Recreational remedies for the winter blues: Quarry Hill edition

Out with the winter isolation blues and in with the snowshoes. Last month, Quarry Hill Nature Center resumed offering snowshoe and ski rentals as a way of encouraging area residents and visitors to maintain physical and recreational activity, while extending conventional safety measures to include Covid-19 related guidelines. 

What are benefits of outdoor winter activities?

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way that we interact with one another. The majority of individuals are not able to socialize in the way we did before. Nonetheless, outdoor recreational activities offer a relatively safe way to socialize while being active. Mayo Clinic encourages outdoor recreation due to the decreased likelihood of transmission.

“When you're outside, fresh air is constantly moving, dispersing these droplets. So you're less likely to breathe in enough of the respiratory droplets containing the virus that causes COVID-19 to become infected,” the Clinic’s website states.

Not only do winter sports allow us a safe way of interacting with families and friends while reducing risk of virus transmission, they are also a great way of remaining physically active during the dormant months. Lori Forstie, outreach coordinator at Quarry Hill, places particular emphasis on the benefits children experience from these activities.

“Scientists are learning that time in nature helps improve children’s attention span, social and emotional development, motor skills, risk-taking judgment, sensory skills...the list is incredibly long,” says Forstie.

The invigorating effects of regular outdoor activity extend beyond being physiological. In its holistic approach to wellness, Mayo Clinic reiterates the importance of physical activity to combat heightened feelings of anxiety, depression, and seasonal affective disorder.

Mayo Clinic’s publication describes how seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may develop as a result of a change in circadian rhythm, a decrease in serotonin levels, or a shift in the body’s melatonin levels. SAD is particularly common during the fall and winter seasons. A form of depression, the effects of this disorder can be better managed with regular exposure to natural sunlight. 

What can newcomers expect?

For those who are unsure about participating in or are new to winter activities, Forstie offers the following advice: “If you can walk or march you can snowshoe.” She says that anyone can learn the basics fairly easily and that YouTube can be a great resource for newcomers.

Quarry Hill has more than eight miles of trails designed to accommodate individuals with varying levels of expertise. Due to Covid-related measures, Quarry Hill will not have facilities available for individuals to warm up in, as they have in past years — be sure to dress accordingly.

What else does Quarry Hill have to offer?

As always, hiking and birdwatching are available to the public at Quarry Hill. Forstie encourages everyone to check the calendar on the Quarry Hill website for upcoming programs as they become available.

She adds that Quarry Hill anticipates it will be offering in-person summer nature camps for children, assuming the Center for Disease Control permits it. In the meantime, Forstie notes that Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) has other opportunities to stay active outside. The GMRPTC recently launched its ‘Mask Out Minnesota’ campaign to motivate people to visit public parks statewide.

How do I register?

Skiing and snowshoe registration is available via the Quarry Hill website. Be sure to register in advance seeing as the rentals are in high demand and have been booking up fast. Unlike previous years, rentals are only being offered on Saturday and Sunday of every week as opposed to every day. Forstie says that the best days to register are Wednesday and Thursday for the following weekend. Every reservation has a four-hour window, although there are a variety of times to choose from.

Kaylee Mtanous grew up in Rochester and is now a junior at Winona State University. She is enrolled in a 3+3 legal studies program through Mitchell Hamline and aspires to become an attorney practicing in family law and specializing in child advocacy.