Henderson Heritage Preserve

Let’s start with a shocker: In the United States, the average prisoner in a federal correctional facility spends more time outside each day than the average child. Let that sink in for a second.

Now, consider the fact that as little as one hour in nature has been show to improve mood, decrease stress, improve cognitive ability, increase self-control and even increase one’s sense of purpose in the world. And that’s not an exhaustive list.

Don’t believe me? Type “nature and the brain” into any online search engine, read a few of the results and you will. As you explore the websites of Brain and Life Magazine, the National Institute of Health, and the American Psychological Association you will rapidly see that there’s an overwhelmingly-strong relationship between time in natural settings and, to put it bluntly, a better life.

I am blessed to have a job that grants me plenty of time outdoors, but I understand that fitting in outdoor time outside of work can be a challenge. A large segment of the population works indoors, lives relatively far from truly natural areas and may not have the means to transport themselves to wild places whenever they want.

Fortunately, for those of us in Aiken County, we have plenty of parkways, one of the largest urban forests in the country and well-managed natural lands within striking distance of almost anywhere in the region. There are ample opportunities to reap the rewards of time in nature, a point driven home to me recently while walking at the Henderson Heritage Preserve.

Located only 3 miles north of downtown Aiken, the 417-acre Henderson Heritage Preserve houses longleaf pine sandhill, beaver-maintained wetlands, rock outcrops and much more. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources manages the land and maintains a series of trails that pass through the more interesting parts of the preserve. I, for one, am a big fan.

I have hiked these trails seven times in the past five months. Sometimes, I arrived in great spirits. Other times, I arrived stressed out, anxious or generally feeling down. I can’t honestly say that I felt any cognitive improvements, but I can tell you that every hike at the Henderson Heritage Preserve had me feeling better than when I arrived.

Maybe the same will be true for you. If you’d like some guidance for your first visit, I’ve got you covered. As part of the Aiken Land Conservancy Monthly Hike Series, I’ll be leading a hike at the Henderson Heritage Preserve on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 9-11 a.m. For more information, visit conserveaiken.org.

I hope to see you there!