There are many benefits of being active and exercising outdoors and recreational activities can really improve your physical fitness as well as mental health and wellbeing. At Avon Tyrrell we have an extensive range of outdoor activities available to choose from so that you can really enjoy and develop new interests and avenues to better your personal wellbeing.
8 Health benefits of being active outdoors...
1. Improve physical wellness - strengthen muscles, improves cardio
2. Better body and mind - reduces stress and anxiety
3. Motivating - setting new and challenging goals
4. Socialising - meet new people with similar interests
5. Develop new interests - avenues to new hobbies and opportunities
6. Sleep - regular exercise will give you a more restful sleep pattern
7. Alertness - helps with focus and concentration when working
8. Green Space - Enjoy the outdoors with spaces to relax away from daily pressures
It isn't just all about outdoor activities but just being outdoors is generally great for your personal wellbeing. Visit our community page and see what projects we run to help support those with mental health issues.
Benefits of Climbing
Climbing is one of those sports that can be incredibly challenging but also extremely fun, and great for physical fitness as well as mental wellbeing.....challenge is a good thing.
Muscle Strength - Strengthens muscles including your arms, shoulder, thighs, back and neck and forearms.
Cardio workout - Climbing is a low impact cardio exercise so it not only improves your breathing and heart rate but also your stamina.
Full body workout - Your muscles don't only benefit from getting stronger but Climbing also increases endurance and improves stamina in most of your muscle groups.
Goal Setting - Climbing provides a challenge but you can set your own goals to make sure you are constantly improving, developing and challenging yourself. Try harder routes or try a different style of climbing, climb indoors or outdoors. Set your goals.
Spacial Awareness - This is a great sport for spacial awareness as you always need to be aware of what's around you, placement, where your next move is going to be and if you can reach or make that move.
Perseverance - When you have somewhere to aim, you have the challenge of trying to get there. Climbing gives you perseverance and focus to keep trying.
Benefits of Kayaking and Canoeing
Kayaking and Canoeing are both great outdoor sports for your overall physical fitness and your health and wellbeing. You can really challenge yourself and push yourself as hard as you want with more demanding forms of paddling or just enjoy casual paddling. When done properly, Kayaking requires the use of your whole body, not just your top half like you would think.
Cardio - Canoeing and Kayaking are low impact activities that can improve your general aerobic fitness. The benefits of this are extensive and mean increased endurance, improved heart health, lower blood pressure and better regulation of cholesterol levels.
Muscle Strength - Paddling has an immense impact on strengthening various muscle groups. Your back, arms, shoulders and chest all benefit from paddling and the torso and the leg muscles as you rotate and apply pressure to power the kayak or canoe.
Flexibility - Being a low impact activity, the paddling movements when kayaking and canoeing reduce the risk of wear and tear on your joints and tissues which helps increase your general flexibility.
Mind - Paddling can also be a relaxing way to recharge if you have a stressful work life. The endorphins you get from physical activity release a surge of serotonin which helps balance your mind. Paddling can be peaceful and meditative or exhilarating depending on how hard you push yourself.
Weight loss - As well as muscle conditioning, physical activity sports like kayaking and canoeing are great for weight loss and will lead you to a fitter body.
Benefits of Mountain Biking
When you're out on your bike you get to discover so many new places and in the New Forest you can enjoy the scenic routes and wildlife around you as you ride. Mountain Biking is an incredible sport and has so many health benefits.
Cardio - Increased cardiovascular activity through the use of gear variety and riding terrain. This leads to better heart fitness which reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
Better Joints - As a low impact sport, mountain biking is much easier on your joints than other sports such as running.
Stress - Mountain Biking helps you unwind and releases endorphins which trigger a euphoric high. This helps decrease your stress levels and helps alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, improving your mood.
Self-confidence - When you're out on a bike the world is yours. You have so much freedom to enjoy what's around you. Mountain biking really helps increase your self-confidence as you give yourself more opportunities to push yourself, try new trails and succeed.
Benefits of Walking
There are so many benefits to getting outside and taking a nice long walk, one of which is that it doesn't cost a thing. The New Forest is an incredible place to be for those that enjoy a casual stroll or you can enjoy walking while doing other activities at the same time including; Orienteering, Navigation, Running and Geocaching.
As well as something to enjoy doing, there are various health and fitness benefits to walking.
Stronger Heart - Walking reduces the risk of heart disease, lowering levels of bad cholesterol and preventing high blood pressure.
Lowers risk of disease - Walking regularly can also heavily reduce the risk of diabetes.
Weight loss - It goes without saying but as with any activity, regular walks also helps you to lose weight.
Toning - Add definition to your legs and bum with regular walks. Hill climbs offer a more effective workout and with the right posture you will also tone your abs as well.
Boosts Vitamin D - Being outside walking boosts Vitamin D which helps sustain healthy bones and your immune system.
More Energy - Walking is great for positive mental health and boosts your mood. Releasing feel good endorphins gives you a more positive outlook and energy to do daily tasks without feeling so tired.
Health and wellbeing isn't just about outdoor activities but also contribute a number of factors that can influence the overall wellbeing of a young person. The wellbeing wheel was developed with 8 indicators, all of which are areas that young people need to progress in order to do well, to identify concerns and to develop structure.
Nurtured - Having a nurturing place to live in a family setting with additional help if needed.
Active - Having opportunities to take part in different recreational sports and activities for healthy growth.
Respected - Having the opportunity to be involved with decisions that affect you.
Responsible - Having opportunities to play active and responsible roles in school or in your community with appropriate guidance.
Achieving - Being supported and guided in your learning and development to increase self esteem and confidence.
Healthy - Having high standard physical and mental health with access to healthcare and support.
Safe - Protection from abuse, neglect and harm at home, in school and in the community.
Included - Having help to overcome social, educational and physical inequalities and being accepted.
These 8 indicators contribute to young people becoming well rounded and healthy, confident individuals, effective contributors, responsible citizens and successful learners.
Since the development of the five Every Child Matters outcomes in 2004, there has been an increased focus on the health and wellbeing of young people. These foundations were built on by the Healthy Child Programme and The Pupil Guarantee, and are underpinned by a school’s statutory duty to promote the wellbeing of their pupils.
At Avon Tyrrell, we provide a wide range of activities which actively promote relationship building, social skills and problem-solving. We work directly with young people to encourage and motivate them through our ‘Challenge by Choice’ policy.
National Curriculum Guidance
2.1 Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society.
2.5 All schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice.
Physical Education
Should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.
KS1 & KS2 – Master basic movements and begin to apply these to a range of activities. Participate in team games.
KS3 & KS4 – Take part in outdoor and adventurous activity challenges both individually and within a team.
PSHE Guidance
Schools should provide a curriculum which promotes positive behaviours, successful relationships and helps reduce disruptive behaviour and bullying. Skills which should be developed include motivation, self-awareness, problem-solving, conflict management and resolution, collaborative working, how to understand and manage feelings, and how to manage relationships. Schools should also encourage social development, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, developing a willingness to participate in a variety of social settings.
Useful references
Guidance on preparing to teach about mental health & emotional wellbeing
NCB: Framework to help promote social and emotional wellbeing
At Avon Tyrrell we have various opportunities for outdoor adventure activities all of which contribute to you overall health and wellbeing. Book on to one of our Go Adventure Activities ride our bike tracks or privately hire an activity station for group sessions. It's a great place to start thinking about a new hobby and gives you a platform for challenging yourself with something different.
Book a stay in one of our 7 lodges and enjoy a short break in the New Forest. Perfect for families and friends or larger groups we have 6, 12 and 14 berth lodges available, all with Wi-Fi, making Avon Tyrrell a great base for you to go out and explore.
We have over 40 challenging and stimulating activities to choose from at Avon Tyrrell, so whether you are looking to have fun, educate or teambuilding, these are sessions you won't want to miss out on.