The Happy Camper: Are Outdoor Shows Just a ‘Love Fest’ for YouTubers?
I’m in the middle of my speak tour for all the big outdoor show—and I gotta say, they’re crazy busy. Whoever said that online shopping has killed the days of wandering around crowded arenas full of outdoor gear vendors selling their wares is dead wrong.
Outdoor shows have slightly changed, however; there are a lot more camping trailers than tents, and stand-up paddle boards outnumber canoes and kayaks two to one. What I’ve also noticed is that that we are entering a new era of outdoor ambassadors that are presenting on stage at these events. These are still mostly just enthusiastic outdoorsy types who love glorifying their adventures—whether it’s canoe tripping down a remote northern river or backcountry hikers finishing off a multi-day through-hike. But the majority of them aren’t renowned guides, best-selling authors or mysterious wilderness hermits.
They’re YouTubers.
I’ve heard some traditionalists grumbling about this takeover; the shift away from aged woodspeople sharing their wisdom by giving slideshows or book readings and towards young vloggers simply just pushing their own egos.
But I’m not sure this take is entirely valid. Yes, there are definitely individuals whose self-promotion is a little over the top. This isn’t anything new, though. Self-indulgence in the adventure industry has been going on since the days of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and beyond. What I see now is that the majority of new speakers are just as passionate about wilderness travel and are enthusiastic to share their adventures with others. The only difference from past speakers is the format that is now used to present. Videoblogging has taken over from slide projectors and PowerPoint.
Having outdoor shows become a ‘love fest’ for social media outdoor wannabe types isn’t a bad thing. It’s created a solid community of like-minded people. To me, that’s amazing.
Still, there’s one thing that I am a tad concerned about. I see more endurance-style trips taken in wild areas in hopes of high view counts and monetization on YouTube and Instagram and less preaching about how important it is to protect these wild areas. Showmanship has replaced conservation efforts—and that’s something we need to change, or the big wigs in control of resource depletion will turn wilderness to desolate landscapes quicker than social media influencers can upload their next video.
