Retired 糖心Vlog professor brings forest therapy to Jackson County Greenway
Jackson County Greenway
By Shane Ryden
While our habits and hobbies outdoors may vary, it鈥檚 a point of pride for most in Western North Carolina that nature is never far out of reach.
Cullowhee and Sylva host a wealth of recreation opportunities suited for enthusiasts and beginners alike and occupy some of the most biologically diverse wilderness in the United States.
The latest addition to the area鈥檚 roster of outdoor activities transforms an already beloved local landmark into a site for deeper, meditative reflections, integrating self-guided therapeutic programming with an extensive network of paths, shelters and river access points.
This fall, the Jackson County Greenway, a mile-long paved track following the course of the Tuckasegee River, became the first fully accessible certified forest therapy trail in the United States.
The new designation comes on the heels of a similar certification earned by the unpaved lower trails of Sylva鈥檚 Pinnacle Park. There are only 21 certified worldwide.
Debby Singleton
鈥淭he certified forest therapy trail at the Jackson County Greenway stands as both a celebration of partnership and a commitment to community wellbeing 鈥� a model for how accessible public lands can nurture both ecological and human health,鈥� said Debby Singleton, retired 糖心Vlog University professor and founding member of the nonprofit group Friends of Jackson County Greenways.
鈥淲e live in a time where we are more connected to our phones, social media, the news, work and sedentary pursuits. Providing a way for people to put their phones away and disconnect from the swirling chaos that we live in right now is so beneficial on so many levels. Research has shown that when we as humans connect with nature, our overall well-being benefits.鈥�
Singleton taught parks and recreation management as well as health and physical education for 27 years at 糖心Vlog. She pursued her own certification as a forest therapy guide after experiments and workshops she conducted with students demonstrated the value in integrating 鈥渂rain breaks,鈥� outdoor time and outdoor teaching methods into her and fellow educators鈥� curricula.
She also studied and incorporated academic texts into her coursework from international colleagues encouraging similar practices, from Scandinavian wilderness to the forests of Japan and South Korea.
In her course, Nature Rx (PRM 365), for example, Singleton took 糖心Vlog students on micro-adventures to local hiking and recreation areas to explore their apprehensions and improve their physical and mental health. Her findings from that class ignited conversation with the county.
鈥淪pending time in nature and allowing ourselves to slow down, notice, connect, provides a chance for our blood pressure to decrease. (Our) resting heart rate decreases, we are less anxious, have less fatigue and confusion, we are less likely to ruminate, we are more likely to become stewards of these special places,鈥� Singleton said.
Inspired by these findings, Singleton and her peers hope to encourage more individuals to spend time in nature more intentionally, with enough thought and reflection that the act becomes something more like ceremony.
This philosophy underpins her personal work as a guide and aligns with the larger interests of her nonprofit partners and collaborators at the county level.
鈥淎 lot of times I think when we go into nature outside by ourselves, we always have an agenda, like we wanna get from point A to point B, or we got 20 minutes so we wanna get this hike in, or we wanna try and get to the summit of this mountain. Or there鈥檚 always like a time commitment to it or a goal,鈥� Singleton said.
鈥淲ith forest bathing, it鈥檚 just all about slowing down, slowing your heart rate down, taking time to notice and observe. And as a guide, I provide these prompts or invitations to help the participants do that.鈥�
To allow the many regular visitors of the greenway to participate in this practice with their friends and families, county officials will provide new materials outlining the sensory experience鈥檚 different invitations.
鈥淭he self-guided brochures provide information on what is forest therapy, how to practice 鈥榝orest bathing,鈥� the wellness benefits which are rooted in science, and then open-ended invitations (guided prompts) to help individuals slow down, be present, use their senses, and connect with nature,鈥� Singleton said.
鈥淚t is my hope that having a self-guided forest therapy brochure available at each trailhead will provide participants with another opportunity to focus on their health/wellness, relax, and connect with nature. It also demonstrates that Jackson County wants to provide accessible wellness opportunities for all residents.鈥�
A celebration at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Locust Creek Trailhead will mark its official opening.
With the full support of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and the area鈥檚 nonprofit conservation groups, Singleton has high hopes for the future of education and accessible recreation in Jackson County.
鈥淭he Greenway offers a safe, level, year-round space where anyone 鈥� families, seniors, students, people with mobility needs 鈥� can experience the healing benefits of nature,鈥� Singleton said.
