Most of these tapes I would like to keep in good condition so I can reflect back on them someday in the distant future. I've been told that the tape they're on now will deteriorate over time and become all but unviewable. I realize VCRs will be a thing of the past very soon as well. Any information would be appreciated so that I don't lose record of my various high school activities. As a museum curator, I and my colleagues deal with this sort of issue all the time.
Many museums now have walk-in freezers, like giant meat lockers, in which they store things.
It's easy to pack stuff away for the long haul, but if you want your tapes where you can watch them on the spur of the moment, forget it. You either decide in advance that you won't need to watch them for another 20 years and then vacuum-seal them and bury them, or you figure out a way to transfer them to a digital medium. Your call, but I think that if you just leave your tapes in a closet and don't play them, they'll still be fine when the time comes to make the transfer. There are plenty of online resources devoted to helping you preserve your home videotapes. Staff Reports are researched and written by members of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board, Cecil's online auxiliary.