Youth Day in Los Angeles:
Evaluating the Role of Technology in Children's
Nature Activities

Deborah J. Chavez
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Research Station

Citation: Chavez, Deborah J. (2009). "Youth Day in Los Angeles: Evaluating the Role of Technology in Children's Nature Activities." Children, Youth and Environments 19 (1): 103-125. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

Youth Day, held in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, was an exploratory study to determine whether technology attracts kids to outdoor activities. Four activities were offered—two were dependent on technology and two were not. The two technology-dependent activities were a camera safari and geocaching for treasure. The activities not dependent on technology were paper etching or rubbings of natural surfaces and a nature scavenger hunt. Thirty-eight young people (ages 6 to 17) participated in the activities. The children voted on how much they liked each activity. The technology-dependent activities received more votes as liked activities as compared to the non-technology-dependent activities. Although additional studies are needed, these results suggest using technology to get young people outdoors.

Keywords: digital cameras, geocaching, K-12, natural environments, technology, outdoor recreation, children, youth