by Lin Philpott (philpott@gwu.edu)
Recently staff from GW’s Center for Student Engagement and Mental Health Services presented at the Active Minds Conference in Washington, D.C., about the benefits of integrated services between outdoor adventure programs and university counseling. Below are highlights from the presentation.
TRAiLS (Teaching Recreation and Adventure incorporating Leadership and Service) is a group of students advised by GW’s Center for Student Engagement staff, who serve the GW community by planning and leading outdoor adventure trips throughout the year. TRAiLS hosts about 3-5 trips every weekend, as well as an outdoor orientation in our pre-semester program called Adventure Bound. All our student guides are volunteers and selected to lead a variety of outdoor trips, ranging from week-long backpacking trips to day hikes and apple picking. TRAiLS strives to provide access to the outdoors by keeping registration costs low, providing gear rentals, and offering scholarships.
The outdoors is a mental health resource for our students and TRAiLS intentionally partners with the Colonial Health Center in order to improve elements of the GW student experience, build relationships between students and counselors, and encourage healthy choices.
Studies have shown that exercise can reduce anxiety, depression, and anger. Additionally, exercise can increase revitalization, positive engagement, and tranquillity. During TRAiLS trips, students engage in a variety of activities from walking to hiking to white water rafting, giving them access to exercising in an outdoor environment. One particular study measured the impact of walking in an urban environment versus walking in an outdoor environment. Results showed that walking in an outdoor environment allows individuals to feel less pressure on deadlines and projects involving time. From this study we can infer that students have the potential to benefit from TRAiLS trips by walking in the outdoors in help reduce their stress levels. Through our own assessment, close to 90% of TRAiLS participants feel healthier and happier in the outdoors.
Two TRAiLS guides were interviewed on how our program impacts their mental health. Check it out!
When asked about how TRAiLS has impacted their GW experience, students stated:
- “I love the opportunity to take a break from the city and enjoy the outdoors!”
- “TRAILS gives me a break from the stresses of college life. Also, as an avid hiker I enjoy meeting people who share that common interest.”
Our trips provide GW students the opportunity to connect with peers, escape from busy city life and stress, and access to a community of students who enjoy the outdoors. Some of our trips have Colonial Health Center counselors on the hike to increase access to counseling staff for GW students. With more opportunities for counseling, students have more opportunities to use their resources. As we continue to grow our partnership, we hope to continue to further support our students’ mental health. For more information, please check out our website at https://studentengagement.gwu.edu/trails.
References
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P. and Daily, G. C. (2012), The impacts of nature experience on human cognitive function and mental health. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1249: 118–136. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06400.x
Johansson, M., Hartig, T., & Staats, H. (2011). Psychological benefits of walking: Moderation by company and outdoor environment. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3(2), 261-280. doi:10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01051.x
Paul A. Sandifer, Ariana E. Sutton-Grier, Bethney P. Ward, Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity conservation, In Ecosystem Services, Volume 12, 2015, Pages 1-15, ISSN 2212-0416, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.12.007.
van den Berg M, et. al. Visiting green space is associated with mental health and vitality: A cross-sectional study in four european cities. Health Place. 2016 Mar;38:8-15. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 26796323.
Urban green spaces and health. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2016.
