My New Path to Continue to Explore Nature!

My name is Rozelen and I am a second year occupational therapy student at Western University. I am excited to begin my 3B fieldwork placement and be part of this valuable opportunity to contribute to the development of Larchwood Farm Nature Camp with Alanna, Katie, and the team. 

Exploring the spring blossoms at Woodbine Beach in Toronto!

I am from Toronto and I have lived in the city my entire life, although I love the city, I feel most at home when I am surrounded by a forest or a body of water. In my childhood, I spent countless weekends with my family taking day trips to explore the beautiful scenery and nature of Ontario. We would hike through forests and swim in various lakes. As I have grown older, I have continued this tradition to include traveling to different countries to discover more forests, caves, oceans, and lakes. When I think back on these memories, I remember how happy I am when I am in nature and the sense of calm it creates.

When I learned about this placement, I was excited to apply for it because I knew it was a chance to combine my passion for exploring nature and my knowledge I have gained from the past two years as an occupational therapy student. As I read through the previous blog posts by Regan and Katie, I learned about the benefits of nature-based programming for kids, and I was excited to be a part of the team and to contribute to developing Larchwood Farm. I am eager to further explore how being immersed in nature through occupational therapy programs can lead to therapeutic benefits for children! I aim to take this knowledge into my future practice and to continue to advocate about the importance of nature-based occupational therapy services!