Have you ever heard of The Fresh Air Fund? It’s a not-for-profit agency that provides free summer vacations in the country to New York City children from low-income communities. There are several Fresh Air Fund summer camps, and since 1877, over 1.8 million kids have benefitted from this unique opportunity.
The idea of The Fresh Air Fund was to get kids away from hot, noisy city streets. As you can imagine, living in a big metropolitan area like New York City there tends to be lots of air pollution– so any chance to get away to somewhere where the air is “fresh” is considered a great luxury.
Why is fresh air good for us, anyway? The short answer: it beats breathing in polluted air! It’s also better than recycled, stale air you find in airplanes, office buildings and subway trains, etc.
Indeed, fresh air is usually associated with the sun shining down on us, a nice breeze, nature and good feelings. Fresh air helps people relax, taking away some of their stress. In general, spending time in fresh air is good for us all, both physically and mentally.
Consider this: breathing in fresh air helps increase the flow of oxygen in our bodies. This, in turn, helps us digest food more effectively. It also can improve our blood pressure, clean our lungs, and strengthen our immune systems. Meanwhile, people feel happier in fresh air. As they breathe in “bucketfuls” of fresh air, the amount of serotonin (the “happy hormone”) increases. People reportedly feel more energetic, mentally sharp, and better able to concentrate after spending time in the fresh air. It’s no wonder, then, that many schools purposely want their kids to enjoy recess outdoors in the middle of the school day, which, in turn, helps kids be more receptive to learning day in and day out.
Oh, and one more thing: spending time in the fresh air means getting more sun, which helps your body produce Vitamin D, which is essential for strong bones, teeth and more.
A great way to get more fresh air in your life is to spend time outside doing activities like walking, hiking, playing basketball or playing tennis. If you have been thinking about having an outdoor court installed on your property to play outdoor games, Classic Turf Company of Connecticut can make that happen– please call 1-800-246-7951.
