Healthcare Professionals Can Prescribe Nature
There are many activities to enjoy at our parks, from fishing, to hiking a trail, canoeing and kayaking or enjoying a picnic with family and friends. Each of our parks offer visitors a different experience but they all have one important thing in common – time spent in nature is good for your health and wellbeing.
Healthcare professionals across Canada recognize what many of us have felt all along: time in nature is healing and they can prescribe time in nature as part of a healthy lifestyle.
The Benefits of Nature
Research suggests that connecting to nature is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. That’s why more healthcare providers are now prescribing nature itself, encouraging patients to lace up their shoes, step outside and let the natural world do its healing work. Time in nature has different benefits for adults and children.
The Benefits of Nature for Adults
For adults, spending time in nature can drop your risk of chronic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. It can also reduce stress, boost your immune system and increase your life expectancy. And it can help build a stronger connection to nature and your community.
Being present is the best way to get the most out of your time in nature. There are many activities that you can participate in to help you feel calmer, for example:
- Listening to the sounds of the birds while hiking at Upper Credit Conservation Area
- Forest bathing on a wooded trail at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, or
- Finding a quiet bench by the lake to meditate or slow your breathing while at Island Lake Conservation Area
The Benefits of Nature for Children
For children, time in nature can be a grounding and healing experience. It can help them feel calmer and more confident and this can be particularly helpful for those living with anxiety, neurodivergence or chronic conditions. Time in nature can improve a child’s brain functions, like memory and attention and help strengthen their immune system.
Kids can feel more connected with nature and grounded by participating in simple activities, such as:
- Strolling along the Tales on the Trail displays at Island Lake and Terra Cotta Conservation Areas
- Climbing the nature features of the Natural Playground at Island Lake Conservation Area
- Looking for frogs and turtles around the lake at Ken Whillans Conservation Area
Partnership with PaRx
To help support time in nature as part of a healthy lifestyle, we have recently partnered with the PaRx Prescription Program, Canada’s national nature prescription program.
Visitors with a PaRx nature prescription will be provided 10 free visits to any of the following parks: Island Lake, Ken Whillans, Terra Cotta or Upper Credit Conservation Areas, with the option to bring a guest. To access your free park visits with your PaRx nature prescription, please complete the PaRx Request Form.
Share your experience in nature by tagging us on Instagram, Facebook and X.
By Jamie Williams, Marketing & Communication Specialist