Categoriesapp, Company News by

Rewards Shipping Update

Hello HPHP community!

Thank you for being here, whether you’re a long-time user or new to us. We appreciate everyone prioritizing their health and using our app to enjoy the outdoors in our beautiful (but currently scorching hot) state. Our HPHP web app launched in 2015 and quickly outgrew its initial capabilities. If you’ve been with us since then, thank you! Our iOS and Android apps launched just in time for the pandemic in March 2020, reminding us all of the importance of spending time outdoors for our well-being. Since then, over 13,000 Tennesseans have downloaded HPHP, we’ve sent out over 5,200 FREE rewards, added new features to the app, and we’ve received countless heartwarming stories of park discoveries and renewed health and relationships.

HPHP began as a grassroots program by a single park ranger to highlight the benefits of nature. Today, we are a non-profit organization funded by a grant from the TN State Department of Health, allowing us to offer the app and Rewards for free, which is always the goal. As we approach the final year of our grant and plan for future sustainability, we will start charging a small shipping fee for Rewards starting in August, ranging from $4 to $7 based on size and weight. Bundling Rewards to save on shipping is an option—just email us and let us know. Our goal is to be good stewards of our funding and ensure all Tennesseans can continue to “Discover Wellness in the Wild.”

Thank you, and happy trails!  As always, we are here to answer your questions and we welcome your feedback.

~Stacey and Ariel

CategoriesLifestyle by

April is National Garden Month

Gardening is a fulfilling activity that benefits both physical and mental health. It provides moderate exercise, sunlight exposure, and a connection to nature that can reduce stress, promote mental clarity, and foster relationships. Gardening is a nurturing space for the mind, body, and spirit.

The repetitive nature of gardening tasks such as weeding or pruning can be meditative, reduce stress, and increase mental clarity. Caring for living plants and being connected to nature can also bring a sense of achievement and happiness, and is a great way to involve children in the process! Gardening can be a solitary activity for introspection, or a social activity that strengthens relationships, both important for emotional health.

Check out this Research Digest that summarizes studies focusing on the benefits of garden-related activities for children.

And if you are not sure what to plant in your home garden, take the Garden for Wildlife Plant Finder Quiz! Enter your location, amount of available space, and hours of sunlight to identify plants that help local wildlife and the planet.

Are you gardening this Spring?  While we don’t have a gardening-specific HPHP activity button in the app just yet (it’s coming!), you can log your gardening as “Play a Sport!”

CategoriesFamilies, individuals, Lifestyle by

How Nature Helped This Postpartum Mama (and baby) Stay Sane

Being pregnant and having a child is such a blessing. I am very thankful for the amount of help and support I had during and after my pregnancy. But I will say one thing…… the 4th trimester is very hard. I was still recovering, having hardly any sleep, having a newborn and toddler to take care of. It can take a toll on anyone, just like it did on me.

However, for this pregnancy and postpartum I was more educated on certain things. One of those things is how wonderful and healthy it is to get outside during this time. According to the University of Pennsylvania, one in nine mothers experience postpartum depression. I was one of those mothers. I experienced postpartum depression after both of my pregnancies, but more so after my first pregnancy.

Every day, even if only for 5 minutes, I would try to step outside to soak up the sunshine or take a walk. I wanted/needed to get outside to take a deep breath of fresh air. It was relaxing for both me and my mind. Getting outside and getting out in nature can be so rewarding for both me and the kids.

Eugenia South, an assistant professor for Perelman School of Medicine, stated, “Nature can be leveraged as a health-equity tool, both in terms of making sure everyone has access to clean, safe green space but also encouraging people to spend time outside as a way to buffer life stress,” she says. “Nature isn’t a cure-all, but it can be a potential buffer, a way to prevent life stress from getting under your skin and leading to poor health over time.”

But getting outside into nature with my toddler and my newborn was very important to me. I know my toddler loves being outdoors, but my newborn can benefit from it too! The fresh air, sunlight, sounds, and sights are all good for his developmental skills.

“Babies thrive out-of-doors. They sleep better, eat better, look better, play better, and learn better. – Magda Gerber

All-in-all, getting outdoors and into nature can help a postpartum momma and children. Never hesitate to ask for help and take moments for yourself (if possible) where you can clear your mind and breathe.

Sources: https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/Penn-study-looks-at-effect-of-nature-on-postpartum-depression

https://tinkergarten.com/blog/why-babies-learn-in-the-natural-world