The SCC Nature Trail
The SCC Nature Trail is a 1.87 mile loop around campus for you to enjoy the restorative power of nature. There are four trailheads at which to start, each with an informational kiosk and trail maps for you to use. These are located at the north corner of the Balsam Center, above the Library, at the water tower and on the road to the maintenance yard. Take a moment to orient yourself on the trail map and to read the rules of the trail. Feel free to bring friends and family to enjoy all or part of our scenic mountain campus. Parts of the trail are not available at this time due to the construction.
Nature is the Best Medicine
Science confirms that "Green Time" is essential for your academic and personal success. Spending just 20 minutes in the forest provides:
- Reduced Stress: Significant drops in cortisol and lowered blood pressure.
- Brain Recovery: Relief from "directed attention fatigue" (screen burnout), leading to better focus and creativity.
- Immune Support: Inhaling phytoncides (essential oils released by trees) boosts your body’s natural defense cells.
- Emotional Balance: Natural light and movement are proven to reduce anxiety and boost overall happiness.
Click here to view brochure.
Slow Down & Sense the Forest
Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) is the practice of immersing yourself in nature through your senses that originated in Japan in 1982.
Try these "Invitations" while on the trail:
- Use Your Senses: Stop walking. What are three things you can hear? Two things you can smell? One thing you can feel (the bark of a tree or the breeze)?
- Finding Motion: For five minutes, move as slowly as possible. Focus your eyes only on things that are moving: a leaf fluttering or an insect crawling.
- The Breath Exchange: Stand near a tree. Realize that with every breath, you inhale the oxygen the trees provide, and they take in the carbon dioxide you release.
Leave No Trace
Help us protect this fragile ecosystem for the next generation of students:
- Stay on the Path: Stepping off-trail tramples delicate wildflowers and causes erosion.
- Pack It In, Pack It Out: Please carry all trash back to campus bins.
- Respect Wildlife: Observe animals from a distance; do not feed them.
- Four-Legged Friends: Dogs are welcome but must remain on a leash at all times.
- Take Only Pictures: Leave plants, rocks, and artifacts exactly where you found them.
Be Prepared: Tell somebody where you are going and when you will return. Wear shoes or sandals with solid soles and a backstrap, and perhaps bring a rain jacket.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” - Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder
