Why Kids Need the Outdoors Now More Than Ever

May 13

By: Steph Lane

Kids today are growing up in a completely different world from the one most of us grew up in. And that is not going to change any time soon, or probably ever. Their days are filled with screens, wild schedules, notifications, and constant stimulation. While technology has its place, many kids are missing something that used to come naturally: time outside. Real time outside. The kind that teaches patience, builds confidence, and creates memories that stick for a lifetime.

The outdoors has a way of slowing things down. It teaches kids lessons they can’t always learn in a classroom or through a phone screen. A morning spent fishing teaches patience. A long hike teaches perseverance. Learning to safely handle a firearm or build a fire teaches responsibility and confidence. Even moments of failure outdoors (I know I’ve had my fair share), missed shots, tangled fishing lines, cold mornings, or long waits with no reward, help kids learn resilience and grit in a healthy way.

One of the biggest things the outdoors gives kids is confidence. There’s something powerful about watching a child realize they can do hard things. Whether it’s hiking farther than they thought possible, learning to shoot a bow, helping set up camp, or harvesting their first animal, those experiences build independence in a way few other activities can. Kids begin to trust themselves more.

The outdoors also gives kids the chance to witness moments many people never will. The sound of turkeys waking up before daylight. Watching a buck step through the timber at sunrise. A flock of geese dropping into a field. Two wood ducks going from tree to tree to find the perfect home. Fresh snow tracks on a quiet morning. The kind of moments that can’t be recreated on a screen or fully explained to someone who hasn’t experienced them. Those rare moments teach kids to appreciate nature in a deeper way and remind them there’s still real beauty and wonder in the world around them.

The outdoors also creates connection. Some of the best conversations happen without phones in hand, sitting around a campfire, riding in a side-by-side down a gravel road, or watching the sunrise from a deer stand. These moments connect kids to their families, mentors, traditions, and the natural world around them. In a fast-paced world, those quiet moments matter more than ever.

Mentorship plays a huge role in this, too. Many kids today don’t grow up with easy access to hunting, fishing, camping, or outdoor experiences. Having someone willing to teach them can completely change their path. A good outdoor mentor teaches far more than skills. They teach patience, safety, respect, discipline, and how to carry yourself with confidence.

And the truth is, getting kids outdoors isn’t just about creating hunters or anglers. It’s about raising capable young people. Young people who know how to work hard, appreciate nature, problem solve, and feel connected to something bigger than themselves.