There is so much research coming out of why it’s beneficial to spend time outside that we wanted to share it with you. Once a month we’ll share a collection of some of the best tidbits along with other park prescription success stories.

This Is Your Brain on Nature
Mounting research shows spending anywhere from three minutes to three days surrounded by nature can benefit your health in a surprising number of ways.

THE NATURE FIX: OUR CONNECTION TO WATER
What do surfers, anglers, boaters and little kids in the shallow end of the pool know that the rest of us don’t? Playing in or near water is a surefire way to access creative states of “flow,” relaxation and bliss. I once knew this—most kids do—but was reminded on a recent family trip to western Maine.

Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning
These days, screen-addicted Americans are more stressed out and distracted than ever. And nope, there’s no app for that. But there is a radically simple remedy: get outside. Florence Williams travels to the deep woods of Japan, where researchers are backing up the surprising theory that nature can lower your blood pressure, fight off depression, beat back stress.

Parkscriptions Celebration
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of getting the Parkscriptions pilot program up and running! We took a few minutes yesterday, to come together and celebrate the milestone of the first health practitioners making prescriptions.

April Claxton

April is a co-founder and former co-Executive Director for Recreation Northwest. She has a passion for place and loves exploring, experiencing and sharing the beauty of the pacific northwest.  She is currently working with Ocean Conservancy to protect our oceans, specifically the Arctic.