Head of School

Benefits of Being Outdoors

Dear families,

Despite the gray of February, dare I say we have had a few harbingers of spring, with some warmer temperatures and increasing daylight hours. While winter is surely a time to huddle in front of the fire, it is also worth considering the impact that being outdoors has on our mind, body and soul. At Tower Hill, we believe in getting outdoors on a regular basis, whether through our Lower School physical education program or through our athletic, service and experiential programs. We are fortunate to have a beautiful campus offering us a variety of outdoor spaces including St. Amour Garden, our Experiential Outdoor Classroom, several field spaces with tree-lined paths and nearby Rockford Park. Our teachers are creative and mindful about ensuring our students breathe the air outside and reap the benefits of the natural world around us on a regular basis.

Scientific studies cite that the “outdoors feeds the brain.” As noted in an article by Steve Holt, research and studies contend that:
  • Memory improves by 20% after a short walk outside.
  • 80% of kids ages 8-12 say contact with nature makes them more creative, happy, healthy and smart.
  • 20 minutes in the open air gives your brain an energy boost comparable to one cup of coffee.
  • We get more than 90% of our vitamin D from casual exposure to sunlight.
  • Simply viewing pictures of natural environments improves our ability to pay attention.
  • Time in nature enhances the body’s immune system, improves our sleep, is good for our hearts and blood pressure and increases happiness and satisfaction with life.
At Tower Hill, we are also fortunate to have many indoor spaces that actually bring the outdoors inside. We are excited about the completion of our Dining Commons, which has beautiful natural sunlight and will serve not only as much needed lunch space, but as a signature gathering space for our community. Save the date for the ribbon cutting and dedication on May 1! Your children will also be able to see some upgrades and progress that will begin soon on internal areas of the dining room, enabling more effective flow in the kitchen and serving areas.

Have a great weekend and enjoy some time outdoors!

Bessie
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