Let’s Play Outside

There are a lot of ways to enjoy our wild spaces when temperatures drop “below zero!” Explore the wonders of Canada in the winter as you start a journey towards better health. Let Mother Nature be the encouraging voice to help you stick to your resolution! To help you, we invite you to explore our Below Zero page to discover new ways to connect with nature during the winter! Click any of the icons below for another way to celebrate winter.

There is a growing body of evidence that suggests time spent outdoors in the wintertime can boost your well-being during a season when most Canadians really need it! Being a fair-weather outdoorsy type ignores the incredible mental health benefits of getting outside to experience all the glory of a Canadian winter. Walking, skiing, sledding, ice skating, fishing, snowshoeing – these are all great ways to experience the “thrill of the chill,” soaking up some natural vitamin D and connecting with your inner child in this winter playground we call Canada.

According to researchers, spending just five minutes immersed in “snow space” can boost mental health in both the old and the young. Ecological theory suggests that contact with nature offers important mental, emotional, and social benefits, and committing to outdoor activity in the winter adds another positive tool to your mental health toolbox. A new year is the perfect time to incorporate a new way of thinking about being outside in the winter. That’s the core intention behind a New Year’s resolution and Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Below Zero initiative – it’s about making a personal commitment to enact positive change in your life, saying goodbye to old patterns and embracing new challenges. Healthy living is within your reach if you just take steps in the right direction.

At the Canadian Wildlife Federation, we recommend one simple step: get outdoors! Head outside. Breathe in the air. Feel the cool breeze. Take a walk. Explore nature.

There’s no fun like snow fun – but it doesn’t have to be snowing to find things to do outside in the winter. Here are a few idea starters to get you outside and connected to nature during the winter!