At Indian Creek Nature Center, we understand the importance of getting outside and experiencing nature — in fact, research shows just 20 minutes in nature will significantly lower your stress hormones — and we are glad so many in our community are choosing to use our trails for their daily dose of outside time.
In order to protect our community and ourselves, it’s important to experience the outdoors safely and responsibly. Please be conscious and mindful of yours and others’ safety when hitting the trails by considering the following:
- Stay local — Explore trails & green spaces close to home. Whether that’s the Nature Center’s trails or the park nearest to your home, it’s best to confine your movement as much as possible to prevent potential spread into and out of our community.
- Take the road less traveled — Try to avoid highly trafficked trails with attractions like viewpoints or gathering areas. If you notice other people on the trail, keep your distance (six feet or more!) or choose a different spot. Please do not gather your friends, family or other groups on your hike. Try a hike in solitude — you might find you like hiking alone even better — or with others you are already in physical contact with.
- Do not trespass — Make sure the area you are exploring is open to the public, and if it’s normally a public space that it’s still open to the public now.
- Clean up after yourself — As always, we ask that you follow Leave No Trace principles and pick up after yourself. Whether you packed a picnic or brought your pooch, please don’t leave waste of any kind behind (and leave the nature where it is!).
- Sanitize — Speaking of staying clean, that means you, too. Please wash your hands and use hand sanitizer and be aware of places touched frequently by others such as railings, benches, door knobs, etc.
- Be careful — Our hospitals and emergency responders are already very busy. Please don’t take any risks that could lead to a trip to the emergency room.
- If you’re sick, STAY HOME — If you feel sick, please stay home and take care of yourself (and protect others!). Rest up for a quick recovery so you can get back out in nature in no time.