Nature has a powerful healing quality.
It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e walking through the woods, napping in an open field, swimming in a glacier-fed lake, picnicking on top of Old Fort Point or biking to Indian Ridge, your time in nature鈥攏o matter how you spend it鈥攈as a direct affect on your mental health.
For many people, especially those who live in Jasper, this knowledge is intuitive. There is an awareness that after a few days cooped up indoors, life can lose perspective, and that all it takes is a short jaunt in the wilderness to find some clarity.
But beyond intuition, there is also science to prove this is true.
Studies have shown that hospital patients who have undergone surgery are quicker to recover if they have a room with a view, and that seniors who spend time outdoors are less likely to suffer from depression.
There is also research showing that spending time outdoors helps with concentration and academic performance, and that it can increase focus for people with ADHD.
Although old hat for Jasperites, this understanding and appreciation for nature doesn鈥檛 translate to people everywhere.
That was especially clear last weekend, as a group of new Canadians鈥攚ho originate from all corners of the world鈥攕et down in Marmot Meadows for the Learn to Camp program.
The program is meant to teach people to value the outdoors and Canada鈥檚 protected sites, and to teach them the skills they need to camp on their own.
For many of the participants, it was their first time setting up a tent or sleeping outdoors, and it was the first time they recognized nature鈥檚 healing power.
Abdurazak Seyida, an asylum-seeker from Ethiopia who is now living in Edmonton, said before coming to聽 Jasper National Park, he had been asked many times by his friends鈥攚ho are also new Canadians鈥攚here they could go to relax.
鈥淣ow I will tell many of my friends to come here,鈥� he said with a laugh. 鈥淚 will tell them that there are many, many interesting places in Canada to go to relax your mind.鈥�
As we leave the madness of summer behind, it鈥檚 time for all of us to relax our minds and reconnect with nature and benefit from its gifts.
