This Black Friday #OptOutside

#OptOutside campaigns encourage everyone to forgo a day of crowded malls for the outdoors. These campaigns couldn’t become reality without open spaces like the Huyck Preserve.

Loss of green spaces in favor of urbanization means our friends and family are spending less time exposed to natural environments. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that they average American spends 90%, NINTEY PERCENT, of his or her life indoors! This trend has potentially very serious implications for health and wellness.

Which is why this Friday, November 25, the Huyck Preserve urges you to #OptOutside AND donate to our Annual Appeal.

Being outside every day can improve mood and energy levels, increasing people’s sense of happiness and well-being. Activities such as hiking the Huyck Preserve’s 12-miles of trails promote self-confidence and improve physical fitness and mental health. Taking in the Lake Myosotis vista can reduce stress levels and symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. What’s more, throughout the year the Huyck Preserve offers free recreation events, from guided hikes to seasonal festivals, which encourage people to engage with nature in a hands-on approach.

Partner with us to preserve our open spaces and be sure to get outside this Friday! Our 12-miles of trails are open dawn to dusk and provide a safe-haven for people of varying ages and abilities to benefit from the cleansing effect of nature.

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Visiting the Huyck Preserve this Friday? Be sure to tag us in all your photos #huyckpreserve

Donate to Support Open Spaces

Three reasons to support getting outdoors
1. Nature walks are linked to improved mental health (“Examining group walks in nature and multiple aspects of well-being: A large scale study,” Ecopsychology 2014)

2. Being outdoors can strengthen your immunity
(“A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects,” J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2008)

3. Nature experiences can improve focus
(“The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature,” Physiological Science 2008)

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