Even though the population of the U.S. has become more diverse,
it seems those enjoying the outdoors through hobbies like
camping, hiking, fishing and hunting remain mostly non-hispanic
white. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review newspaper, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported that in 2006, a total of
96 percent of hunters, 93 percent of wildlife watchers and 92
percent of anglers were white. Research done by The Outdoor
Foundation found a similar trend. The foundation reported that
even when expanding outdoor recreation to include everything
from hiking and camping to canoeing and skateboarding, 80
percent of outdoor recreationists across all ages nationwide are
white. "Our future environmental stewards, our future outdoor
consumers, our future outdoor workforce, will be increasingly
minority," said Christine Fanning, executive director of The
Outdoor Foundation. "If they've never pedaled a bike or paddled
a stream, outdoor recreation and the environmental resources of
this country are at risk,