A local group is encouraging you to enjoy the outdoors.
1000 Hours Outside-North Grenville is part of a global movement dedicated to ensuring kids and adults get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer in our community.
Residents are encouraged to get out, and document your physical activity by keeping track of the amount of time you spend outside.
North Grenville Councilor Doreen O’Sullivan says the goal of the challenge is to match nature time with the average time kids spend in front of a screen.
“Kids on average spend about 1200 hours a year on screen time,” O’Sullivan said. “That was mostly recorded in front of televisions. As we know, screen time has gotten even crazier with kids doing homeschooling and people working from home.”
O’Sullivan feels the pandemic has left most of us unwilling to be as active as we normally are, and she’s encouraging the community to get out and see what North Grenville has to offer.
She says there are lots of fun activities you can take part in.
“You can go walking, sledding, play outside, skating, cross country skiing, snow-shoeing,” O’Sullivan said. “And the municipality has made big strides in making it easier for people to spend time outside.”
O’Sullivan adds the movement can also be extremely beneficial toward your mental and physical health.
During these colder months, she says those two aspects are more important than ever.
“It is the time of year where people get more anxiety and depression,” she said. “Nothing helps that more or prevents that more than being outside in nature. That’s important to note for this time of year, but it also recharges our batteries.”
To find out more about the campaign or to get involved, head to the group’s Facebook page.
