Here’s your monthly dose of Parkscription’s articles and information:

Articles:

A Daily Dose of Ecotherapy Eases Stress in Kids – Outside Online by Katie Arnold

Pressure on kids to perform well in school, excel in competitive sports, and handle other pressures could be alleviated with some simple one-on-one time with nature.

When a Stress Expert Battles Mental Illness – Outside Online by Brad Stulberg

I’ve found exercise to be especially helpful when I’m feeling down. A wide body of research shows that exercise is effective at treating both anxiety and depression. This is important since depression can be triggered by anxiety.

Nature as Medicine – Psychology Today by Lisa Firestone

One of the reasons, nature is so beneficial is that it allows us to feel more present in our own bodies. We tend to experience nature with our senses, drinking in sights, sounds and smells, feeling the earth on our feet and the breeze on our face.

Therapy Gone Wild – American Psychological Association by Tori DeAngelis

But instead of doing this work in a fluorescent-lit treatment facility, DeBois takes the teens into the Utah high desert, where they learn ways to defeat unproductive emotional and psychological patterns while camping and hiking in a stunning landscape of mountains, pine trees and juniper bushes.

 

Book(s):

Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hascom

In this important book, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook shows how outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children’s cognitive development and growth, and offers tons of fun, engaging ways to help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adult.

 

Inspiration:

Here is a list of some of Washington State’s Parks. These gems provide great day or overnight adventures for everyone! Hope to see you out there.