May - OctoberStep Into Nature
Healthy Hikes

Try These Restorative Activities At Conservation Areas

Hiking

The great thing about hiking is that it can be done alone or in a group of any size and it doesn’t require any serious equipment aside from sturdy shoes or boots. Get moving and go!

Yoga

During the warmer months, join Yoga in the Park classes at participating Conservation Areas. Or, grab your mat, water bottle and sun protection, and get your downward dog on or practice your sun salutation outdoors. Namaste.

Forest Therapy Walks

Forest Therapy or “Shinrin-yoku” means spending time in nature that invites healing interactions. This requires mindfully moving through the landscape in ways that cultivate presence, opening all the senses and actively communicating with the land. These walks are a slow and mindful experience that can combine walking, sitting, standing or laying down. The walks are typically one kilometre or less and range in duration from two to three hours. Forest Therapy is currently being offered by the following Conservation Authorities: Cataraqui Region, Credit Valley, Kawartha, Quinte, and Toronto and Region.

Nature Is Self-Care

Did You Know?

International Self-Care Day is celebrated annually on July 24. In a nutshell, self-care is anything you do to take care of yourself so you can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well. Its benefits are better physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being. 

Take 15 Minutes just for you

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, a self-care task should not be big or complicated – in fact, when energy and resolve is low, it’s important to make it as simple as possible. This is why they’re offering – simple 15 minute ideas to help you feel better.

• Take 15 minutes to help with burnout
• Take 15 minutes for your mental health
• Take 15 minutes for your emotional health
• Take 15 minutes for your physical health
• Take 15 minutes for your social health
• Take 15 minutes for your spiritual health

We challenge you to unplug, disconnect and to recharge by spending time in nature, hiking or doing one of your favourite outdoor activities.

Benefits of Trees

Research has linked tress to the following benefits:

• Protecting Biodiversity
• Reducing Stress
• Reducing Rates of Cardiac Disease, Strokes and Asthma Due to Improved Air Quality
• Reducing Obesity Levels
• Managing Stormwater
• Increasing Property Value
• Filtering Pollution
• Cooling City Streets

Top Five Benefits of Trees

The Benefits of Trees (graphic)

Pathways to a Greener, Healthier Tomorrow

Conservation Ontario is a member of the EcoHealth Ontario collaborative of professionals in the fields of public health, medicine, education, planning, and the environment who are working together to increase the quality and diversity of the urban and rural spaces in which we live.

There is growing evidence and awareness of the benefits that healthy ecosystems provide to the health and well-being of our communities. Yet the challenges we face include:

• Intensifying climate change impacts
• Increasing prevalence of physical and mental health issues
• There is unequal access to the availability of good quality Greenspaces
• We continue to see loss and degradation of greenspaces’ natural features and functions
• Public policy to address these challenges is limited

The shared vision of EcoHealth Ontario is that everyone benefits from the provision of well-distributed, high quality greenspace, is aware of its contributions to health and well-being, and has access to its benefits.

What is Greenspace?

Public spaces such as parks, conservation areas, greenways, trails, urban and rural forests, street trees, community gardens, school grounds, shorelines and ravines

Private and Institutional spaces such as gardens, rooftops, cemeteries, golf courses and outdoor spaces associated with businesses, hospitals, care homes and universities

Greenspaces provide multiple benefits including economic, environmental, social and public health.

For more information visit EcoHealth Ontario.

How Healthy Ecosystems Contribute to Health and Well-being

Trees and Forests

• Reduce smog and other forms of pollution by filtering out many airborne pollutants linked to heart disease, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, and cancer
• Provide shade, reducing health risks from solar radiation
• Provide natural air conditioning, reducing health risks from high summer temperatures
• Absorb rainfall and snow melt, reducing flooding and recharging aquifers
• Support recreation activities such as hiking, birdwatching, camping and picnicking
• Capture carbon to help mitigate climate change

Wetlands, Lakes and Rivers

• Filter sediment, nutrients and pollution, helping to clean our drinking water sources
• Recharge groundwater and reduce risks of flooding
• Moderate the local climate
• Support recreation activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing

Parks and Trials

• Provide natural settings for outdoor recreation and physical activities
• Provide contact with nature to support mental health and emotional well-being
• Create attractive, liveable communities