The David Suzuki Foundation has called on Canadians to go outside and participate in the 30×30 Nature Challenge. The 2015 event will be the fourth annual 30×30 Nature Challenge staged. The event is run in partnership with Genuine Health, Desjardins, Elemental and Interface and Météo Média (The Weather Network.)
The challenge is a campaign to get Canadians into “the nature habit” by spending 30 minutes a day outside for 30 consecutive days. The 2015 event began on April 22; the focus of the activities is during May.
With the previous events, The David Suzuki Foundation states, tens of thousands of individuals and hundreds of schools and workplaces have taken part in the challenge. The Foundation says that participants have reaped the benefits of spending regular time outdoors. With children, outdoor activities increase fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies. It is also an important strategy in helping children who are obese
Aryne Sheppard, David Suzuki Foundation 30×30 Challenge campaign lead told Digital Journal: A growing chorus of scientists and researchers agree: time spent in nature makes us happier, healthier and less stressed,” said. “Getting a daily dose of nature through the 30×30 Nature Challenge is the best prescription for a healthy, happy spring.”
To assist people in the task of outdoor activities, the David Suzuki Foundation are providing different ideas of what to do during May. The organization has also provided a tool kit for workplaces and schools with different tips.
In terms of what to do, Aryne Sheppard suggests “Getting 30 minutes outside can be a walk in a nearby park, eating lunch under a tree or holding a business meeting on a park bench or at the beach instead of in a boardroom.”
The benefits of spending more time outdoors include sleeping better, feeling calmer and being less stressed. Another reason, as noted in the Harvard Health Letter, is that vitamin D levels increase through exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, a study from the University of Michigan, group nature walks are linked to enhanced mental health and positivity.
