You Can Make a Difference

by Doug

The future of rural society, the backyard for all of our great outdoor activities, depends upon you! 

Many small rural communities like Dryden Ontario www.exploredryden.ca, have openly decided that it is time to embrace change and reinvent themselves to better meet the needs of today’s younger population. The long accepted tourism business approach has been based on, “This is what we have to offer.” Dryden will revise that with a new approach that asks, “What do you want us to offer?

Dryden is a pilot community for all rural Canada that is building its future on the backbone of public engagement and consumer collaboration. They are using social media to reach you and find out exactly what recreational activities they need to provide in order to appeal to your lifestyle;  activities that you feel would excite you to actually take a trip to rural communities to experience the adventure.  Your voice is the driving force of change!  So take a few minutes to complete a brief survey and tell them.  Visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z3MLRYX

What will the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts look like? 

We are witnessing a serious decline in the overall interest in traditional outdoor activities compounded by a decline in the forestry industry and the tourist business. The growing urban digital society seems so preoccupied with their hectic, fast paced and complex lifestyle to have any interest in experiencing the true benefits that the great outdoors has to offer.

As populations become increasingly urbanized, activities like electronic gaming, social networking and virtual living are slowly taking the place of the real world interactions that a lot of us grew up with.

Dryden is fully aware and appreciates the fact that the natural resources that make this area such a great outdoors destination will continue to exist for the next 100 years; the big question today; will the town, the infrastructure, the community and the people of Dryden continue to exist? Will rural society, the playground of the great outdoors, survive? 

Help rural Canada grow. We know you have a strong interest in driving social change and want to make a difference but that you want to do it your way. Bringing youth together, expanding minds, learning, building relationships, sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, building consortiums and being empowered to make change is the path to a unified economy and a vibrant future.  Speak up – we are listening!