The Nature Fix

Have you ever wondered why you feel so great after a swim in Rainey Lake, a walk to Morrell Falls or a bike ride around Seeley Lake? Is it the refreshing exercise? Is it the awe-inspiring scenery? Could it be the wonderful smells? Florence Williams, in her book “The Nature Fix” argues it is all of these and more.

We are incredibly blessed in Seeley Lake. Two wilderness areas, abundant lakes and rivers, verdant forests and amazing trails surround us. There is no better place to experience “The Nature Fix.”

Have you “lost track of time” while hiking, skiing or otherwise playing in the Seeley outdoors? That is a common response to nature. Williams reports that the “awe” of nature also helps us turn away from a self-focus and to become more interested in collective groups.

Do you hate to see kids covered in mud on the canoe trail or buried in the sand at the Big Larch Campground? Research shows that kids in “forest kindergartens” of Germany and Scandinavia spend most of their day in the “dirty” outdoors but are actually healthier than their indoor kindergarten friends. The outdoor kids do better in school, have higher IQs and better self-esteem.

Another study showed that after three-mornings of hiking, adults had a 40 percent increase in NK cells (natural killer immune cells).

Why does a walk around Clearwater Lake feel so wonderful? It may be that you have fewer negative thoughts, and 53 percent less stress compared to urban dwellers. When we exercise outdoors, we are more likely to exercise longer and to stick-with-it six months down the road.

If you have hiked across the “Bob” you may have noticed stress drops away and you can think clearer after a few days. It is not your imagination. Research shows that longer trips in nature can improve creativity by 50 percent.

“Forest Bathing” is standard preventative medicine in Japan and Korea. Even in western Montana there are organized youth treatment programs and outdoor adventures designed specifically for veterans fighting posttraumatic stress disorder. In Seeley Lake, we get those same “treatments” for free!

How much “nature” does it take to make us healthier and happier? Researchers in Finland, the world leaders in outdoor recreation, recommend five hours a month. Other research shows that you get more benefits with more “nature time.” “Wilder” areas also give an extra boost.

The mission of Seeley Lake ROCKS is to “Develop healthy children, strong families and vibrant communities though outdoor recreation.” We have always believed we are incredibly blessed to live in this valley. We have always believed that outdoor exercise helps children, families and this community. Now, we have more science to support the benefits of “The Nature Fix.”