Becoming Smarter Outside

Congratulations! You are one of 220,000 students going to school in (or near) the Great Miami Riverway. No matter what you study, you are going to need to take a break and clear your head before tackling that first term paper.

Did you know that going outside is scientifically proven to boost your mental health? 

Here are five free ways to strengthen your mental prowess this upcoming semester:

  1. Take a walk on the Nation’s Largest Paved Trail Network

The Great Miami River Recreation Trail is part of the Nation’s Largest Paved Trail Network – and runs alongside Ohio’s only National Water Trail! The network includes 340 miles of trail and connects our region with Cincinnati and Columbus. Let us know which section of trail is your favorite using a hashtag #GreatMiamiRiverway or by commenting @GRMiamiRiverway.

  1. Have a picnic at Twin Arch Reserve

Invite your new roommates to a picnic at this fan-favorite park. Located in Troy, the Twin Arch Reserve has 35 acres and .7 miles of trail. It sits along the Great Miami River and is a great place for hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and viewing wildlife. Or, for figuring out which one of your new friends has the greatest sense of adventure.

  1. Watch the fountains at Deeds Point

Let’s be clear – you should NOT bring your brand new textbooks to watch the fountains. They will get soaked! The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights shoots water 200 feet high and 400 feet across at the confluence of the Great Miami and Mad Rivers. The five streams of water, symbolizing our five regional rivers, meet in a giant center spray honoring our region’s Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer.

  1. Find a “Big Rock”

Yep, you read that right. “Big Rock” is a glacial rock left over from the ice age in Tawawa Park, Sidney. It has become a photo opportunity for friends and family, along with the William Ross Covered Bridge nearby. Tawawa Park is a wooded park with trails, a creek, fishing, and picnic shelters along the Great Miami River.

  1. Attend a concert at RiversEdge

RiversEdge is a regionally renowned free concert series that brings the best nationally touring original music & tribute artists to Hamilton. And it’s free! Beer (for those 21 and over, of course) and food vendors can be found at each concert.

 

So – get outside, live, and study hard! We expect to be reading headlines of how you are changing the world in the near future…