Getting Around
Taking Charge of Your Personal Space
Connecting with Nature

Connecting with Nature

Nature and Us

Excerpted from Nature and Us, Taking Charge of Your Wellbeing published on the University of Minnesota website.

Have you ever been awed by the beauty of a mountain or ocean? Have you ever been excited to see a wild animal in its natural habitat? Have you ever stopped to admire a lovely flower or tree? If so, you will understand how nature can impact our wellbeing.

By nature, we mean the natural world and the nested ecosystems within it. This is the “non-built” world of water, air, earth, vegetation, and animals. Humans are part of nature and interact constantly with it in many ways—on the molecular and the larger systems level.

This interaction is deeply beneficial to humans, especially with the growing prevalence of depression caused by “nature deprivation,” which is largely due to increasing time spent in front of televisions and computers. Apart from meeting some of our most basic needs, nature relaxes and refreshes us.

Read more about nature’s impact on our wellbeing…

California Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights

California was the first among many states to adopt a Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. This initiative supports providing every young person with the opportunity to:

• Play in a safe place
• Explore nature
• Learn to swim
• Go fishing
• Follow a trail
• Camp under the stars
• Ride a bike
• Go boating
• Connect with the past
• Plant a seed

Getting Outside

Taking a short 15 minute walk in a park or garden, or just taking a few minutes to look at natural things (out the window, even an indoor plant or a nature scene on your screen), has been found to improve mood and the ability to reflect on a life problem. This affect on the human brain appears to hold true regardless of age or culture. The restorative benefit of actual nature is greater, so if you can, find ways get outside doing something fun, interesting or restful for you.

Find a Park!
You can use ParkInfo to find great parks near you, from small urban parks to large wilderness areas, anywhere in California. Click to find more information about what kinds of things you can do there, any activities that are offered, check out a bird’s eye view of the place, and learn how to get there by walking, public transit or car.

Find a Community Garden!
You can use this link to see if there is a community garden listed near you. Click on the pin for more information and a link to the garden’s website. Community gardens offer opportunities for people spend time in gardens, learn about gardening, and grow their own food.

Explore the Map of Play!
The Map of Play is a community generated guide to playgrounds, parks, and playspaces across the United States. You can type in your city or zip code on this website and see what parks and playgrounds are near you. The creators of this site are dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the lives of all children and youth, particularly those growing up in poverty in America.