By Gillian Uhl, Mental Health Outpatient Clinical Supervisor and Wilderness Program Clinical Supervisor
Winter brings shorter days, frigid temperatures, and a natural tendency to hibernate indoors. While the season is perfect for quality family time, it’s just as important to encourage kids and teens to get outside and stay active, even when it’s cold. Whether they are sledding, building snowmen, or ice skating, staying physically and socially engaged during the winter months can have a powerful impact on mental and emotional well-being.
The Importance of Staying Active
The colder months make it easy for kids to fall into routines that include scrolling on their phones or binge-watching tv shows. While some downtime is healthy, too much can negatively affect growing minds and bodies. Excessive screen time and inactivity are linked to increased risks of anxiety, depression, and even obsessive thinking; a cycle that can be hard to break out of.
With many extracurriculars paused due to the weather, opportunities to socialize and connect with peers can become limited. This isolation can lead youth to withdraw further, worsening feelings of loneliness they may already be experiencing.
According to the National Library of Medicine, up to 5.5% of youth aged 9–19 experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) annually, a condition commonly referred to as seasonal depression. This form of depression is brought on by the darker and colder months and may lead to symptoms like low energy, negative thinking, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation.
Exercise doesn’t just promote physical health. Regular activity leads to a sense of accomplishment and boosted self-esteem. Finding an activity that is both enjoyable and effective is vital in getting your child to unplug from technology and start moving!
Respite in Nature
Getting your teen out of bed and moving is no small feat—especially on a Saturday morning. That’s why North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center designed the Wilderness Respite Program, which provides a uniquely fun and exciting opportunity for at-risk adolescents to participate in hikes and other nature activities that foster individual growth, leadership skills, and self-esteem.
Designed for teens and young adults navigating mental health challenges, this program connects youth with peers who understand their struggles, creating a safe and welcoming environment in which healing can bloom. On visits to places like Blydenburgh County Park, Harriman State Park, and Jones Beach, teens who may find socialization at school challenging thrive over a shared appreciation for what nature has to offer.
Participants in Wilderness Respite Program truly thrive thanks to their commitment to resilience. These Saturday morning outings happen year-round, no matter the weather. Whether there is rain, snow, or sunshine, Wilderness hikes remind teens that just like in life, challenges can be overcome with commitment and a strong support system.
Here’s how a volunteer and sister of one of our Wilderness Respite Program teens put it:
“After going on these hikes for over a year and witnessing the positive impact it had on countless teens, I realized that it would be the perfect opportunity for my 15-year-old brother to come out of his shell. Though he was hesitant at first, I watched his entire demeanor change after the very first hike.
These trips can be challenging: they go out there in rain or snow, face steep hills and fast paces, and it allows these kids to build a sense of camaraderie with one another. The respite program gave my brother the opportunity to become part of a team, and this has made all this difference in his transformation. He is no longer afraid of opening up and has developed many healthy coping skills that he uses when he feels overwhelmed. The confidence and resilience he has developed since being in this program are truly remarkable.”
The program is open to Nassau County residents aged 12-23. To connect your child with this transformative experience, call the Guidance Center at (516) 626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org today.
