Tag: Healthy Parks Healthy People
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Ontario Parks: a natural place of healing
In today’s post, Discovery Lead Tim Tully asks us a very important question. What do parks mean to you? Chances are this is a question that has recently taken on more importance.
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How to use your senses to experience nature at home
Today’s post comes from Rachel Gagnon, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator. Did you know that nature can touch all our senses: sound, smell, sight, touch, and taste? During these times when we can’t visit our favourite natural spaces, bringing pieces of nature home can help us experience some of its benefits. So few…
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Health benefits of backcountry camping
Today’s post comes from Sarah McMichael, Ontario Parks’ Healthy Parks Healthy People Coordinator. Backcountry camping is known for being a way to experience beautiful, serene landscapes. But a backcountry trip also provides an opportunity to challenge yourself physically and mentally. The combination of paddling, portaging, and hiking through the backcountry is a great all-over workout.…
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4 ways camping helps us slow down and enjoy life
Today’s post comes from Connor Oke, an Ontario Parks marketing intern. We live in a world that demands a lot of us. Canadians work overtime at higher rates than they did 25 years ago. At the same time, we spend more hours in front of screens and on social media, which are linked to increased…
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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?
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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…
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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…
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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:
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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…