Learning to Love the Prairie
In the summer of 2003 we packed up our home in Florida and moved to Lake Forest, much to our children’s surprise and disappointment. They had grown up in the Southeast listening to tree frogs, catching geckos and spending early mornings at Cocoa Beach. Illinois was the destination for a fun summer vacation or White Christmas visiting their grandparents, not a new home.
Phil, Doug and Lucy lived outside – we had one shared TV, and no play station, Xbox or game boys. iPhones hadn’t been created yet – it was magical.
Knowing that they needed to feel “rooted” in their new home, I decided to take them out to the prairie and teach them how to love this part of the country. The outdoor spaces in our area are treasures, and over time they became an important part of our daily life. We walked every day at one of the Lake Forest Open Lands preserves. That is where we have gone in good times and bad. Sometimes walking the dog, sometimes walking the kids, sometimes just walking.
Over the past year and half, our society has turned more than usual to nature for refuge, healing and solace. I don’t recall another time when I have felt such immense gratitude for living in a beautiful community where I had easy access to nature and fresh air.
With that in mind, I’m sharing a recent article by Betsy Morgan “For Better Health During the Pandemic, Is Two Hours Outdoors the New 10,000 Steps?”
In it she describes the real physical and psychological benefits that spending time in nature provides people. Science has documented that spending time in nature doesn’t just feel good, it makes us healthier, and that it doesn’t just matter that you get your steps in, it makes a difference where you get your steps in.
So this month, as my favorite season begins, I wanted to highlight a treasure in my own backyard – Lake Forest Open Lands. For those of you who are local, you probably already realize that the Open Lands preserves are filled with wandering trails for walking in woods, meadows and prairies, but I am certain there are paths, if not whole preserves, that you have not explored. For those of you who are not local, I hope this little note prompts you to take a moment go outside and savor the season.
Author’s note…
The Lake Forest Open Lands Association has been a big part of our life for the last 18+ years, as it was one of our first stops when we began to make a home in this community. This month we are celebrating their work by donating 20 percent of all our proceeds to Lake Forest Open Lands. That makes this the perfect time to stock up for the season, put on a big pot of soup, and go explore. If you want more information, please go to www.lfola.org where you can find maps of the preserves and trails.
Zen Moment
We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
—Native American proverb
