Back to Nature
Take a Dose of
“Nature Therapy”
BY ROBIN F. DEMATTIA
I JOHN BRADY/TIME AND LIGHT
f your doctor tells you to “take a hike,” that may be a good prescription!
Many health-care practitioners recognize
the mind-body connection — sometimes called green therapy, nature therapy or eco-therapy — that can help you heal and keep you healthy. Studies have shown that sunlight can ease depression and that physical activity from being outdoors can help manage stress, high blood pressure and diabetes. DCParkRx, part of the National ParkRX
Initiative, agrees and aims to decrease the burden of chronic disease, promote wellness and create the next generation of environmental stewards by connecting people to parks.
DCParkRx.org mapped and rated hundreds of parks in the national capital region, offering a searchable database for people to find the best park for them.
National ParkRX Day is April 23, a
great time to get outside locally and enjoy nature’s bounty. One spot to explore is Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve. Located at the western end of the Everglades, the reserve represents one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove
14 March - JULY 2017
Studies have shown that sunlight can ease depression and that physical activity from being outdoors can help manage stress, high blood pressure and diabetes.
estuaries in North America. An amazing world exists within its
110,000 acres, home to more than 150 species of birds and many threatened and endangered animals, such as the Florida panther and manatee. One of the best ways to enjoy Rookery
Bay is on the water, from personal watercraſt or stand-up paddleboards to guided kayak and boat tours. Being on the water brings opportunities to see wildlife such as wading birds, osprey, fish and dolphins. The Rookery Bay Environmental
Learning Center has aquariums, natural history exhibits, lectures and education programs, an art gallery and walking trails. While Rookery Bay is thousands of
years old, Everglades Wonder Gardens is just 81 — though that makes it one of the oldest planned gardens in the area. Its lush 3½ acres are filled with hundreds of plants, many originally installed at its establishment in 1936. There are many beautiful trees and
plants — such as orchids, bamboos, bromeliads and palms — as well as species from all around the world. Nestled along the meandering paths are exhibits of rescued reptiles and birds, including alligators and flamingos.
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