Sheltering in place this spring has made us appreciate things we used to take for granted, like walking in the woods north of campus, seeing blooming flowers, hearing bird songs, and breathing fresh air. We know immersion in nature is linked with greater health and happiness. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, time outdoors may even have become sanity-saving.
The online resources in this month’s (virtual) Recommended Reading display—Nature Is Calling!—celebrate the natural world and its capacity to inspire, renew, and heal.
On display you will find classics such as The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative and Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. (Note that some titles are available only through HathiTrust or the Internet Archive’s National Emergency Library, and require free registration.) You will also find TED Talks and other videos on the wonder of nature. And if you’re looking for something to listen to on your nature walks, the display includes several podcasts on the healing powers of nature and its psychological benefits.
Please take a break from Zoom to check out our first virtual display today. To close the distance between us, we’d love to hear from you about this month's recommended display. In the meantime, happy reading, watching, listening—and maybe forest bathing too!