Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) has taken a leading role in shaping the dialogue on outdoor recreation as a critical lever in preventive health. The company's President and CEO, Toby O'Rourke, recently spoke at the inaugural National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation in Washington, D.C., where she emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and evidence-based research.
This invite-only forum brings together senior leaders from healthcare, government, and the outdoor recreation industry to examine how time outdoors can address rising national challenges tied to mental health, chronic disease, and overall wellbeing. KOA played a central role in shaping the dialogue, bringing forward proprietary insights from its annual Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report.
The report, one of the industry's most comprehensive longitudinal studies on traveler behavior and outdoor engagement, provides valuable insights into why people seek the outdoors in the first place. By tracking how people travel and why they prioritize nature, KOA is advancing our understanding of the critical role that outdoor hospitality plays in delivering access to nature at scale.
O'Rourke highlighted the findings from KOA's 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report, which show that being in nature alone improves wellbeing for 77% of campers. This finding underscores the importance of unstructured time in nature for personal wellness.
In addition to improving wellbeing, outdoor trips also support mental health for nearly half of travelers and provide a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life. The report's findings are clear: access to nature is not a luxury, but a foundational aspect of human connection and wellbeing.
The alignment between outdoor travel and personal wellness is clear, with 61% of campers prioritizing slowing down and being present during their travels. This emphasis on mindfulness and presence highlights the critical role that outdoor recreation plays in promoting mental health outcomes.
Furthermore, KOA's report shows that over half of all parents prioritize unstructured play for their children when planning their vacation. This finding underscores the importance of incorporating nature-based activities into family vacations to promote healthy development and wellbeing.
The National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation brings together more than 130 executives, policymakers, and thought leaders to shape the future of outdoor recreation as a driver of public health outcomes. By convening senior leaders across healthcare, government, and the outdoor recreation industry, this forum aims to advance our understanding of how time outdoors can address rising national challenges.
As the outdoor recreation industry continues to grow and evolve, it is clear that access to nature will play an increasingly critical role in promoting human wellbeing. KOA's leadership in shaping the dialogue on outdoor recreation as a critical lever in preventive health is essential for advancing this vision.
The alignment between outdoor travel and personal wellness is clear, with access to nature being foundational to wellbeing.
