Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.

– Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is a guest post by Vicki Costa, CE Operations Specialist

I couldn’t agree more, especially after the long months we’ve been trapped inside.

Spring is finally here! It’s time to shed the heavy layers and get outside! My family especially enjoys going to the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe around this time of year, so we took my sister and her girls for a visit last Friday. The place was packed…or at least as packed as it can be with COVID guidelines in place. The Garden is keeping health and safety in mind by requiring timed entry (by reservation), masks, and social distancing. Some of the pathways and gardens are closed, and others have one-way trails marked. With the weather improving, it seems everyone had the same idea we did!

It was a beautiful day and, even though most of the flowers have yet to bloom, there was evidence of springtime all around us. The sun was shining, the trees were budding, the grass was green, and the pond was coming back to life. I can’t wait until the flowers open and the Garden is once again filled with bright colors, sweet fragrances, and buzzing bees. We’ll be back when that happens, and we’ve already promised to bring my nieces with us. I think we all enjoyed our time outside in the fresh air. Not only did it help to cure our cabin fever, it likely improved our overall physical and mental health.

Click here to read about additional benefits of the great outdoors: https://bodymind.com/health-benefits-of-fresh-air-and-sunshine/

Click here for more information on the Chicago Botanic Garden: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/

Vicki Costa is the Operations Specialist for the Community Education Department at Harper College. She started as a part-time Sales Associate more than 10 years ago, so you may recognize her from her days at the front desk. Vicki brings her background in elementary education and customer service to her current role, and her work philosophy is to meet every situation with a smile.