(Note that this series of hikes is currently under consideration. Registration will be open at a later date. Stay tuned!)
Spending time in nature: Reduces your risk of chronic disease.
Spending more time in green space drops your risk of asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
Increasing outdoor time for your health is so well proven that nature is being adopted worldwide as a health intervention and in Canada, healthcare providers can even write you a prescription for it, with BC Parks Foundation’s PaRx program. Nature is becoming the fourth pillar of health —just as important for staying healthy as good nutrition, regular exercise and sleep.
Have a look: PaRx Program Resources.
Whether or not you have a PaRx Nature prescription, we can help.
Here's how:
Each week a nature walk or hike will be posted here. The nature walks or hikes will take place on Tuesdays, with an occasional walk or hike on a weekend. Each walk/hike will be aimed at meeting goals of the PaRx program, promoting both your physical and mental health.
You may already know that when you're outside in nature, you feel better. You may know a few places to go where you enjoy being outside, but there are always other outdoor green spaces to explore. The Nature Walk for Health series can take you to these places and spaces, and can be what you need to get outside to stay healthy. If you have a PaRx Nature Prescription, this Nature Walk can help you to "take" your Nature Prescription.
The walks will include a carpool/car shuttle to the location each week where we will be walking or hiking. You will only have to show up wearing appropriate footwear and clothing for the season, as well as bringing water and food as required. If you drive to the meeting location for the carpool, you may be asked to drive others to the start of the trail. If the number traveling is small, then the walk leader will drive you to the trailhead to start the walk.
The walks/hikes themselves will vary week-to-week in level of difficulty. Some will be simply nature outings. Others will be perhaps more difficult hikes. Difficult hikes, if you are able to do them, promote concentration and focus, which can help promote good mental health, as well as coordination and balance.
Anyway, check back often! We hope to have this series of hikes going soon.
