ESPN  

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Split between Baby Boomers who seek solitude and a meditative experience in the Outdoors and the "Millennium Kids" who want action, adventure and plenty of friends, the industry of the outdoors is on a growth trend, retailers say.

"I'm happy to report that camping is alive and well," said Jim Reid, Coleman's director of public relations. "There are currently 42 million tent campers in the United States, and that makes camping one of the top five participation sports in the U.S."

A similar rosy outlook was shared by fishing and boating retailers, who spoke to outdoor writers from across the U.S. during the Outdoor Writers Association of America's 79th annual convention June 17-20 in Lake Charles, La.

"A third of all new anglers are women," said Jeff Samsel, public relations director for fishing manufacturer PRADCO. "And we're finding, when you get the moms, you get the whole family."

Even the industry experts who handle shooting sports and hunting see and industry segment that's a "glass half-full, rather than half-empty," said Glenn Sapir, editorial director of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

While the number of people who buy hunting licenses have remained steady over the years — 14 million in 2004 — the money they're spending on their sport is increasing, Sapir said.

The number of shooting-sport injuries also has decreased, making hunting, archery, paintball and trap and skeet less dangerous than tradition pursuits like cycling, football, basketball, soccer and running, he said.

"Tell the folks in our high schools to look at setting up a trap shooting league for the kids," Sapir said. "It's more safe than football or basketball.

"The industry experts agreed that for growth trends to continue in outdoor recreation, there needs to be more mentoring of the youth to enter outdoor pursuits — and a push toward activities that can be "done by dinner."

"The impact of a mentor is invaluable," Sapir said. "Especially in shooting sports."

The idea of a trip done in a day, or done before dinner, might just be the biggest salvation to outdoor pursuits, said Mike Walker, owner of The Walker Agency, which handles public relations for Toyota in the West.

People have busy lives and will seek out pursuits that are easy to get to, easy to learn — yet will allow them to connect with nature.

Day hikes, canoe and kayak paddles and mountain bike and running trail adventures within easy driving distances are what people clamor for.

"And that's what you should be telling your readers," Walker said.

Thom Gabrukiewicz writes for the Redding Record Searchlight in California.