State highlights benefits of connecting older adults to the outdoors

May 13—Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich, and Acting Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen this week highlighted the importance of connecting older adults to the outdoors to promote the physical and mental health benefits they can gain through spending time in nature.

This comes after Gov. Josh Shapiro, in his budget address, highlighted the many advantages of Pennsylvania's state parks and outdoor recreation.

His proposed investments will enable people across the Commonwealth to enjoy our parks, trails, and forests, provide more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, and capitalize on economic development opportunities that arise from our natural resources.

Research has proven that spending time in nature improves the mental and physical health of all people.

"We are very aware of the barriers and challenges many older adults and those with disabilities experience with having access to the outdoors," said Secretary Dunn. "The Shapiro Administration is committed to providing healthy, safe, and high-quality opportunities for older adults to get outside and enjoy the incredible benefits our natural spaces provide. Thank you to our partners in the Departments of Aging and Health for this work to help older Pennsylvanians find meaningful connections to nature.

The Shapiro Administration has created a toolkit designed to help older adults find meaningful connections to the outdoors and nature. This toolkit details why exposure to nature is important, provides guides for bringing nature indoors, low-cost facility adaptations for care and convalescent homes, ways to overcome access barriers, and more.

"Social isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression and ultimately a decrease in health status," said Secretary Kavulich. "Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Day is an opportunity for us to highlight the importance of mental health to overall health and quality of life for older adults."

Regular activity in the physical environment can also prevent chronic disease and help people live longer. Outdoor recreation additionally often pairs with invaluable social interaction—a particularly important component of mental wellness following the era of social isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic — which tremendously impacts older adults.

Research also shows that having access to greenspace lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, high blood pressure, and more. Simply exercising outdoors versus indoors has shown to improve mental well-being through feelings of revitalization, as well as increased energy and positive engagement with decreases in tension, confusion, anger, and depression.

In its 2020-2024 State Plan on Aging, the Department of Aging has identified a number of actions that align with establishing more meaningful connections between older adults and the outdoors, particularly when such activities can help reduce social isolation, grow volunteer networks, and strengthen partnerships at the community and regional levels to improve and expand services.

As part of the Commonwealth's 10-year master plan on aging and disabilities currently in development, the Department of Aging and DCNR will partner to prioritize and develop plans to make outdoor access and activities part of livable spaces for older adults in communities across Pennsylvania.

White Haven Trail Festival

set for Saturday, on June 10

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Pocono Biking, and Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce will be holding the first White Haven Trail Festival on Saturday, June 10.

The event will commemorate the opening of a new Lehigh Gorge State Park entrance, river boat launch, and improvements along the D&L Trail after the section had been closed for nearly two years.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will be offering four guided History Walk & Talks to the ruins of Lock 28 at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., to celebrate the opening of the new amenities.

Participants will learn some history of the Upper Grand Division of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co. and the engineering marvels integral to transporting coal to market in the early 19th century.

Along with their History Walks, DCNR will have a booth set up to introduce a new geocache program they have developed.

Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) staff will have a table set up near Pocono Biking in White Haven, giving visitors the opportunity to ask questions, pick up D&L Trail Maps, and purchase merchandise. Additionally, there will be information about the National Canal Museum (a main program of DLNHC) and its new exhibit, Coal Country Portraits, highlighting the men, women, and children who worked the anthracite mines in Carbon and Luzerne counties.

Pocono Biking will be offering Biking Shuttle Services from the D&L White Haven South Trailhead to the D&L Black Diamond Trailhead. Services will be offered at 10AM, 11AM, and 12PM. Reservations for this service are required and can be obtained by contacting Pocono Biking at 570-325-8430. Proceeds from the shuttles will go towards DLNHC and its programming.

Taking place nearby is the Main Street Market. Trail users and guests will have the opportunity to stop at various booths and tables set up by local businesses.

The Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce will have a booth set up to provide information. While there, visitors can purchase produce, baked goods, hand crafts, and various prepared foods.

Licensed PA fishers are also welcome to bring their own poles and participate in the Chamber's 3rd Annual Fishing Derby. All tagged fish receive a $25 cash prize. Both the Market and the Fishing Derby are sponsored by The Chamber.

The White Haven Trail Festival will be held along Main Street in Downtown White Haven from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. For more information visit delawareandlehigh.org.

Dallas youth commit to conservation

with the North Branch Land Trust

The North Branch Land Trust this week stated that no matter your age, anyone can make a difference in their community.

The 5th grade gifted classes at Dallas intermediate school exemplifies such acts of passion in Earth conservation. When asked why conservation is so important, students were eager to answer.

Owen Casey Williams said, "Conservation is important to me because we live in a world where lots of harmful gases and chemicals go into our air and water and I want to help put an end to it, or at least reduce it."

Echoing this sentiment was Gabe Caleb, stating conservation "allows land that would otherwise be destroyed to get saved and be protected for the future."

Emily Miller emphasized the importance of conservation by stating the harsh reality that "if the land dies, we die."

Jaxon Yefko added, "the world won't live much longer if we don't do anything."

Such devotion and passion led this 5th grade class to become North Branch Land Trust's youngest supporters.

This marvelous accomplishment could not have been made possible without Mrs. Deborah Pike, educator at Dallas intermediate school and her classroom aide Mrs. Nancy Krasniak. Mrs. Pike has been teaching the importance of Earth Conservation to Dallas youth for 15 years.

With the impacts of climate change becoming more prevalent, she saw a desperate need for action and created engaging programs, such as Climate Captains, that allow students to become advocates for the Earth and conservation. The goal of their team's campaign is to inform the community about the environment and what we can do to help it.

The program gives students the opportunity to protect biodiversity, minimize waste in our community, and protect land.

The class has done multiple projects that include tending to last year's 5th grade class's butterfly garden and participating in the UNLESS project sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo and Albert M. Greenfield Foundation.

Mrs. Pike shared that the project "has been the impetus for my students' project and our passion for the environment. Their hard work has truly embodied the contest quote, "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not (Dr. Seuss, The Lorax)."

The project was a great opportunity to go in-depth about the importance of conservation, Molly Loftus appreciates the opportunity, stating, "I learned the importance about conservation when we started the UNLESS project. I learned a lot about conservation that I didn't know before."

Henry Raub first learned about conservation in Mrs. Pike's 3rd grade class, this project allowed him to continue his journey in protecting the earth, explaining his goal is for "everyone to be able to see and feel what we can today."

This year the students have focused on protecting animals and waste reduction. Students successfully saved more than 154 lbs. of waste from entering our landfills! They were also able to create educational newsletters for peers, hosted a door decorating fundraiser, adopted a lion from the Philadelphia Zoo and are currently in the process of building an outdoor library.

It was during an informative zoo visit that explained the importance of habit protection which inspired the class to research and find a local organization that supports such a mission. They found the North Branch Land Trust, with a mission "to conserve the natural, working and scenic landscapes in Northeastern Pennsylvania that enrich our lives."

Logan Brown explained North Branch was the perfect choice, "The world is starting to develop more and more industrially and North Branch Land Trust conserves land so it's protected."

The class chose to use their fundraising to wholeheartedly donate to the Land Trust to continue to help reduce habit loss and protect nature as nature holds a special place in many of the students' hearts.

Nick Federici explains, "My favorite things about nature is the woods, I like to go and run around and play in the woods. I also like to play baseball in the grass." Arushi Kishore shares similar fondness saying "My favorite things about nature is seeing all of the beautiful plants, and flowers. I also love to go on walks and breath the fresh air."

The program has not only created Earth awareness and acts of conservation but also allowed for students to grow as individuals. Many students have learned that they would like a future working in conservation when they get older.

When asked "Do you see yourself in conservation when you get older?" Molly Knight passionately stated "Yes, in gardening and making pollinator gardens because nature is an important part of my life."

Kenzie Kutch explains she can also see herself as a future conservationist, stating "I would like to work as an environmental education specialist because I would be able to teach many people about the benefits of things like conservation."

Minka Udomsak knows how important conservation now and in the future will be, sharing "In the future life will need conservation more than ever, conservation can save lives."

Some students have other career plans but will always have a love for nature. Doug Roberts loves the fresh air, animals and trees but says his career goals are to play professional football explaining, "I love

football so much and I want to earn a lot of money to help my family since my sister wants to start a bakery when she gets older."

Although he wants to be a dentist, Roman Elbattah has a passion and love of geology, explaining his favorite part of nature is "uncovering rocks and fossils."

Mrs. Pike could not be prouder of her students' accomplishments and growth saying "I am incredibly proud of the way my students worked together. They found their strengths and talents and each one used them for the benefit of the whole group and the project at large.

They brainstormed, debated, focused, shared, listened, and worked together cooperatively to make their goals a reality."

North Branch Land Trust is able to continue conserving the natural, working and scenic landscapes in Northeastern Pennsylvania that enrich our lives through member support. If you are interested in becoming a member of North Branch Land Trust, please contact info@nblt.org or visit our website at nblt.org/member/.

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Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle