREATION IN AMERICA 1996

Performed by Roper Starch Worldwide

• The Roundtable’s 1996 Recreation Quality Index (RQI) reflects a continued, though modest, gain in the public’s perception of overall quality of outdoor recreation in America. The 1996 RQI stands at 109 versus 100 in 1994 and 107 in 1995. The public perceives recreation opportunities locally and at vacation destinations to be essentially flat, with no measurable change since the Roundtable’s initial 1994 survey.

1994 Roper Research

Key Findings

Outdoor Recreation Proven Key Remedy to Societal Ills

People who recreate outdoors on a regular basis, or for whom outdoor recreation was important while growing up, are more likely than all others to be completely satisfied with their lives, according to a new Recreation Roundtable/Roper Starch Worldwide survey. Those who recreate most often are most likely to be completely satisfied with their choice of careers, friends, and their perceived success in life. However, the "Outdoor Recreation in America" report suggests that the connection between recreation and family may be at risk. Comparisons with a 1986 study show that the proportion of the public who say recreation was very important while growing up is down 7 points to 25%.