Quoted from today's media: 

There's a message in here somewhere for schools as well as for the National Park Service about the importance of reaching out to people and teaching them about national parks - and explaining the simple joys of an outdoor experience.

Meanwhile, studies show that Baby Boomers in particular are choosing to do other things than go camping on their vacations. If they go to a park, it's more likely to be Disneyland or some other theme park.

Richard Louv, author of the book "Last Child in the Woods," argues its symptomatic of society's growing fear and aversion to the outdoors. He calls it a "Nature Deficit Disorder." ...

Whatever the explanation, the National Park Service might need to brush up on its marketing techniques. Unlike so many places that identify themselves as "tourist destinations," the park service still has something to sell - even if it doesn't sell itself anymore.

 Scott responds ( --- with some serious attitude, I might add! )
 
The recreation industry's Richard Louv™ (BRAND) public-relations campaign grinds on. After seeing so many of these functionally identical puff-pieces,  I can't but wonder whether these editorials are actually written by the newspapers that publish them or supplied in bulk by the recreation industry.
 
I hope that there is not a person in the room who does not now acknowledge that this particular spin is the creation of, and the branded product of, the recreation industry.
 
Likewise I hope that no one reading this message will fail to appreciate that the American Recreation Coalition's DERRICK CRANDALL is the force behind this ongoing campaign --- a campaign designed explicitly to play upon a genuine declining visitation trend in order to bring about industry-friendly, wreckreation-friendly, changes in the way parks are managed --- changes that will, if implemented, destroy the parks.
 
Here is a link to something I wrote in 2004, back when this 'So what's behind the decline in National Parks Visits' public relations coup was first being kicked into high gear. I encourage you to read the spin Crandall applied when he was creating the illusion that so very many people now accept as gospel.
 
This deception has been allowed to go on far too long.

It's time that other voices weigh in.

Scott 

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