I thought that I must have misread the headline – a large health insurer pushing outdoors experiences rather than prescription drugs? This seemed novel, almost too commonsensical in our 21st century world of overmedication and the search for complex cures. Good health, it seems, can often be obtained by simply going outside!

Such has been the stance of nature centers for years. Pristine land around the country has been preserved for our health and well-being, offering recreation, exercise, and education. We recently had a meeting with one of our clients in central New York, and I was struck by how fresh the air was on their trails, and how reinvigorated I felt after exploring their lands. It reminded me that I need to “get out” more from behind my desk!

Our local nature centers are truly a gift for our health. But they also have many more benefits. Perhaps most importantly, they preserve and protect our world’s natural inhabitants. Us humans are always developing more cities, more subdivisions, more strip malls. Each nature center is important because it goes against this trend. It saves chunks of our natural world for the many animals and plants who still need a home.

Finally, we have worked with so many nature centers that are simply a blessing to their local communities. These sites bring tourists into the area, stimulate the local economy, and enhance a sense of local pride among those who live nearby.

What are your reasons for loving nature centers? Check out this large list of benefits compiled by St. Louis Park in Minnesota, and let us know which ones they missed!