It’s been a busy week and you barely have time to say two words to your spouse before it’s time to feed the kids and put them to bed. Your kids have been in school all day and texting on their phones, watching TV, or on the computer since they got home. You’re ready for something different. Get outdoors and spend some quality time with your family. The health benefits and the experience are worth it!
Benefits of Outdoor Activity
The benefits of being active outdoors include:
- Improved mental health
- Improved concentration
- Reduced stress levels
- Greater creativity
- Improved fitness level
Sunlight and physical activity elevate your mood and help you de-stress (Harvard Medical School Newsletter, 2010). Don’t believe me? Take a brisk walk one afternoon and see how you feel. It always works for me.
Studies have shown an increase in memory, creativity, and attention span resulting from time spent outdoors. Research has also shown that kids with ADHD focused better after being outdoors. (Read an article abou this research; Read some summaries of recent research)
There are even studies that say exercising outdoors is better than exercising indoors! This is due to the improvements in mental well-being that come from exercising outdoors as well as the likeliness that the participants would repeat the activity because it was more engaging. Now don’t get us wrong, exercise of any kind is great, but if you take it outside, you’ll feel even better.
Outdoor Recreation and Nature Tourism Activities at Tara
Tara Wildlife is a great place for you to connect with your family and enjoy outdoor activities. At one of our three lodges and cabins, you can get away for the weekend and enjoy the serenity and beauty of Tara.
Activities include
- Birding
- Canoeing and boat tours
- Nature Trails
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Photography
- Wildlife Watching
- Fishing
- Shooting Sports
- Open Air Bus Tours
Interested in learning more about the benefits of outdoor activities?
- Check out the book “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv
- http://www.gettingkidsoutdoors.org/resources/books/
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110204130607.htm
- http://www.participaction.com/pdf/april_researchfile_en.pdf
- https://www.nwf.org/Be-Out-There/Why-Be-Out-There/Health-Benefits.aspx