Forest Preserve District Of Will County: Get Outside This Winter To Stay Healthy And Reduce Stress

Press release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County:

As winter moves in, it’s important to try to get outside all season long to stay healthy and reduce stress in what has been an especially challenging year.

The Forest Preserve District has 127 miles of trails you can explore all year long. Hiking is allowed on all trails. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing also are allowed. The trails are not plowed after a snowfall so winter activity enthusiasts can enjoy sliding on skis or stepping through the snowflakes. For more information, visit the Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing pages.

The Forest Preserve's winter activities will change somewhat this year due to the pandemic, however. The Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve sled hill will still open when snow conditions are conducive, but you’ll have to bring your own tube. Tube rentals will not take place at Plum Creek Nature Center as they normally do because of COVID-19. And Plum Creek Nature Center is currently closed to the public, due to the pandemic, so sledders will not be able to go inside to warm up.

Call the nature center at 708.946.2216 for snow condition updates. Call that number, too, to see if the ice is thick enough for ice skating on Snapper Pond. The ice has to be at least 6 inches thick before ice skating will be allowed on the pond. Skaters have to bring their own gear.

Forked Creek Preserve – Butcher Lane Access in Wilmington features a natural hill ideal for sledding in the winter. The area is not supervised nor monitored for snow conditions, and visitors must bring their own sledding equipment to this site as well.

Your dog can enjoy winter with you by playing in the Forest Preserve District's six dog parks, which remain open year-round for off-leash canine play. Permits are required for dog park use. (Dogs must be leashed on trails and dogs are not allowed in nature preserves.)

Camping is allowed year-round, except for the campground at McKinley Woods – Frederick's Grove, which is closed after the first snowfall due to the steep incline on the entrance road leading to it. And horseback riding also is allowed in the winter on the District's 30-plus miles of equestrian trails.

In addition to these recreational activities, there also are many outdoor hiking and wildlife viewing programs that will help get you outside and moving. For the most up to date list, visit the Event Calendar.

If you need more convincing that you should head outdoors this season, there are numerous studies and health agencies that tout the benefits of getting outside year-round.

According to WebMD, getting outside will:

• Help you get exercise – The push of the wind and the uneven ground can help you vary your workout and burn more calories.
• Help you get vitamin D – It's important for your bones, blood cells and immune system.
• Lessen anxiety – Sunlight helps keep your serotonin levels up. This helps raise your energy and keeps your mood calm, positive and focused.
• Help you remain social – Human contact and a sense of community are important to your mental health.
• Improve your sleep – Early morning sunlight, in particular, seems to help people get to sleep at night.
• Help you feel better about yourself – As little as five minutes of outdoor activity can help improve your self-esteem. This is especially true if you’re near water or green space.
• Improve your focus – Studies show that it’s not just the activity, it’s the “greenness” of the outdoor space that helps.
• Give you better immunity – Many plants put substances, including organic compounds called phytoncides, into the air that seem to boost immune function. Sunlight also seems to energize special cells in your immune system called T cells that help fight infection.
• Help you keep a healthy weight – Getting outside in the morning, in particular, may help you keep the fat off.

If you do venture out this year, play it safe by preparing for colder and unpredictable weather conditions. Make sure you don’t have a medical condition that could prohibit or limit outdoor exercising in cold temperatures. Remember to dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing as conditions warrant.

Also, protect your extremities from the cold and wear reflective clothing, sunscreen and proper footwear, headwear and eyewear associated with each activity.

Drink plenty of fluids while you're working out this winter because dehydration can be harder to notice in cold weather. The American Hiking Society, which offers cold weather hiking tips, recommends boiling your water before venturing outdoors and keeping it close to your body in a tightly sealed container so the water doesn't freeze.

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This press release was produced by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. The views expressed are the author's own.