Located near Centura Health in Avon right off of I-70. An innovative natural science learning campus for residents and visitors of the Eagle Valley. Free and open to the public.

318 Walking Mountains Lane, Avon, CO 81620

Located at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola on Vail Mountain out of Lionshead Village, Vail. All visitors must have a pass to ride the gondola. Free and open to the public with valid gondola pass.
Nestled along Gore Creek near the Betty Ford Alpine Garden and Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail Village.
601 Vail Valley Drive, Vail, CO 81657

Curious Nature

Go Get Some Fresh Air!

Posted by Amelia Kovacs on Mar 28, 2022 9:00:00 AM

Whether it was going on solo bike rides, long walks with the family or socially-distanced hikes with old friends: many found peace and comfort in nature during the pandemic. Is this a coincidence or does science have something to say about this?toomas-tartes-600x400

Well, it turns out that research reveals that being outdoors has many mental and physical health benefits. The plethora of perks from being outdoors ties back to what scientists call the ‘biophilia hypothesis’. The term ‘biophilia’ was used by German-born American psychoanalyst, Erich Fromm, in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), which is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. So, as a culmination of evolution, humans have sought experiences in nature to increase our overall well-being and physical health.Want These Articles Delivered To Your Inbox?Where do we even begin when it comes to the benefits being in nature has on our mental health? Stuck on today’s Wordle or crossword? Being outside has been found to improve one’s creative thinking as your prefrontal cortex has a moment to dive into what psychologists call ‘involuntary attention’. Entering this state of mind allows our mind to explore new depths of our prefrontal cortex as we aren’t necessarily focusing on something in particular. Sitting at your computer reading emails all day can overload our prefrontal cortex. As the region of the brain involved in multitasking, this high demand reduces our ability to focus, create new ideas, and think deeply. Nature provides the escape our brain oh-so desperately needs to function at its highest capacity.

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The benefits don’t stop there. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation found that just a quick five minutes outside is shown to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve mood, increase the ability to focus (even in children with ADHD), accelerate recovery from surgery or illness, increase energy level, and improve sleep. What is That? Ask a Naturalist!

Additional benefits include: 

Reflecting on the powers of nature and the impacts it has on our physical and mental health, what steps can we take to protect this magic? Here are a few tips we have to get you started: 

  • Vote! - Voting is one of the best ways to speak up for what you believe in. Keep up to date with your local elections here.
  • Take the Climate Action Pledge! - If you are concerned about the serious risks that climate change poses for present and future generations in Eagle County, take the Climate Action Pledge. Together we can meet our goal to reduce Eagle County carbon pollution by 25% by 2025 and 80% by 2050. Help us to #BeBetterTogether. 
  • Participate in a local clean up! - Join in with local community members to clean up your community. Check the Vail Daily with any clean ups coming soon near you.full-moon-snowshoe-hike_600x400

Resources

https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html

https://www.britannica.com/science/biophilia-hypothesis

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/easing-brain-fatigue-with-a-walk-in-the-park/

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1524839903260687

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/pdf/12199_2008_Article_68.pdf

https://gumc.georgetown.edu/news-release/sunlight-offers-surprise-benefit-it-energizes-infection-fighting-t-cells/


 Amelia Kovacs is the Sustainability Programs Associate at Walking Mountains Science Center. You can find her taking advantage of the benefits of nature through skiing, soccer, hiking, and birding. 


Topics: Curious Nature

Amelia Kovacs

Written by Amelia Kovacs