This week marks the unofficial beginning of summer, leading to thoughts of walking in the woods, frolicking in lakes and enjoying the soul-enriching amenities that are prevalent throughout Washington.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission long has undertaken efforts to connect residents to our state’s outdoor bounty, and a recent expansion of the Check Out Washington program warrants a mention.
Check Out Washington is a collaboration between state offices and the Washington State Library, enabling individuals to visit a state park without paying the parking fee. Participating libraries — including FVRLibraries — allow residents to check out a Discover Pass for entrance to state parks and other state-owned land for one week. Visitors also may check out a backpack containing a pair of binoculars and guides to Washington trees and birds.
Clark County boasts three state parks — Battle Ground Lake, Paradise Point and Reed Island. Between them, they comprise nearly 900 acres of land that provide a link to our state’s natural beauty. Parks in Cowlitz, Skamania and Lewis counties also are in easy reach for local residents.
Connection with nature has proven benefits for both our physical and mental health.
As Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder,” told the New York Times: “Ironically, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, as tragic as it is, has dramatically increased public awareness of the deep human need for nature connection, and is adding a greater sense of urgency to the movement to connect children, families and communities to nature.”
And as Louise Chawla of the University of Colorado noted: “If you explore a woody area in the park, there is something for every age there. There are rocks of different weights, stumps of different sizes, lighter and heavier sticks. Whatever a child’s current skill level is, they can work toward their next level of challenge. They are learning about their own capabilities.”
In 2007, the Legislature established a state grant program called “No Child Left Inside” to provide programs that get children outdoors. Similar federal legislation has languished but has been reintroduced this year.
Adults also benefit from time outside. Research shows that outdoor recreation helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. It also improves concentration and relaxation levels while providing a respite from our screen-addicted lives.
But individual health is not the only reason to get outside. Understanding and appreciating nature establishes a sense of stewardship for our planet. As The Olympian writes editorially: “Young people need a sense of place, a grounding in the natural world, and an understanding that they will become stewards of it. They need to know that humans are one species among many on this spinning globe.”
Modern amenities and a modernized economy have steadily reduced the amount of time Americans spend outdoors. In addition to negative health impacts, that has reduced our knowledge of the outside world — a world that we must do a better job of protecting and cultivating.
As famous naturalist John Muir said: “Going to the woods is going home; for I suppose we came from the woods originally.”
Numerous programs exist to help us return to those origins. Taking advantage of them can help improve our health and can result in an enriching summer.
