Y’all know me. You’ve been with me long enough to know that I am crazy for everything Nature. Trees…awe inspiring, wildlife…. mesmerizing, fresh air…exhilarating, wilderness…inspiring! It is my muse after all.
You’ve read my other posts about the healthy benefits of getting a little nature therapy. Can you think of a better way to reduce stress and anxiety, lower your blood pressure and losing that spare tire or love handles than spending a little extra time in green spaces? I can’t! Did you know that spending time outdoors is not only great for your health but teaches some really great life skills as well?
Going as a group into the back-country for an extended stay teaches resilience, perseverance, independence and group skills. If you haven’t read The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, go order it off of Amazon right now! I’ll wait… In our society today, everything is at our fingertips. Have you noticed that almost everything in our world is voice activated? We get answers to our questions by merely asking the question out loud…Alexa’s got your back. Need to change the channel on the television…Alexa can do that too! We don’t ever have to leave the comfort of our Lazyboy! Gone are the days where we can challenge ourselves both physically and mentally. But we are still thirsty for the opportunity to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and to disconnect for a little while. Enter nature.
My husband and I have taken many trips over the years with groups of youth and other adults, taking them into the back-country of Idaho and New Mexico. These groups are often a diverse bunch often with the young adults having never met before. It is in the back-country that I have witnessed these groups coming together; learning the cooperation that is needed to get things done and to stay safe. I have watched them build each other up when the feet start hurting and climb gets tough. The lessons of perseverance and resilience that each individual youth and adult alike, go through and they push past the discomfort. Watching the confidence that builds as they solve problems that they can’t ask Google the answer for is remarkable.
Heading to the back country is the best place to test your limits of strength, endurance and courage. When you burn it all just to reach the summit for the spectacular view; you learn a lot about yourself and what you are really capable of. Where else do you learn that even at the most difficult times, when the way is steep and rocky; muscles are burning and each breath is a challenge…that the only thing you can do is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and when you think that you haven’t an ounce of strength left to give, you find yourself at the top of that mountain in time to watch the glorious view of the setting sun among the peaks in the distance. It’s a bit like life, isn’t it? I want them to know that they are strong, independent and that resilience and persistence will take them far in life. What amazing lessons to teach our young people in a world where everything is at their finger tips?
You may have seen in the news recently about the Boy Scouts of American is as of Feb 1, 2019 has become Scouts BSA and allowing young women to form their own troops and earn the rank of Eagle. I’m not writing this post to be political, it is not my intention to sway your opinion in any way. My intention for this post is to tell you that I have a new job, a new job that I am very proud of and excited about. A job that has a purpose and meaning I have signed up to be the Scoutmaster of a new Scout BSA Troop for young women in my hometown.
So, why did I step into the role as Scoutmaster of one of the first Girl Troop’s in the Treasure Valley? It is my opportunity to share the gifts that I have found in the wilderness with the youth of my community. To pass along the Joy and the Inspiration that I have found on my travels through the mountains of Idaho. The character, the confidence and the friendships that they find along the way are all just a bonus. The more opportunity that I have to go out in the woods inspires me and the work that I do. It is a win/win for sure. Thanks for reading…now go and get a little Nature Therapy!
~Dana
We have all come from the wild of the wilderness and to be happy and healthy, we must return.