Where are all the children?

As my footsteps crunched along the hiking trail, the warm air rustled through my hair, bringing relief from the lingering heat of the day. The cloudless sky was a deep blue, the sunset tinging the western edge of the horizon bright yellow. Against the azure backdrop stood the red mountains, iron-orange rocks painting a vivid contrast. I smiled as an elderly couple with walking sticks in hand strolled past me. All the way up the canyon I knew walked other adults, all taking in the sights and energy of the mountains. Among them, though, one would find difficulty trying to find a child. Where were all the children?

              I passed the sand dunes, their golden grains glinting in the dying light. A group of college students sprinted at each other, erupting in laughter when they tripped through the sand. Their game was forgotten as they dumped the orange grit out of their shoes and shook it out of their hair. Scanning the sandy stretch, I saw no one else enjoying the dunes; no families, no kids. Where were all the children?

              Walking deeper into the canyon, the gentle slopes of white boulders caught my eye. I remembered taking hikes with my family when I was younger; my siblings and I would race to the top of these rock formations, all trying to make it up first. The natural playgrounds still tempted me, but it appeared that I was the only one affected. No children clambered over the rocks, trying to fit themselves into the shallow caves and depressions. Where were all the children?

                My recent hikes up through Snow Canyon left me with a meditative state of mind, due to the sheer magnificence and beauty of nature. However, I still had the question lingering in my mind: Where were all the children? It struck me as odd that although the park was abundant with people enjoying what it had to offer, there were virtually no children. I feel like there’s a problem here. Why are parents not bringing their kids to our beautiful state parks? Is it because our kids are spending too much time on devices? Is their free time monopolized by extracurriculars? Is their only outside time spent on a ballfield in organized sports? How do we give these children the freedom to enjoy the beauty of nature on their own?