OHIO NOTEBOOK: Ohio's outdoor recreation survey results available

ODNR

Earlier this year, Ohio residents were asked to share their experiences and opinions regarding their favorite outdoor recreation activities on public lands, such as local and state parks, nature preserves, wildlife and forestry areas and federal lands. They were also asked specifically about their level of participation and any new or expanded facilities they would like to see in Ohio.

Feedback from the public survey helps park districts, local communities and nature preserve, wildlife and forestry managers understand outdoor recreation trends in Ohio and set priorities for funding and improvements.

Ohio University’s (OU) Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs final report for the 2018 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) public survey is now available at parks.ohiodnr.gov/research. OU analyzed 5,059 completed surveys from respondents from all of Ohio’s 88 counties. The report provides some interesting insight into the desires of Ohioan’s recreationalists, such as the facilities that respondents want more of and the top five outdoor recreational pursuits. The survey and the SCORP are funded with assistance from the National Park Service, and the full SCORP report will be available in 2018.

Survey results include:

* Eighty-two percent of survey respondents stated that recreational facilities are very important to the enjoyment of outdoor activities in Ohio.

* The main reasons for engaging in outdoor recreation on public lands is for fun and entertainment; sharing time with family and friends and experiencing nature; quiet time and serenity.

* Ohioans participating in wildlife activities favored wildlife viewing; nature photography and bird watching; with 47 percent stating they did so to experience nature, quiet time and serenity.

* Camping responses indicated tent and pop-up campers were more popular than other types of camping vehicles with more than 46 percent responding they enjoyed camping to share time with family and friends.

* All forms of trail activities received high responses, with nearly 51 percent of respondents stating they participated for health, wellness and fitness. The top trail-related activities are walking and hiking on various trail surfaces (natural, stone and paved).

* Canoeing and kayaking are the most frequent boating activities.

* Ohioans prioritized which outdoor recreation facilities they would like to have more of in Ohio. The top ranked facilities focused on trails (natural surface, paved and water); wildlife viewing and birding areas; and undeveloped campgrounds.

Teachers invited to attend Basic Archery Instruction Workshop

Classroom teachers and other members of school communities who are interested in becoming certified National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) instructors are invited to attend a free training workshop, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

There are two upcoming opportunities in southeast Ohio to attend the Basic Archery Instructor Training. The first will take place on August 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Deerassic Park Education Center located at 14250 Cadiz Road, Cambridge, Ohio 43725. Preregistration is required by August 10. The second training will take place on August 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the ODNR Division of Wildlife District Four office located at 360 E. State Street, Athens, Ohio 45701. Preregistration is required by August 18. For more information about either course or to sign up please visit naspbai.org.  Participants are encouraged to bring a packed lunch.

NASP instructors teach target archery to elementary, middle and high school students, within the school gym. The curriculum covers archery, safety, equipment, technique, concentration skills and self-improvement. When students are introduced to the sport of archery, the in-school educational component is only the beginning.  Many NASP-participating schools then start after-school programs and archery teams.

MINI REVIEW: "The Emoji Movie" was pretty meh

Gene is joined by a fledgling High Five emoji (James Corden) and a tough-cookie hacker (Anna
Faris). Together they visit popular apps like “Candy Crush” and “Just Dance,” where we get plenty of
candy and dancing jokes that are par for the course for low-aiming kids’ movies these days. That’s what this movie is, completely typical. Everything about it is ripped off from other, better movies. A digital world, a candy world, and a main character uncomfortable with his label? That’s “Wreck-it Ralph.”

Characters representing a single emotion learning it’s healthy to have multiple emotions, to the benefit of a teenager? “Inside Out.” Blatant product placement and the film being defined by a pop culture entity that sounds like a really bad idea for a movie? “The LEGO Movie” pulled it off, but this one doesn’t.

But it’s that typicality that somewhat saves “The Emoji Movie.” It doesn’t have many ideas of its
own, so it doesn’t have many bad ones. This isn’t a movie where I’m screaming out “What were they
thinking?” It was clearly overseen by people who watched every scene and said, “That will play well, I guess.” It’s a useless junk food movie, not a sign of the apocalypse. Out of every ten gags, maybe one is worth a chuckle, four are painful, and five sail away with no effect whatsoever. I found this movie to be pretty Meh, which is about the highest praise it’s going to get.