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Abstract
Background and Purpose
Given the urgency to design programs to increase physical activity, especially to combat obesity in children, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions and opinions of a nature-based physical activity intervention designed for low-income urban adolescents.
Methods
Four focus groups of adolescents, ages 11 to 14, were conducted, as well as 5 individual interviews with youth programming experts.
Results
Focus group interviews revealed how children perceive the outdoors, including their fears and barriers to exercising outside. Expert interviews discussed the necessity of becoming embedded within a network or working alongside community programs with strong ties to a target community in order to be trusted to carry out such an intervention.
Discussion and Translation to Health Education Practice
Health education practitioners can use our qualitative findings in the planning, promotion, design, and evaluation of a nature-based physical activity program. Being cognizant of the fears and previous experiences of urban adolescents, as well as using the advice given by our adolescent and expert participants, should increase a program's ability to successfully recruit and facilitate a nature-based physical activity intervention.