As we expand our waist lines this thanksgiving weekend, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is encouraging people to get outside and embrace the fall colours.
A new survey by the NCC showed a growing disconnect between people and the outdoors, with 74 per cent saying it's easier to spend time indoors and 66 per cent say they spend less time in nature compared to their youth.
Some of the reasons behind this were that it's too hot, too cold, rainy or people were too busy.
"Nature not only provides us with incredible health benefits but it also provides us with, what scientist call, ecological services," The NCC's Dan Kraus said. "Free stuff that nature provides us, like cleaning and storing our water or helping to purify our air."
The survey shows that 94 per cent of Canadians are aware of the benefits that spending time in nature can bring to their physical and mental health, but it's parents responsibility to teach their children these lessons.
"As parents it is our responsibility to find those places and make sure that our kids can connect with nature," Added Kraus. "But then also, sometimes, we do need to plan to get out to larger places. We can't get out to wilderness areas everyday but it is something that we can try to expose our kids to at least a few times each year."
More than 80 per cent of Canadians worry that accessible natural areas will not be there for future generations to enjoy.
