MAKE A NEW OUTDOOR FRIEND – KICK-OFF ACTIVITY DAY - Haugalandet
CMI PARTNER:
Rogaland County Council, Norway, working with Haugesund Turistforening, in co-operation with Friluftsrådet Vest (one of the 4 regional recreation boards), The Municipalities (Haugesund, Tysvær, Bokn, Vindafjord, Karmøy) and the following NGOs: The Association of Hunters and Anglers in Haugesund, Haugesund Kayak Club, the Scouts, the Rock Climbing Club, and the Orienteering Club.
WHO WAS MEANT TO DO IT?
The general public, including families with young children, youths and old people.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
Since the year of outdoor recreation in 1993, an outdoor recreation day has been arranged once a year all around the country. Different organisations and “Regional Recreation Boards” contribute by arranging a variety of activities to tempt people to get out in the nature and let them try something new and exciting. The activities are for all and are, for example, short and long walks along nature and culture trails, sailing, paddling, horse-riding and climbing.
In Haugalandet it has also become a tradition to arrange the outdoor recreation day as part of the national outdoor recreation week.
The Coast Alive partners were invited to be an active part of the arrangements and using the information “stand” they handed out information material and Coast Alive “Headbands”.
HOW DID THEY DO IT?
The NGO “Haugesund Turistforening” was the main organiser of this day, while about 50 other NGOs offered different activities and fun to the many visitors. The Kayak Club brought kayaks and “Friluftsrådet Vest” brought canoes and a small sailboat. During the day about 1000 people tried some kind of water activity. “The Hunter and Fisher organisation” let people try their luck in fishing, and practice “fly-fishing”. The scouts made a bonfire, and let the kids made “bread on a stick” and other traditional scout’s activities.
Haugesund Turistforening aligned with different activities: one activity was a zip-line 10 meters above the water. This was the most popular activity of them all; the kids would stand in line for one hour to try this. Other activities included horse-riding, climbing, orientation and climbing in ropes in trees.
The information handed out at the outdoor recreation day included leaflets with colourful pictures and information about how to “make a new outdoor friend”. Three new “beach-flags” were produced for the occasion which would be used at other promotional events in the area.
HOW MANY PARTICIPATED?
Approximately 4,000 people took part.
DID IT WORK?
This arrangement had totally different dimensions than the first one in Dalane (see Make a New Friend - Dalane). 200 flyers and almost 500 “Coast Alive Headbands” were distributed.
The main target group for this activity day was families with young children. The children had a great outdoor day, filled with physical activity. The families were encouraged to go for new walks/hikes and bring other people (new users) with them the next time.
Follow up activities to this event had many participants and 400 “Coast Alive Headbands” were distributed.
WAS IT SUCCESSFUL?
The only negative consequence with so many visitors was the long queues for many of the activities. This resulted in more waiting and less activities for each person than would have been liked. However, people stayed positive, and with the nice weather it was not a big problem.
OTHER POINTS?
The regional newspaper “Haugesunds Avis” was present and gave the arrangement excellent press coverage: http://www.h-avis.no/nyheter/folksomt-i-djupadalen-1.5599570as did another local newspaper, “Haugesunds Avis”: http://www.h-avis.no/bildeserier/bildeserier-nyheter/friluftslivets-dag-1.5601482
A video of the event was produced by “friluftsrådet Vest”: http://vimeo.com/14985923
The event was featured on the radio: http://www.radio102.no/2010/09/friluftslivets-dag-pa-s%C3%B8ndag-5m-30s/
A selection of images associated with the media coverage is attached to this summary.
