Active involvement in Outdoor pursuits was a matter of survival when man first hunted and began his steady progress toward "civilization". Hunting, fishing and, later, shooting have come a long way since their origins as a necessity and way of life to today's recreational focus. The outdoors is ingrained in everyone's genetic 'code' as it is a part of human beings very existence. Some may choose to ignore or downplay it, but it resides in all individuals. For generations past and future, the outdoors experience is a place where families and friends connect while learning and teaching the next generation the values which were once passed along to them.

Today more than three out of every four Americans participate in some form of outdoor recreation each year. Americans spend money, create jobs, and support local communities when they get outdoors. Simple, healthy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, or wildlife viewing generate enormous economic activity and influence and fuel a far-reaching ripple effect that touches many of the nation's major economic sectors.