Resources

• Author(s): Sheila Clark, Tim J. Bungum, Mindy Meacham, Lisa Coker

• Date Published: January 1, 2015

Background: Many Americans do not meet recommendations for physical activity (PA). Communities are building trail networks to encourage PA, but the relationship between trails and PA is not well understood. Methods: We monitored usage of urban trails (N = 10) in Las Vegas, NV, before and after a promotional marketing campaign (October 2011 and April 2012). The media campaign featured print, online, and radio ads, as well as billboards and signage on gas pumps. Data were collected with infrared monitors that were placed on the trails for periods of 7 days. We compared preintervention and postintervention usage rates. Results: Mean usage increased (P < .001) from 3.91 to 5.95 users per hour (52.17%) after the promotional campaign. We observed significant increases at 7 individual trails, significant declines at 2 trails, and no change at 1 trail. Conclusion: Promotional campaigns may be an effective way to increase trail usage and encourage PA.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24732727

• Author(s): Cheryl Charles and Alicia Loge

• Organization: Children & Nature Network (http://www.childrenandnature.org/)

• Date Published: January 1, 2013

This resource is an annotated bibliography with a focus on the health benefits to children from contact with the outdoors. The evidence is grouped into four main sections:
1. Literature Reviews & Overview Documents – These articles summarize literature related to outdoor and nature contact and children’s health and well-being
2. Mental Health Benefits – These articles examine relationships between children’s contact with the outdoors and/or nature and their psychological and cognitive performance and functioning
3. Physical Health Benefits – These articles examine linkages between the design of children’s environments, children’s outdoor-related behavior and their physical health, including physical activity, development, and functioning
4. Other Health Benefits – These articles highlight other health benefits from children’s contact with the outdoors and/or nature, as well as benefits to children’s development of life assets, such as attitudes and behaviors towards the environment

http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CNNHealthBenefits2012.pdf

• Author(s): Mueller, Natalie; Rojas-Rveda, David; Cole-Hunter, Tom et al

• Organization: Preventive Medicine

• Date Published: July 1, 2015

Walking and cycling for transportation (i.e. active transportation, AT), provide substantial health benefits from increased physical activity (PA). However, risks of injury from exposure to motorized traffic and their emissions (i.e. air pollution) exist. The objective of this study was to systematically review studies conducting health impact assessment (HIA) of a mode shift to AT on grounds of associated health benefits and risks.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743515001164

• Author(s): Health Link BC (http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/)

• Organization: Health Link BC (http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/)

• Date Published: January 1, 2010

This two page document serves as a brief summary of potential risks involved with spending time in the wild including topics on drinking water, wild animals and insects.

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/pdf/hfile24.pdf

• Organization: Canadian Parks Council http://www.parks-parcs.ca
• Date Published: January 5, 2006

This presentation developed by the Canadian Parks Council, outlines their efforts in “re-positioning parks as an integral facet of a healthy population.”

http://www.parks-parcs.ca/english/pdf/HbN-Colour.pdf

• Date Published: November 11, 2008

Developed at the 2011 Heatlhy by Nature Conference

https://hin.bcrpa.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/formidable/6/HealthybyNature-charter-web.pdf

• Author(s): Keltie Craig, James van Hemert

• Organization: Canadian Institute of Planners (http://www.cip-icu.ca/), HB Lanarc

• Date Published: January 1, 2009

This guide is designed for planning practitioners to help them in their work towards healthier communities, and to increase the understanding of the supporting role that health practitioners can play in reaching our common goals. It provides a framework for considering the interconnected aspects of a healthy community, and includes practical examples of how others are accomplishing their goals.

https://www.cip-icu.ca/Files/Healthy-Communities/CIP-Healthy-Communities-Practice-Guide_FINAL_lowre.aspx

• Author(s): Andra Putnis, Paul Josif, Emma Woodward

• Organization: Healthy Country, Healthy People Investment Strategy Project

• Date Published: October 1, 2007

This report provides a five year plan for investment in Indigenous land and sea management across the [Northern Territory]. It provides advice to government agencies on both coordinating current investment and delivering new investment in this area. It also provides a possible framework for attracting additional business and philanthropic investment in this area. An independent review of the Strategic Framework by a financial consultant has found that it has the potential to deliver more efficient and cost-effective land and sea management on Indigenous lands and, through a multiplier effect, deliver substantial economic, educational and cultural benefits more broadly to Indigenous communities.

https://publications.csiro.au/rpr/download?pid=changeme:4416&dsid=DS1