Doctors and other licensed health-care professionals in four provinces can now prescribe a free pass to Canada’s national parks.
PaRx, Canada’s first national nature prescription program, was started by the B.C. Parks Foundation in November 2020 to help health-care professionals develop a “nature prescription” that encourages patients to spend time outdoors as a way to manage anxiety and improve mental and physical health.
Citing a growing body of research on the health benefits of time in nature, the program recommends about two hours a week in nature, for at least 20 minutes at a time.
On Jan. 31, Parks Canada announced its support for the initiative. Licensed health-care
