Get Your Dose of Nature with a Prescription
Halton Healthcare and Conservation Halton recently joined forces with a British Columbia-based foundation to offer a unique prescription: time spent in nature. this program, known as PaRx, has been available across Canada since 2020 and is now giving patients in Halton Region access to free visits to local conservation areas.
So, how does it work? Any licensed healthcare professional in Canada, from nurses to physicians to physiotherapists, can prescribe a dose of nature through the PaRx website.
“Ther’s almost no reason why someone should not be more physically active,” says Dr.Stephen Chin, interim vice president for medical affairs at Halton Healthcare.The registration process is simple: healthcare providers sign up with PaRx and receive a code they can use to issue nature prescriptions to their patients.
Patients can then redeem their prescription online or through partners like Conservation Halton. This allows them to enjoy up to 10 free visits to Conservation Halton parks throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including Burlington, Oakville, milton and Halton Hills.
The PaRx program also offers access to over 80 national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas through a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. This pass can be prescribed once a month, opening up vast opportunities for exploration across the country.
The Benefits of Nature
Craig Machan, director of parks and operations at Conservation Halton, emphasizes the meaning of disconnecting from the daily grind and immersing oneself in nature. “Accessing nature, walking through the fresher air, standing and being able to listen to the birds… put the phones down or leave [it] in the car and, just be disconnected for even 30 minutes it’s so important,” he says.
This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Chin, who highlights the numerous health benefits of spending time outdoors, including lowered cortisol levels, improved mental well-being, reduced blood pressure, and perhaps even an extended lifespan.
Machan adds that Conservation Halton is the first organization outside of national parks to offer free day-use access to their parks, making it easier for people to connect with nature.
“Winter can be a dark time for a lot of people,” Machan acknowledges. Spending time outdoors can provide a much-needed respite and serve as a reminder that nature’s healing powers are available year-round.
the PaRx program, developed by the BC Parks Foundation, aims to not only connect people with nature but also promote environmental stewardship. Jennie McCaffrey, vice president of health and education at the foundation, explains that the goal is to make integrating nature into our daily lives a societal norm, just like prioritizing sleep, diet, and exercise.
With its expanding reach across Canada, PaRx is paving the way for a healthier and more sustainable future by recognizing the essential role of nature in our overall well-being.
## Getting Your Dose of Nature: An Interview about PaRx
**Intro Music:**
**Host:** Welcome back to Archyde News. Today, we’re venturing into the fascinating world of nature prescriptions. Joining us is [Alex Reed Name], a representative from [Alex Reed Affiliation], to shed light on a groundbreaking program called PaRx. Welcome to the show!
**Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss PaRx adn its potential to improve health and well-being.
**Host:** Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is PaRx, and how does it work?
**Alex Reed:** PaRx is a national program that allows licensed healthcare professionals across Canada to prescribe nature as a form of preventative medicine. This means doctors,nurses,physiotherapists — anyone licensed — can recommend spending time in nature to their patients as a way to improve their physical and mental health. They can provide a personalized “prescription” through the PaRx website, which patients can then redeem for free access to local conservation areas. [1]
**Host:** That’s fascinating. So, it’s like a regular prescription but for time outdoors?
**Alex Reed:** Exactly! The concept is based on growing evidence that time spent in nature has numerous benefits for our well-being.It can reduce stress, improve mood, increase physical activity, and even boost our immune system.
**Host:** It sounds like PaRx is making a real difference for people.
**Alex Reed:** We believe so. As its launch in 2020 by the BC Parks Foundation, PaRx has expanded nationwide and is now available in every province, including ontario.
**Host:** You mentioned that PaRx has expanded to Halton Region recently. Can you tell us more about that?
**Alex Reed:**
Absolutely! halton Healthcare and Conservation Halton have partnered to bring PaRx to the Halton Region. This means even more people in the area have access to the benefits of nature prescriptions. PaRx enables residents to reclaim the strength and healing power of nature.
**Host:** That’s wonderful news for the Halton community! What kind of impact do you hope to see PaRx have on people’s lives?
**Alex Reed:** Our ultimate goal is to make nature a standard part of healthcare in Canada. We hope PaRx will empower individuals to prioritize their well-being by connecting with nature and leading healthier, happier lives.
**Host:** Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing insights into this innovative program.
**Alex Reed:** It was a pleasure.Thank you for having me.
**Outro Music**
