Schuylkill Center Announces Wellness Day on October 3rd
September 22, 2015
PHILADELPHIA � This fall, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education will host its first Wellness Day on October 3rd, as part of its Health and Wellness series of events. Since launching this programming in the winter of 2014, the Schuylkill Center has hosted a variety of events, such as monthly Wellness Walks, Yoga in the Grove, and meditation sessions. Wellness Day will combine these elements, along with a lesson on the many uses of herbs, into an event that will help adults connect with nature. The Schuylkill Center hopes to provide a solution for a very common problem � adults and children alike not spending enough time outdoors, which studies have proven is crucial for optimal health and well-being.
While most Americans spend an average of eight-and-a-half hours a day in front of screens, studies have shown that even taking a short walk in nature provides numerous restorative benefits. Time in nature is correlated with lower stress levels, due to a reduction in cortisol, and blood pressure. Additionally, contact with nature is also known to improve mood and immune system function. As Gail Farmer, Director of Education at the Schuylkill Center, puts it, "the connections between people and nature come from a deep place within us. We need nature in a fundamental way."
Wellness Day will feature different outdoor activities that will appeal to anyone hoping to enjoy time outside. Katy Hawkins will start the morning off with yoga. Afterwards, Isaac Garfield, a local psychotherapist, will lead participants through calming outdoor seated and active sensory meditation. Later, Stephanie Kane and April Pedrick, Weavers Way Wellness Buyers, will teach participants about herbal remedies, in teas and salves, in preparation for the dry winter months ahead. Pre-registration is required for Wellness Day, and can be completed at www.schuylkillcenter.org, or by calling 215-482-7300, x110.
About the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
The Schuylkill Center was founded in 1965 as the nation's first urban environmental education center. Its 365-acres of fields and forests serve as a living laboratory to foster appreciation, deepen understanding, and encourage stewardship of the environment. Reaching over 36,000 Philadelphia-area residents each year, the Schuylkill Center offers a diverse collection of educational programs, including programs for school, continuing education for teachers, Pennsylvania's first Nature Preschool, and a full calendar of events for the public. In 2015 the Schuylkill Center is celebrating 50 years of connecting people and nature, with a series of events highlighting the Center's work and vision for the future. For more information: www.schuylkillcenter.org.
