Benefits in taking part in outdoor activities By Kitty Dowry

Self esteem and self confidence  When competing in any physical activity it can improve your mental health these can include confidence and self esteem.  If someone was to loose weight through participating in physical activity it will improve self esteem as the would feel better about them selves.  Your confidence in your self can improve when participating in outdoor activities, this can happen with communicating with others, improving in the sport and taking on more challenges

Team working skills  A lot of outdoor activities require people to work together.  If you are in a canoe and there are 2 of you it require you to work together, so in this will improve your team working skills.  In Outdoor activity centres, you usually have team building session to improve your team working skills in the over activities, e.g. Kata canoe, Crate stacking and climbing (belaying).

Increased Muscle mass and decrease in Fat  This will be a benefit for some particpants in outdoor activities.  With increased participation in outdoor activities you will improve your strength and experience muscle hypertrophy or a lose in fat.  In kayaking you will improve your core and back muscles as they are the main muscles you will use when participating in it, also a decrease in fat.  When climbing you will experience muscle hypertrophy in your leg muscles and arm muscles.

Risk taking  All sports and activities have some elements of risk in them.  Taking risks can give people adrenaline rushes and give them a sense of danger which some people benefit from.  You can experience risk if you are scrambling in mountaineering, caving and outdoor climbing, these include risk of rock being unstable so failing or slipping.