Ryan “Zoo” Battersby, age 12, plunged his hands into a pile of chalk dust, slapped them together then scurried up a rock climbing wall with ease.

“Go Zoo!” said his fellow Outdoor Idols as they watched him at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Market, which ran Aug. 9-12 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

As Battersby dropped to the mat after his successful climb, the young athlete was asked how good of a climber he was.

“Not too good,” he said, “I’m just learning.”

Battersby, a Park City resident, was one of nine kids selected from 200 applications to be an Outdoor Idol. The Outdoor Industry Foundation selects the Idols from all over the United States and Canada.

Battersby was chosen because of his love for the outdoors, particularly skiing.

“I ski free ride,” he said. “Because you can do whatever you want; it’s not serious.”

“He just does it because he wants to,” added his mother Debbie. “He’s not about becoming a pro, but just getting others involved. We moved out here for our kids to get out. Zoo likes skiing in the backcountry. He’s really aggressive.”

Zoo was chosen as an Idol for the same reasons he was given his nickname.

“‘Zoo’ came from his siblings,” Debbie said. “Because he was so active, they said, this kid belongs in a zoo. The young kids thought there was something wrong with him.”

The Idol program was created to encourage outdoor recreation especially in younger people. The organization is worried about a waning outdoor interest among children and teens across the country.

“That’s a huge issue for us,” said Mike Wallenfels, the president of the Outdoor Industry Foundation. “Our industry cares about how it will affect the communities and lifestyle. Being in the outdoors connects families and culture. We want to make it part of everyday life.”

Wallenfels said the lack of interest in outdoor recreation could be dangerous, not only for the future of the industry, but also for the nation.

“We are uniquely positioned to solve the threat of inactivity,” Wallenfels said. “Kids have to be engaged between five to 18 years old. If they are, they will be active for the rest of their lives.”

Debbie has seen the disinterest among other kids.

“There are a lot of kids here that don’t take part of what Utah has to offer,” Debbie said. “We like to do so much in the outdoors.”

Wallenfels said there are many health benefits when going outdoors rather than staying home in front of a TV or monitor screen.

“There’s less stress, it builds greater family relationships. There are physical and mental benefits,” he said. “Kids in America watch TV for six hours a day, how does that affect kid’s brains? It’s an issue we need to address.”

Wallenfels said there is a “symbiotic relationship” between kids and the Outdoor Idols, which may help motivate inactive kids.

“The Outdoor Idols are at the top of the sport and are leaders in the community,” Wallenfels said.

“They are acting as a role model and are doing great things in their sports,” added Michelle Barnes, the vice president of Outdoor Industry Foundation.

Barnes said the organization is making a Web site for the Idols and taking other steps to create more exposure.

“We want to make a direct tie to the idols,” Barnes said. “We want the industry to see the kids.”

If the industry understands the declining interest among kids, they might also help spawn interest. She hoped the Idols’ presence at the Outdoor Market would do that.

“By having the kids here, it shocks (the businesses) into knowing this is our future market,” Barnes said. “One-third of the country is under 25, if you don’t market to them, you won’t have a business in the future.”

Many of the vendors at the market are involved with the Outdoor Industry Foundation, Barnes said consumers care about the kids and want companies to place an emphasis on getting youth involved.

Businesses can volunteer and contribute financially to the Outdoor Industry Foundation and Wallenfels said many of them are starting to understand the importance of marketing to a younger generation.

“Kids have grown up with, and like, technology,” Wallenfels said. “Now there are a lot of companies that are infusing technology into their products: i-Pod connections in backpacks and (Global Positioning Systems) in shoes and sunglasses.”