Throughout history, mankind’s coexistence with nature has been a constant. Spending time in nature in this increasingly urbanized world has been proven to improve mental health by alleviating stress, something many college-aged students are often too familiar with. With the difficulty of classes increasing as finals approach, the Honors Enrichment Program and the Active Minds club have decided to host a nature walk at the Santa Rosa Plateau on November 16th to help ease the minds of burnt-out students.
The nature walk is planned to start at 8 a.m., last 2 hours, and be roughly 4 miles long. It stops halfway through at the Historic Adobes, the site of two of the oldest buildings in Riverside County, dating back to 1846. The weather is projected to be about 68 degrees, so those who plan on going should be prepared to bring a light coat or jacket.
Alana, the Honors Mentor who first came up with the idea, says her goal was to provide an opportunity to connect with nature for the people in the community.
“When we feel alone or nervous about meeting new people, we can isolate ourselves. I know how hard it can be for certain people during the winter months, so I’d like to create a positive environment for those who struggle. I have many close friends and family who struggle with their mental health, and the one thing that helps them is being in different spaces. Often, we can feel stuck in our jobs, school, homes, and even our bodies, but being able to step outside and into an environment filled with good people has allowed them to recenter themselves.”
She hopes that students who attend the walk will experience a similar feeling and be prepared to deal with the last few weeks of the semester.
In the midst of the planning stage Bella Munez, ICC Representative of Active Minds, went to check the walk out for herself.
“The area is gorgeous; we’re hoping that the weather cools down by the time we have the walk. We’re really excited for the hike, and we’re hoping we get not just people from in the college, but others outside of it as well. We want to make it a space for everyone to unwind and de-stress.”
Walking in nature can be crucial to managing stress and anxiety. Even if it’s not at the Santa Rosa Plateau, just a simple walk outside at your local park can be just as helpful. If you are a student interested in signing up to go to the Nature Walk event hosted by Honors and Active Minds, please fill out this form by the event date! More information can be found on the Active Minds Instagram @activemindsclubmsjc.
