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Photo credit: Adobe stock
According to the 2020 Census, 1 in 6 people in the United States are age 65 or older, accounting for 16.8% of the total American population. This age group’s share is projected to rise to 23% by 2050. The State of New Hampshire has the second-oldest population nationwide, with more than 1 in 4 residents (26.7%) aged 60 or older in 2025.
For older adults to be able to live a healthy life, the World Health Organization emphasizes the high importance of staying physically active. Outdoor recreation can be a critical component of staying active, promoting healthy aging, and sustaining thriving communities. Getting close to nature and participating in outdoor recreation has been shown to be effective in maintaining a certain level of physical fitness, reducing stress, and relieving pain for older adults (Zingmark et al., 2021). To better meet the outdoor recreation needs of older adults, recreation planners can work to provide easily accessible trails, parks, and natural areas. Older adults can benefit from group-based, low-risk outdoor recreation programs, such as walking and fishing (Rasch, 2020).
Pointers from the Regional Senior Games
While physical health and fitness are obvious benefits of participation, the mental health advantages of regularly socializing and trying new things also position sports and outdoor recreation to be meaningful contributors to overall well-being as people get older. One nationwide pro-gram that leverages both athletic and social dimensions is the Regional Senior Games, a multi-sport, competitive event series produced by the National Senior Games Association, including an event series in New Hampshire. By providing an annual, organized platform to play, connect, and compete, these games encourage older adults to stay engaged over time with maintaining active lifestyles.
Recent research from Lu et al. (2026) on the Regional Senior Games offers insights into how non-profit organizations, community groups, and recreation businesses can support older adults in aging actively. Key engagement strategies include:
- Creating an inclusive space where all older adults feel relaxed and welcome to participate
- Fostering social connections on and off the field
- Framing older adults’ participation in physical activity in a positive light through various media channels
Why Does Engagement Matter for Communities and for Economic Development?
Creating Vibrant Communities
The mental and physical health benefits of participating in sports and outdoor recreation are numerous, especially when paired with the social benefits of group activities. Healthy residents are better positioned to be able to live independently as they age and to continue to be engaged citizens, customers, and neighbors in their communities.
Attracting and Retaining Residents
Active retirees want to live in places where they can have fulfilling social lives and easy access to favorite hobbies, as well as opportunities to try new activities. Many retirees end up relocating full time to the places they used to visit on vacation. Outdoor recreation amenities that are attractive to different ages can also encourage multiple generations of a family to live nearer to one another, helping maintain support networks and closer relationships.
Engaging a Broader Workforce
Many of New Hampshire’s tourism and recreation businesses, especially ski resorts, rely heavily on part-time, seasonal workers who are semi-retired or nearing retirement. Like younger workers, many older employees are drawn to these jobs because they enjoy the sport, the outdoor environment, or the opportunity to spend time with others who share their interests. With New Hampshire’s older median population in mind, it can be highly beneficial for employers to engage active, older adults and to create welcoming work environ-ments across different career stages.
Generating Support for Recreation Projects
At town meetings and on voting day, citizens are more likely to show buy-in for community projects that they understand and personally appreciate. Local, multi-generational support can be critical for funding and prioritizing projects such as trails, parks, and recreational facilities. Older adults, especially longtime residents, may be very well connected in their communities and highly engaged in local governance, offering valuable perspectives and influence.
Outdoor Recreation Engagement Strategies Around the Granite State
Recreational experiences tailored specifically to the needs of older adults can be very impactful. It is also important for all-age or all-adult offerings to utilize strategies for being more welcoming and accessible to older adults. Here are some examples from New Hampshire that provide inspiration for encouraging engagement:
Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Over 55 Hiking Group
White Mountain Region, NH
AMC’s Excursions Committee offers an “Over 55” group for AMC members looking to hike, snow-shoe, and make new friends. The group aims to explore New Hampshire’s outdoors at a more leisurely pace, giving participants an opportunity to learn about hiking destinations other than the famous 4,000-footers that often take up the spotlight. The group’s welcoming attitude is that “we’ve got nothing to prove but having a good time.”
Gunstock Mountain Resort Adult Race League (ARL)
Gilford, NH
Ski and snowboard racing may not be the first things that come to mind when thinking about older adults and sports. However, recreational leagues or “beer leagues” provide an emphasis on fun, socializing, and “carving” out (pun intended) a regular time every week for teams to come together both on the mountain and in the pub. Gunstock is one of several ski areas in New Hampshire to offer recreational racing through NASTAR, the standardized program for recre-ational ski racing in the United States. While most participants do skew younger, the race league’s inclusive age categories and points/scoring system encourage participation from different ages and abilities. For older adults looking for even more time on the slopes, many ski areas in NH offer free or reduced-cost skiing beginning at age 65 or 70.
NH State Parks Free Admission
Statewide
Many NH people are already aware that NH State Parks offer free admission to residents over 65. However, one of NH State Park’s best strategies for encouraging participation from older adults is that they also offer free admission to children 5 and under, plus discounted rates for other youth. Many older adults are on regular grandparent/guardian duty, so this rate structure provides an incentive for multi-generational fun outdoors that can be a regular occurrence and family tradition, not just a special occasion.
Nature Groupie Outdoor Volunteering
Statewide
Retirees comprise the volunteer lifeblood of many New Hampshire nonprofits. For those looking for outdoor opportunities, UNH Extension’s Nature Groupie program connects individuals and families to projects across New England, hosted by a variety of nonprofits, clubs, and municipalities. Projects include trail building, invasive plant removal, tree planting, and much more, offering countless ways for volunteers to stay active while also making a difference in their communities. Nature Groupie’s promotional photos spotlight volunteers of all ages, helping create a sense of inclusivity from the beginning. By providing ample
information online about what to expect at each specific event, Nature Groupie lets people find the right fit for their abilities and interests.
Resources
NH Senior Games: nhseniorgames.org/
Appalachian Mountain Club: amcnh.org/committees/excursion-over-55/
Gunstock Mountain Resort: www.gunstock.com/winter/racing/adult-race-league/
NH State Parks: www.nhstateparks.org/fees-reservations/parking-entry-parking-fees
Nature Groupie: naturegroupie.org/
References
Lu, L., Zhou, R., Iheanacho, P., Chen, G., & Liechty, T. (2026). Leveraging regional Senior Games for older adults’ participation in sport and leisure-time physical activity: The event organizers’ perspective. Journal of Leisure Research, 57(2), 150-171. doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2025.2464136
Rasch, R. (2021). Connecting to nature: Outdoor recreation preferences and constraints of older adults in the intermountain West, United States. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 39(3), 132-142. doi.org/10.18666/JPRA-2020-10521
Zingmark, M., Ankre, R., & Wall-Reinius, S. (2021). Promoting outdoor recreation among older adults in Sweden–a theoretical and empirical foundation for the development of an intervention. Archives of Public Health, 79(1), 1-15. doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00762-6
Authors
Jada Lindblom, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire
Guangzhou Chen, Ph.D., University of New Hampshire
Photo credit: 1. NH Senior Games (Facebook); 2. UNH Extension
