Shapiro Administration Unveils New Toolkit to Help Older Pennsylvanians Connect with the Outdoors and Improve Their Health

Developed by the Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Aging, and Health, the toolkit gives caregivers, long-term care facilities, and community organizations practical strategies - including indoor nature guides, low-cost adaptations, and research on 10 proven physical and mental health benefits of outdoor recreation.

All of Pennsylvania's 124 state parks and forests are free and open to the public.

Today, members of the Shapiro Administration visited Codorus State Park in York County to unveil Connecting to the Outdoors as We Age: Pennsylvania's Rx for Nature - a new toolkit to help older Pennsylvanians connect with the outdoors and improve their overall health.

Developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Aging (PDA), and Health (DOH), the toolkit provides practical strategies for caregivers, long-term care facilities, and community organizations. It includes guides for bringing nature indoors, low-cost facility adaptations, tips to overcome access barriers, and research highlighting 10 proven health benefits of outdoor recreation - from reducing stress and anxiety, to lowering risk of chronic disease, to improving memory, attention, and overall well-being.