On the third day of her new job, Lisa Curran went for a walk.
Curran, a health promotion specialist at Humber Polytechnic, found herself in the Humber Arboretum for the very first time.
“I know that I need nature as part of my workday, and so I was so excited that this was here,” she said.
The Arboretum held guided tours of its gardens and trails for new and returning staff and students on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
On the walk, staff pointed out notable native plant species such as wild blackberry bushes and the purple New England aster.
Curran said the tour was more in-depth than she expected.
“Having this right next to campus is incredible. Like, not everybody has this,” she said.
Third-year psychology student at the University of Guelph-Humber, Dani Agosta said they’ve spent a lot of time at the Arboretum, but learn something new every time.
They said they wished more students knew the Arboretum existed.
“I guess they just don’t come to this side of campus, but it’s honestly really unfortunate because it’s one of my favourite places to be,” they said.
Curran said the Arboretum tour is relevant to her work in health promotion.
“I like to practice what I preach, but also I want to do it for myself and know what resources are here. It’s amazing,” she said.
“So much of what we do is about supporting students in making healthier choices and prioritizing their own health and connecting with nature we know has protective benefits for your health,” she said.
Agosta said the Arb is a great place to study or to take breaks from studying.
“I’ve been living on campus since first year and, if I feel stressed, if I feel stuck, I’ll just take a break, I’ll come out to the Arboretum and just sort of clear my mind and go back to it after,” they said.
“It’s just a really great way to take care of yourself, just by being here and observing and learning,” Agosta said.
Curran said going outside doesn’t have to be a big deal.
“Often when you think you don’t have time is when you should try to access it,” she said.
Curran said that even five minutes outside is helpful and can help “rest your brain.”
“You don’t have to plan an exercise session, just being active and being outside is enough,” she said.
The Arboretum will host a free pruning workshop Saturday, Sept. 26. More information can be found at humber.ca/arboretum/events
