Tag: mental health
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5 ways to beat the winter blues
January’s been a looong month. The holidays have come and gone, and significant snowfall has just begun around the province. It’s no surprise that January’s also seen as a “blue” month, with short days, little sunshine, and very cold weather making it difficult to prioritize time outside. Feeling a bit… off? Fear not! We’ve collected…
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Add nature to your self-care toolkit
As the days get shorter and the colder weather arrives, it’s time to talk self-care. Bubble baths and meditation are great options, but have you considered adding nature to your self-care toolkit? October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and it’s the perfect time to think of ways we can take care of ourselves and…
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Nature on the brain
Today’s blog comes from Kelsey Fenwick, senior park naturalist at Blue Lake Provincial Park. Growing up in small town Ontario, I’ve always loved and appreciated the natural world. Interestingly, I spent most of my life appreciating nature from a distance. Although my hometown of Dryden is surrounded by the beautiful boreal forest, for most of…
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Introducing MacGregor Point's new Forest Therapy Trail!
Today’s blog comes from Dr. Romola Porchuk from the Global Institute of Forest Therapy and Nature Connection, and Cortney LeGros, the Healthy Parks Healthy People coordinator at Ontario Parks. Forest therapy is much more than just a walk in the woods. It’s all about the journey, not the destination, or the number of steps you…
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The healing power of nature for seniors
Getting outdoors is important for people of all ages and walks of life. Getting outside is a great way to relax and soak up the beauty of nature that surrounds us. Best of all, there are real benefits to enjoying the outdoors, especially for seniors. Studies are continuously reporting the benefits gained by seniors who…
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Mental health benefits of the outdoors
Do you ever find yourself feeling calmer, more relaxed, or more focused after spending time in nature? That’s because time outside has studied and proven benefits for your mental health. Mental illness affects one in five Canadians in any given year. Let’s talk about what some Vitamin N (nature) can do for your mental health…
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The great outdoors are… great!
Today’s blog comes from Sarah Higginson, a market development specialist with Ontario Parks. August is over and so is the Healthy Parks Healthy People 30×30 Challenge. This was my first year taking on the challenge (not counting the year I did it for two days then got distracted) and it was a magical month-long adventure…
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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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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…