Health professionals and educators have long recognized the connection between nature, and health and wellness.
Earlier this week, high school students enrolled in health and wellness specialist high skills major programs were invited to discover those connections for themselves at Scanlon Creek Conservation Area in Bradford West Gwillimbury.
About 60 students from three York Region District School Board secondary schools came to Scanlon for a day of collaboration with community partners that included educators from the board, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and York Region Public Health.
The day at Scanlon was a way to make the teens aware of the health and restorative benefits of nature “in a really fun and quick way,” said Nicole Hamley, educator with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
The students learned about recent studies that found improved health outcomes through engagement in nature, then headed outdoors.
Divided into smaller groups, they were led on mood walks and “forest sits” in the woods and tested their so-called physical literacy — the ability to move with confidence — by trying challenges that included climbing a tree.
Then they returned to Scanlon’s Nature Centre to brainstorm and come up with ways to promote greater access to nature and outdoor activity for youth, as a means of improving youth health.
The program at Scanlon is part of the I.C.E. initiative — Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship — that introduces high school students to the “design-thinking concept” of problem-solving, Hamley said.
Previous sessions have addressed environmental issues. This time, the specific problem was: “How might we increase child and youth access and opportunities for active experiences in nature?”
Hamley encouraged groups of students to balance on a slack line, set up in an area used by the LSRCA and its health partners for the Therapy in the Woods program.
Therapy in the Woods is a four-week program for early learners aged two to five who have cognitive, physical or emotional challenges. In partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie and other health professionals, outdoor activities are offered that build gross and fine motor skills, as well as social and communication skills, through outdoor play in nature — all while meeting individual therapy goals.
“It exactly addresses the question, finding ways to reduce barriers to get people engaged in healthy outdoor play,” Hamley told the students, asking them to think about “not only the opportunities to get kids involved in outdoor activity, but the barriers to involvement,” those things that prevent youth from making outdoor activity a regular part of their lives.
After the outdoor component, students were challenged to brainstorm their solutions, then pitch them to the community partners in a Dragon’s Den format.
“It’s a great way to come together with community partners,” said Hamley, noting that in the past some of the ideas have been adopted, “and the kids get the credit.”
“Kids just have a different lens on things," she added.
York Region Public Health nurse Carol Karner agreed. She said the day at Scanlon was about “inspiring kids today to enjoy nature. Once they see it, they get it” — they “get” the potential of using the outdoors to promote health and wellness.
“It’s a program where we bring students to solve important and relevant problems in the community,” said Deneena Davis, curriculum consultant with the York Region District School Board.
The students were asked to work on aspects of the big question of how to “improve youth health through increased access to nature,” Davis said. “Some are looking at transportation accessibility, some are looking at clothing, some are looking at mental health” — all hopefully generating new ideas that will have a “ripple effect,” impacting how the community partners address the issues.
Akshen Jasikumar, a student at Maple High School in Vaughan, called the program at Scanlon “different, a new experience.”
“I definitely feel it was something new, and calming," said Jasikumar, who is interested in computer science and health and wellness as a career. "Nature holds so much potential to help (youth) get over certain problems in their lives.”
The usual routine for students is “school, home, sleep, school, home, sleep,” he said. “Nature has so much that students can use to escape that reality.”
His group proposed T.E.E.N. — Teens Exploring Everyday Nature — a “physical social media” proposal that would allow like-minded youth to connect on Facebook and social media, then get together for outdoor experiences in nature.
Students filled both rooms at the Nature Centre as they brainstormed. They were encouraged to write down all of their ideas — including the most “radical,” Davis said — before refining and pitching a concept to their community partners.
“It’s a lot of collaborative energy,” said Davis.
David Peacock, co-op teacher with the York school board, was enthusiastic about the learning experience.
“As a co-op teacher, you’re really trying to push students from the world of school to the world of work. This is a neat bridge,” Peacock said, challenging the high school students to consider “what might be out there, and the different skills involved.”
“You hear a lot of, ‘I liked today because people listened to my ideas,’” said Jeff Reid, York Regional SHSM teacher.
Suggestions ranged from “better urban planning to ensure that schools are always located near opportunities for outdoor activities,” to a “radical” proposal to end stress by ending homework.
Several groups proposed mandatory outdoor recreation for students, similar to the 40 hours of volunteer community service currently needed to graduate from high school.
One group developed the concept of a Stress Awareness Promotional Week that would give students an opportunity to participate in free outdoor activities like hiking, yoga, cycling and horseback riding, through collaboration with local businesses and operators — activities that would be open not only to students, but their families.
“Most people are stressed, whether or not they admit it,” explained a student. Community businesses “have the resources, they have the equipment,” and could be encouraged to participate, to increase awareness of the outdoor recreation options available locally while contributing to “a healthier community.”
There were proposals for apps that would help students find transportation to outdoor activities, and recommendations for more outdoor classrooms.
At least one proposal grew out of direct experience at Scanlon: some of the students arrived without the appropriate outdoor clothing, making for a chilly start to the day that was itself a barrier to participation.
The students’ solution: A Give and Take Program for exchanging clothing and sports gear, which would provide youth with the gear and clothing they need to participate in activities at no cost.
The idea proposed drop-off hubs, donation boxes, partnerships with local dry cleaners to ensure clothing was cleaned before being recycled/reused, and a website to facilitate exchanges.
“Realistically, the barriers shouldn’t stop anyone,” said one student. “It’s like borrowing from your friends.”
Overcoming barriers was ultimately what the day was all about.
