Humor to promote courtesy

How can we promote courtesy between various outdoor users without being too moralistic? By using cute animals and adopting a humorous tone, of course. This is what the Réseau plein air Québec (RPAQ) is doing with its new awareness campaign “Nature judges you”.

“In recent years, there has been a large increase in traffic at outdoor sites,” recalls Geneviève Désilets, communications manager at the RPAQ. There is more cohabitation between hikers, but also between hikers and people who do other activities. Problematic behavior has increased, even if it remains a minority. We wanted to ensure that people developed positive social norms to limit friction. »

But no one likes to be told what to do. How to get the message across without lecturing? After discussing with various stakeholders, including site managers and directors of outdoor organizations, the RPAQ chose a humorous tone.

“We came to the conclusion that it is an education issue and that education always goes better with a positive message, a humorous message which is not intended to be moralistic. »

No one wants to feel judged.

The famous Réjean, therefore, is the headliner of the “Nature judges you” campaign, which runs from January 22 to February 29, particularly on social networks. He is supported by other animals, such as a snowy owl or a fox, who display a reproachful or simply discouraged look when faced with uncourteous behavior.

We see the photo of an otter which seems to be covering its ears with its paws, accompanied by this message: “ME, when you impose Céline on everyone on the lake”.

There is also a white-tailed deer not very happy with these words: “ME, when you pass someone on the trail without warning them”.

The RPAQ orchestrated the campaign with 22 partners, including outdoor sports federations, Quebec regional parks and outfitters. Motorized sports are there, with the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec and the Fédération québécoise des clubs quads.

Relations are not always good between motor sports enthusiasts and hikers and skiers; a rapprochement is therefore welcome.

The campaign includes a quiz on the behaviors to adopt. It’s not very difficult, but likely to provoke a smile. This is why people ask what to do if a mountain biker encounters a person on horseback on a trail. To slow down ? Go for it? Or politely ask if you can exchange the bike for your horse?

Other questions are more annoying: what should you do when you meet another person going uphill on a narrow path? Or when there are skiers who are lower than you in mountain skiing?

In addition to offering this quiz and a small competition, the campaign web page includes a courtesy guide for the different sports, whether motorized or not. For cross-country skiing, we talk in particular about speed control and the importance of signaling your intentions. In the section on ice climbing, we address the question of access conditions to the sites. For snowmobiles and quads, we insist in particular on respect for private property. Hunters are reminded of the need to share the territory.

Links in each section provide access to additional information, particularly on the websites of the various federations.

The RPAQ will be able to return to this campaign during its participation in the Salon Aventure et Plein air, which will be held in Montreal on March 23 and 24.

According to Geneviève Désilets, the first reactions are positive. “Both our partners and other national outdoor organizations find that the campaign is fun, that the message gets across easily and that visually, it attracts attention. »

The civility awareness campaign will be back for a summer section “with new animals, new colors, new examples, a new quiz and a new prize”.

Visit the Nature Judges You website