Episode 135 – Ashland County Park District – The Mental Health Benefits of Nature, Fresh Air & WalkingEpisode 135 – Ashland County Park District – The Mental Health Benefits of Nature, Fresh Air & Walking
Keeping Ashland Healthy
(Record Date: August 5, 2026)What if one of the best things you can do for your mental health is as simple as stepping outside? Join us on the next Keeping Ashland Healthy as we talk with Dan Mager, Director of the Ashland County Park District (ACPD),...
37:50•11 Aug 2026
Fresh Air, Box Turtles and Scout the Squirrel: Parks for Better Mental Health
Episode Overview
- Spending time in green spaces can lower cortisol, lift mood, and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Regular walks outdoors offer a break from screens, help organise thoughts, and support emotional resilience.
- Ashland County Park District runs varied programmes – from children’s nature clubs to bird walks and outdoor films – to appeal to many ages and interests.
- Ashland County is set to host a box turtle sanctuary, rehoming seized turtles and using tracking technology for hands-on education and conservation.
- There are opportunities for community members to volunteer with the parks, supporting events, education, maintenance and creative activities.
“Sometimes that time to go out and take a deep breath and just maybe collect your thoughts or organise your thoughts, prioritise, get a perspective.”
In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn about how a simple walk in the park can make a big difference to mental health. Keeping Ashland Healthy brings together the Mental Health and Recovery Board’s executive director David Ross, wellness and community engagement director Jennifer English, and Ashland County Park District director Dan Major for a relaxed, down-to-earth chat about why nature matters.
The conversation starts with practical benefits: lowering cortisol, improving mood, easing anxiety and depression, boosting vitamin D, and giving tired brains a break from constant screens.
Dan puts it plainly, describing time outdoors as a chance to "cleanse your soul per se, clear your mind, and you kind of regroup per se, reset." He and the hosts share everyday examples – walks on local trails, farm strolls, and even walking meetings – as simple tools for stress relief and emotional resilience.
You’ll also hear about August programmes at the parks, from the Nature Explorers Club and "Books in the Park" to bird walks and monarch butterfly sessions, all designed to get families and children outside together. Dan stresses the importance of offering "something for everybody" across roughly 20 parks, with paved and challenging trails so people of all ages and abilities can join in.
A real highlight is Dan’s excitement about Ashland County becoming one of only two box turtle sanctuaries in the United States. "We will be one of two box turtle sanctuaries in the whole country," he says, describing plans for rescued turtles, GPS-tracked class visits, and long-term conservation. Add in the forthcoming squirrel mascot, Scout, who’ll help with outreach to children and hospital visits, and you get a sense of how playful and community-minded the district aims to be.
For anyone dealing with stress, grief, or recovery, this conversation gently points towards fresh air, green spaces, and local parks as simple, accessible support. Could your next step towards feeling better be as easy as heading out for a walk?
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