Get Outside!
Hiking Hoggs Falls
Hello everyone! My name is Michelle and I am the last OT student from Western University working with Alanna, Sarah and Paula at Larchwood Nature camp this summer. This is my second placement and I am so excited to be joining an awesome team to meet the needs of clients living in the Grey County area!
Born and raised in Toronto, most of my life has been spent in the city. Growing up though, my family would go camping every summer at different provincial parks across Ontario. We’d roast marshmallows, hike new trails, and kayak! I didn’t realize it then, how valuable these experiences were for my own personal growth and development. As an adult now, taking the time to unplug and get outside has become a huge part of my self-care routine. I love exploring trails woven through parts of Toronto on my bike. One of my favourite paths goes through the Lower Don all the way to Cherry beach! Feeling the sun’s warmth on my arms and wind against my face has taught me first-hand how therapeutic the great outdoors can be.
I am still new to the realm of nature occupational therapy, but grateful for a unique opportunity to fully immerse myself in a growing field led by passionate therapists. We just wrapped up our second week of camp, and it’s been a fun challenge working with a group of neurodiverse campers- each of them so unique and brilliant in their own way. Getting to know their likes and dislikes and finding creative ways to target their goals using the natural space around us has pushed me to recognize that therapy can look like a lot of different things. For example, building an obstacle course out of logs to target gross motor skills or using the sound of rain outside as part of meditation. The possibilities are endless, and OTs have the clinical expertise and creativity required to make the most out of this niche approach!
Cycling in Toronto!
As I continue to learn about the therapeutic benefits of nature, I wanted to leave you with this quote I read recently. “Nature restores mental functioning in the same way that food and water restore bodies. The business of everyday life- dodging traffic, making decisions and judgment calls, interacting with strangers- is depleting, and what man-made environments take away from us, nature gives back” (Adam Alter, 2013). Heading into the last week of camp, I am excited to continue to see what nature gives back to these kiddos!