Engaging youth in systems thinking for active recreation: piloting a Collective Intelligence approach

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Youth Development
• Systems Science

Background:

• Youth active recreation is influenced by complex systemic factors.
• Young people are seldom involved in identifying these factors or solutions.
• Systems approaches are valuable for understanding and intervening in complex issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot Collective Intelligence (CI) as a participatory systems approach to engage young people in identifying active recreation barriers.
• To co-create solutions with young people based on identified barriers.
• To explore the value and challenges of using CI with youth in systems thinking.

Main Methods:

• Three CI workshops were conducted with nine participants aged 12-17 in Victoria, Australia.
• Participants generated and prioritized barriers, co-created systems maps, and designed solutions.
• Facilitation reflections and youth engagement were captured via field notes.

Main Results:

• Forty-eight barriers were identified and categorized (e.g., Shyness, Lack of Support, Financial, Time, Safety).
• Solutions were co-created at individual, community, and government levels (e.g., social skills enhancement, public transport improvements, subsidies).
• CI effectively made complexity visible and actionable, highlighting interconnected influences on youth recreation.

Conclusions:

• Collective Intelligence is a valuable approach for engaging young people in systems thinking about active recreation.
• Participatory methods can lead to actionable, youth-centered strategies for improving recreation access.
• Addressing systemic barriers requires multi-level interventions involving individuals, communities, and government.