New Year’s Day is coming up fast — have you picked out a park for your First Day Hike?
This 10-park list rounds up some top options for your first foray into 2020:
Category: Healthy Parks Healthy People
Health benefits of dark skies
Today’s blog comes from our Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator Sarah McMichael.
My most memorable camping memory didn’t come from a crackling campfire, a panoramic lookout, or a stunning sandy beach.
It happened at 3:00 am at Lake Superior Provincial Park.
As I stumbled out of my tent for a late-night bathroom break, I noticed something different about the sky above me. There were stars.
A LOT of stars.
5 ways to stay active in the cold
Brrr! Temperatures are dropping, and winter’s icy grip is almost upon us.
We bet you’re feeling just about ready to tuck into a nice, long winter’s hibernation. Not so fast! Outdoor activity is important for our mental and physical health all year long. Getting outside is good for you even when the weather is not ideal.
Ontario Parks has 31 parks open in the winter. Each park offers plenty of ways for you to get active in the chilly months.
Here are some great ways to stay healthy, and enjoy winter!
The restorative health benefits of protected areas
Today’s blog post comes from Catherine Reining, a graduate in the Master of Environment Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University.
We know spending time in nature offers a ton of health benefits like reduced stress, better sleep, and lower blood pressure.
But what is the role of parks and protected areas in human health?
Continue reading The restorative health benefits of protected areas
6 health benefits of cycling
If you’ve ever pedalled up a hill before, it probably wouldn’t surprise you to hear that cycling is great for working the lower body, but did you know the health benefits reach far beyond your quads and hamstrings?
Check out these brain and body benefits of cycling:
30 ways to get outside this August
30 minutes in nature for 30 days straight. Are you up for the 30×30 Challenge?
Ontario Parks is challenging you to spend the month of August out in nature. Being in nature has a wide range of benefits to our physical and mental health. Spending quality time in nature is an opportunity to connect with your loved ones and Ontario’s beautiful natural environment.
By accepting the 30×30 challenge, you are committing to a healthy lifestyle in the outdoors!
Continue reading 30 ways to get outside this August
Listening to nature’s music
Today’s post comes from Kyra Santin, a Natural Heritage Education and Marketing Student from our Northwest Zone.
George Santayana — poet, philosopher and naturalist — said, “The Earth has music for those who listen.”
The earth holds a lot of beauty within it. If we open our eyes and ears, and listen to the world that surrounds us, we can truly appreciate the music the earth is making.
The 30×30 Challenge is good for you
Today’s post comes from Sarah McMichael, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator.
We all know that fresh air is good for us, right?
Time in nature has been proven to lead to better sleep, improved productivity, lower stress, increased self-esteem, better mood, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and a lower risk of diabetes and heart attack. The research is clear: spending time in nature improves our physical, mental, and social well-being.
Imagine how much your health and happiness could improve if you spent quality time outdoors every day for a whole month. This is what the 30×30 Challenge is all about. Sounds like a great way to get healthy!
Health benefits of swimming
Whether you walk through the waves or jump off the dock, there’s no better way to cool off than going for a swim.
This summer, as you escape the sweltering heat in one of Ontario’s lakes, think about these head-to-toe benefits your body is receiving from that dip:
Healthy Parks Healthy People Day 2019: events
It’s back! Enjoy FREE day-use at all Ontario Parks on July 19, 2019 for Healthy Parks Healthy People Day!
Spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health. There are tons of great events occurring across the province to foster appreciation for nature and raise awareness about the benefits of time in nature.
Write yourself a nature prescription and start your weekend early with FREE day-use entry to your favourite provincial park.
Check out our four spotlight events, or scroll down to see park events from across the province:
Continue reading Healthy Parks Healthy People Day 2019: events