ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE-2

What are outdoor activities?

Relaxed, relieved, satisfied, and enjoying are some words that can describe the feelings of most of
us who have experienced being in the outdoors for recreation. For those who have not tried, you
will agree that you feel the same way when you go out for a walk in the neighborhood as
compared to when you are inside the house for quite some time.
Yes, there is indeed fun in the outdoors! You enjoy it because it provides new and different
experiences from your everyday routine. To sit with pals around a campfire, singing, stunting, or
just talking about the adventures of the day, the problems of tomorrow, and the hopes of the
future, that's genuine enjoyment. To swing along a trail with your best friends, carrying your
wilderness home, your food, and simple tools for camping on your back, that's fun because you
like the freedom of the open sky and the company of regular guys "who can take it." You'll take
your fishing rod and, with a pal, work up the stream. On another occasion, you will climb
mountains, float rivers, and sail seas. All these have their own special opportunities related to
activities, skills, and fun that nature provides, and some of them are intentionally designed for you.
Outdoor and adventure activities are recreational pursuits that are usually done away from the
comforts of an urban setting. The activities take place in the mountains, on rivers, in the air, or
simply in the countryside. These include various activities such as mountain climbing, rock
climbing, hiking and camping, hunting and fishing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, sailing and
motorboating, biking, horseback riding, skiing, restoration, and conservation volunteering.
It has been expressed that the best way to support mental health and well-being is to do any
outdoor activity that involves focusing on any form of physical movement in the real world. It
doesn’t have to be physically demanding, so long as the activity uses your mind to move your body
and interact with the physical world. It could be physical exercise, gardening, making something,
photography, camping, or spending time sharing outdoor experiences with people you love being
with.
Outdoor activities help break that cycle of spending too much time thinking and dwelling on
things without moving your body or interacting with the physical world. Outdoor activities force
your mind to focus on the here and now and free it from those freewheeling thoughts that just lock
you into a state of perpetual anxiety. Before you know it, you will find yourself totally absorbed in
the outdoor activities you are doing and find that sense of calm and well-being you have been
seeking. But you need to find the right activity for you.

How can outdoor and adventure activities benefit you?

“Watch the video entitled “The Benefits of Outdoor Activity.
Benefits of Outdoor ActivitiesLinks to an external site.
Outdoor and adventure activities obviously require you to engage in physical activity. Therefore,
number one on the list of benefits that one can get from participating in these activities would be
fitness such as cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and, to a certain extent, weight
management. However, research through the years has proven that its benefits go beyond the
physical aspect, which includes the following:

1.
1. physical health
2. mental health and well-being
3. education and lifelong learning
4. active citizenship
5. crime reduction, and anti-social behavior

In terms of physical health, outdoor activities are associated with a range of health advantages.
This includes general health-related factors such as increased fitness and better cardiovascular
function, as well as reduced blood pressure, obesity, resting heart rate, and a positive influence on
other health markers. For the healthy aging population, outdoor activities can help the elderly
maintain their physical performance. Exposure to the sun also helps to maintain the level of
vitamin D, especially in the elderly.
On the other hand, this kind of activity is also associated with higher risks of melanoma. This risk
is seen as an effect of the practice of using light clothing and is therefore associated with a
substantially increased risk of sunburn. It has to be noted that there are certain types of injuries
that are more prevalent in specific outdoor and adventure activities; however, inactivity is
identified as the reason for more premature deaths and a shorter life expectancy.
Overall, green and blue environments seem to have especially positive effects that go beyond the
benefits of being physically active in a non-natural environment. Research has enumerated the
following effects on mental health and well-being:

o Greater feelings of revitalization and positive engagement decrease tension,
confusion, anger, and depression.
o Positive effects of mood
o Negative affective states like stress, depression, anxiety, tension, confusion,
anger, rumination, loneliness, and neuroticism could be reduced by
participation in outdoor sports.
o Pleasure and enjoyment, meditation, independence, the basic psychological
needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, experiences of flow,
comfort, and intense emotions, an enhanced feeling of body, discovering the
pleasure of achievement, vital strength, and a higher will to live in drug
addicts, and of course, an intense nature experience
o Feelings of calmness and tranquility may be decreased following outdoor
exercise.
o increased self-esteem, self-efficacy, social effectiveness, self-confidence, and
a better self-concept
o Supports the prevention of mental illnesses
 o Therapeutic tools for a range of groups with specific needs, such as children
with disabilities, persons with disabilities after acute injuries, veterans,
ADHD sufferers, young people at risk, disorderly adolescents, dementia
patients, or drug addicts.
o Education and life-long learning benefits also include personal development,
interpersonal development, educational motivation and achievements,
cognitive aspects to improve learning, and environmental aspects.

Indeed, the goal of outdoor and adventure activities is to improve a person's physical and mental
health. It helps nurture emotional health and develop self-sufficiency. When an individual takes
part in the above activities, he or she has to work in a team, which helps in learning to cooperate
with others and bond socially. A person learns to take risks and aim for great achievements by
using skills. It develops tolerance, power, and stamina while learning to endure difficulties in life.
Moreover, outdoor activities are also a vital part of the economy on both the local and national
levels. Enjoying the great outdoors promotes the health and well-being of the wilderness itself.
Proper use of our lands creates concern and awareness for keeping them protected and free from
development.

Some Recommended Outdoor and Adventure Activities in the Philippines

1. Orienteering

Orienteering is known for being a competitive sport that involves racing and the mastery of
navigation skills. It is not just an activity which merely requires physical strength and capabilities.
It involves and demands the use of mental skills. An orienteer must be able to formulate his
strategy on how to surpass the obstacles ahead and win the game.

SOME ADVANTAGES SOME LIMITATIONS

 Development of mental skills. An
orienteer must be able to formulate
his strategy on how to surpass the
obstacles ahead and win the game.
 It builds one’s self-esteem, which
goes hand in hand with the
development and use of courage, as
orienteering activities require the
participant to go through different
paths, forests, and parks.
 Orienteering also increases the
awareness of participants,
volunteers, and facilitators about
 Interrupts the participant’s mind to
think over their safety as a priority
and would somehow result in
unexpected injuries
 The probability of getting lost
during the course is indeed high,
given the kind of trail that the
participants have to track.
 Though orienteering activity
promotes camaraderie, there is still
a minimum possibility that the loser
might not be able to take the defeat
smoothly, which could bring the
 the importance of being an
challenge to a different and
environmental advocate.
unfavorable level.
 Improves social skills

NOTE: The disadvantages of orienteering are minor in comparison to the benefits it has in store
for the participants. However, no matter how small in number these disadvantages are, it is still
important to take note of them to prevent them from occurring as much as possible.

2. Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a great sport to get outside and explore all the things nature has to offer. It’s a
way to connect with nature and push your body past the normal limits of a typical human being.
Rock climbing is the sport or activity of climbing rock faces, especially with the aid of ropes and
special equipment. The concept is to reach the endpoint, or summit, of a rock face or structure.
This can be done with specific equipment, depending on the difficulty and severity of the climb.
With this being said, rock climbing does have positive and negative effects.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

 The positive sides of rock climbing
are the mental and physical
challenge it demands, which
promotes a healthier lifestyle, and
the connectedness with nature.
 A rock-climbing workout is a
complete workout, which is why so
many people are drawn to it. You
not only exercise your upper and
lower body but there’s a huge
mental and emotional component
to climbing as well.
 There are many dangers and cons
to rock climbing, such as falling,
foot injuries, hand injuries, and
vegetation damage. Although it is
possible that somebody falls and
dies from rock climbing, most
people are very careful and take the
precautions necessary.

3. Sky Diving
Skydiving, also called parachuting, uses a parachute for either recreational or competitive
purposes to slow a diver’s descent to the ground after jumping from an airplane or other high
place.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

Conquer your fears.
Skydiving is a very thrilling and extreme
activity. It leaves you with a confidence that
helps you realize you are stronger than you
believed you were. After skydiving, you gain a
 Due to the nature of skydiving, it is
type of courage that allows you to do anything
very expensive, and it generally
you set your mind to.
takes a full day as you will have to
Confidence boost undergo some training before you
jump.
Skydiving can be a life-changing experience for  Skydiving injuries often involve
everyone. After skydiving, you will notice dislocations of limbs and bone
something different about yourself. Some fractures during high-impact
people become more open-minded and landings on both land and water.
confident in themselves for even trying Parachute or lifejacket malfunctions
something as daring as this activity. can also greatly increase injury risk.
Mental Benefits
Skydiving requires you to focus and have
control over your mind. The adrenaline not
only helps you focus but also makes you more
aware of your surroundings.

4. Caving
Caving is a popular outdoor activity, but a lot of people who would probably like it haven't had a
chance to experience it or read about it. Caving, or spelunking, or potholing, is the recreational
pastime of exploring and navigating your way through caves. Usually, these caves are specifically
non-commercial, giving caving a purely adventurous and difficult tone.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

 Caving is one of the most mentally
challenging sports, forcing
participants to block out the past
and the fears and worries of the
future and fully commit to a focus
on the present.
 Caving enables participants to
discover the environment in its
natural formation underground,
learning about cave formations,
underground rivers, and much
 Caves can be dangerous places;
falling, flooding, falling rocks, and
physical exhaustion are the main
risks.
 Rescuing people from underground
is difficult and time-consuming and
requires special skills, training, and
equipment.
 more!
 Caving takes the participant into a
hidden world of peace and
tranquility to free the mind and
learn about a breadth of new
experiences.

5. Surfing
Surfing is the sport of riding ocean waves towards the shore while either standing or lying on a
board. The ultimate goal is to ride along the unbroken face of the wave and tuck into the tube
created as the wave’s lip breaks.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

 Surfing is great exercise. It  As with any other physical activity,

combines aerobic exercise and
strength training with a stress-
relieving mental health workout as
you progress and develop new
skills.
 Any physical exercise is crucial for
well-being. A healthy body is the
foundation for a healthy mind.
Surfing is probably one of the most
rewarding sports due to the fact
that it can be challenging, relaxing,
and fun all at the same time.
there are risks. We all love the
ocean, but there are dangers out
there. Surfboard injuries, drowning,
hitting the sandbanks or the reefs,
and collisions with large crowds are
only some of the hazards surfers
face.
 Add to that a bunch of menacing sea
creatures that none of us intend to
have an encounter with. All these
risks, however, are avertable if you
come prepared.

6. Camping
Camping is an outdoor activity that involves staying the night or more than one night in a
protective shelter out in nature. Camping is a broad term, but in its essence, camping is a way of
getting away from the hassle of urban life and into a more natural environment for a limited time.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

  Insects

Insect invasions at your campsite are more

 Survival skills
than just a minor annoyance. These critters
bring with them their own hazards that can be
When we talk about camping in the wilderness
extremely detrimental to your camping
(as opposed to a night out in your own
experience. One of the more dangerous issues
backyard), we are discussing an activity that
with insects is their bites.
requires a certain set of skills to get through it.
Skills such as building fires and general
 No Bathroom
problem-solving are essential in order to
survive in the wilderness.
Camping usually means that you will be
without a bathroom or a shower to clean up in.
 Mental Clarity
While this may sound like a mere matter of
discomfort, life without a bathroom can
Task-oriented thinking has a way of taking
actually be really dangerous.
your mind off of work and other stressors.
When your only focus is surviving, erecting
 Uncontrollable Environmental
your tent or finding shelter, cooking food, and
Challenges
staying warm, it has a way of focusing your
mind away from all the noise that can
Mother Nature is unpredictable. You may be
accumulate in your day-to-day life.
expecting a sunny weekend in the outdoors,
but you could easily be greeted by a torrential
downpour.

7. Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is an underwater swimming activity involving the use of self-contained underwater
breathing apparatus (SCUBA). Scuba diving is perhaps the best way to explore the fantastic
underwater world, getting up close to the wonders and secrets of this marine universe with its
breathtakingly colorful and diverse inhabitants. Over the years and decades, scuba diving has
evolved into a non-competitive but very exciting adventure sport.

Some Advantages Some Limitations

 Increases Strength and Flexibility of  Drowning

your muscles
As far as fatalities go, this is actually the
Diving is a real physical fitness workout! All highest-risk occurrence. Drowning typically
your different muscle areas tend to work more occurs because of diver panic or because a
underwater due to the resistance of the water. diver becomes unconscious due to other, non-
diving-related health problems.
  Improves Blood Circulation
 Diver panic can occur because of an
While underwater, your body is exposed to a out-of-air situation or other
pressure gradient. All your body muscles are emergency. Proper training and the
working simultaneously and require oxygen to buddy system can go a long way in
do so, so your blood vessels open in order to preventing diver panic and,
bring that oxygen to the muscles. therefore, drowning.