As part of our study of Bill Bryson's wonderful 1998 memoir of his experiences walking the Appalachian Trail, A Walk in the Woods, my English 382 students and I began viewing National Geographic's equally compelling documentary about the Appalachian Trail this week and will be embarking on our own "walk in the woods" with a visit to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids this coming Wednesday, where we look forward to exploring the center's four miles of trails together and reaping the benefits of what the Japanese have delightfully dubbed "forest bathing," that is, the practice of retreating from the pressures of our everyday lives to enjoy the peace and solace that contact with the natural world brings.
I look forward to sharing some highlights of our day at Blandford next week, but for now, here are some links with more information about the now well-documented health benefits of time spent in nature as well as more information about the AT itself:
The National Park Service's AT webpage, with information about the history of the AT, suggestions for how to go about planning your own hiking adventure along the AT, as well as suggestions for educators about how to incorporate the rich resources of the AT into their lesson plans: http://www.nps.gov/appa/index.htm
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a non-profit group dedicated to protecting and maintaining the AT: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/
National Geographic's 2009 documentary about The Appalachian Trail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=expjsUj9dZo
"Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning":
"Your Brain on Nature": http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/herbal-remedies/forest-bathing-ze0z1301zgar.aspx/
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