Wellness in Nature

Six steps to becoming a Park Health Ambassador

NPS/Michael Mojarro

You are invited to become a Park Health Ambassador

Experience the Power of Parks for Health and become a Park Health Ambassador by exploring wellness in nature and sharing your experience with others!

Follow our six easy steps
Following our six-step process, anyone can become a Park Health Ambassador.

The six steps are gradual and realistic:
• Start with you;
• Tune into nature and yourself;
• Choose simple activities that are simple and fun for you;
• Don’t get stuck on goals;
• Share your experience with others;
• Now you’re a health ambassador!

Share your experience on social media #BeforeAndAfterParkRx and you may be featured in our official National Park Service #BeforeandAfterParkRx photo gallery!

Steps to Becoming a Park Health Ambassador

Health and healing begins with you, by connecting with parks

Step 1: Start with You

Health and healing begins with you. Being a Park Health Ambassador is all about self improvement in a simple self-guided approach, using the resource of parks. While this may be the hardest step to overcome, once you dedicate your mind to it, it can be an easy experience. All that is needed is the ability to get up and get after it, whatever you decide “it” to be. The most valuable, and obtainable, achievement of Step 1, is that you are beginning. After this, the rest of the steps will much more easily fall into place.

Step 2: Tune into Nature and Yourself

The breathtaking landscapes throughout this country can motivate you to cultivate a stronger, healthier, happier, and more fulfilled version of yourself. Take a break from a fast-paced life and live in the moment. Sometimes all you need is a little pick me up, a mood-booster, a breather, or some inspiration. Fortunately we know that during difficult times, a dose of nature can be the best medicine. Wherever you are, whatever your life’s circumstances, you have an open invitation to take care of yourself by tapping into the healing power of nature. Any time spent outdoors can really bring you to a better understanding of nature and sense of peace within yourself.

Really connect with nature and allow yourself to take in all it has to offer. Here are a few ways you can experience nature from the window, the neighborhood, a nearby park or trail or virtually.

• Do you know what time the sun rises and sets?
• Enjoy a view of nature from your window, your porch, or balcony.
• Enjoy a five-minute break in front of the window.
• Participate in the Spring Bird Migration Watch from your own backyard.
• How many different birds you can see?
• How many different bird calls you can hear?
• Can you see any birds making nests?
• Can see any birds with worms in their beaks?
• Can you find any signs of spring in the plants around you?
• How many different blooms can you see?
• How many trees or shrubs are coming into leaf?
• How many people can you count walking outside?
• How accurately can you guess the outside temperature, the wind speed, and the humidity?
• Watch the clouds go by.

Step 3: Choose Activities That Are Simple and Fun for You

Through step 3 of this journey to becoming a Park Health Ambassador, you want to pick activities that can be easily incorporated in your life and schedule. These can be brand new activities you have never tried, or activities you are picking up again after some time off. The choices are endless. Here are some ideas for spending time in nature while maintaining social distancing:

• Take a walk, run, or bike ride outside.
• Take your dog for a walk.
• Go fishing.
• If you have a backyard, pack a picnic and have it with a couple others.
• Read a book or magazine for half an hour on your stoop.
• Try a neighborhood workout on your driveways like Zumba.
• Take your yoga mat outside and try out some poses with a video. Try a free app or a fitness YouTube channel.
• Make a video call to a friend or loved one while outdoors and share the view.
• Draw a hopscotch board on your sidewalk for passersby.
• Put a zipline, hammock, or tree swing in your yard.
• Set up a tent in your backyard, deck, or balcony.
• Have a bonfire.
• Start your own garden (plant seeds).
• Hang nest-making materials from your balcony, porch or a tree branch for birds to find.
• Join the #GoingOnABearHunt campaign. Put a stuffed bear in your front window for neighborhood kids to find. Take a walk in your neighborhood to see how many you can spot.

Can’t get outdoors? Explore these ideas for a virtual experience:

• Practice mindfulness by downloading a mediation app
• Bring the outdoors inside with Find your virtual park and explore your favorite national parks virtually.
• Take yourself on a virtual camping trip. Set up your tent/pillow fort, project a campfire, and play nature sounds on a speaker.
• Try using Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to take a walk in nature to reduce anxiety and stress levels. Check out YouTube for 360-degree virtual hike videos

If you are visiting a park or trail, check out these health activities that are proven ways to enjoy the benefits of parks as a health resource.

Step 4: Don’t Get Stuck on Goals

With step 4, you are reminded of the saying “life is about the journey, not the destination.” If a precise, and possibly overly ambitious goal, is the only notion you think about, then you miss out on the enjoyment of the rest of the experience and the self-growth that comes at each step. Remind yourself that what may be successful for one person, may not work for you. Feel free to change your activities and goals as you please. Nothing is set in stone here!

Step 5: Share Your Experience with Others

Use step 5 to enhance and share your experience with others. Encourage family, friends, or a loved one to join you or map their own path to becoming a Park Health Ambassador. Join the Healthy Parks Healthy People movement!

• Join an event in a park or create your own event to kick off your start as a Park Health Ambassador.
• Get active on social media and follow Healthy Parks Healthy People on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Share photos showing how much better you feel after a dose of nature with #BeforeandAfterParkRx.
• Connect with CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation #ActivePeople.
• Get active on social media as you get your dose of nature on a daily basis using these fun hashtags:

#SundayFunday
#MilitaryMondayPlus
#TrailTuesday
#WellnessWednesday
#FitnessFriday

#PowerOfParksForHealth
#HealthyParksHealthyPeople
#YourParkYourHealth
#NatureForAll
#HealthForAll

Step 6: Now You’re a Park Health Ambassador

The time has come to officially be a Park Health Ambassador! Continue the first-hand fulfillment of building a relationship with parks by restarting your wonderful experience and showing others the way. Post your progress on social media with #PowerOfParksForHealth and #BeforeAfterParkRx.

Two people congratulating one another for becoming Park Health Ambassadors

NPS/Michael Mojarro

Congratulations Park Health Ambassador!

Share your experiences with the hashtags:
#PowerOfParksForHealth
#BeforeAndAfterParkRx
#NatureForAll
#HealthForAll

Remember to Find Wellness at Nature at Your Workplace

Even in the workplace nature makes you stronger, smarter, healthier, happier, and more productive. Check out these simple way to bring the health benefits of nature into your work place.

Bring Nature Into the Workplace

• Take your lunch break by the window or outdoors.
• Include houseplants in your workspace.
• Bring fresh flowers into your workspace.
• Walk or bike ride to work.
• Host a walking meeting.
• Get outside and practice mindful breathing for 5 minutes in fresh air.
• Put on some headphones and listen to nature sounds while working.
• Schedule outdoor nature breaks.
• Include nature photos and pictures in your workplace.
• Listen to nature sounds on your work break.
• Use your favorite nature scene as a screensaver.
• Use nature scenes as video backgrounds for virtual meetings.