It's that time of year again: the time of year when many of us crank up our air-con and head out for a dip in the pool.
But what if we told you that summer is also a great time to get outside and make memories that will last a lifetime? Time offers up 10 ways to enjoy the outdoors this summer, including camping, hiking, biking, stargazing, and more: Camping is a great way to connect with nature, says Michelle Kondo, a research social scientist with the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station.
"Many of the benefits afforded to us by green spaces partially result from more opportunities to be active," she says.
"There are many studies that demonstrate how spending time in nature can improve mood, lower anxiety, and improve cognition and memory."
A Mayo Clinic nurse practitioner adds that "making time for nature is important in order for us to maintain resiliency and promote self-care in a world that demands a lot from us."
If you can't make it to a national park, try one of these local options.
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Getting Out and Staying Out, co-founded by Tony Smith of the VSA Consulting Group, works to reduce recidivism rate among men at Rikers Island, New York City. The recidivism rate significantly dropped from 60-plus percent to under 20 percent, with more than a thousand men over a span of eight years.