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Festival Aims To Get Kids Outdoors

By: Matt Laslo // June 7, 2011
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The average American kid spends seven and a half hours a day watching either TV, playing video games or staring at a computer. And they're only outdoors for about a half hour, according to Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition. He says that's a major problem.

"That's a big part of the reason why we have an obesity crisis that now threatens, as the first lady has reminded us, it threatens the life of American kids. We may have a generation of Americans who live shorter lives," Crandall says.

To promote healthy living, the coalition and other local sponsors are holding an outdoor festival Saturday at Kingman Island on the Anacostia River. Canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other activities will be open to the public. The event will also offer live Bluegrass and folk music performances.

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