Get Outside This Earth Day. Rochester Ecology Partners on Where to Go and Why It Matters.

Just in time for Earth Day, Chris Widmaier, Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners, joins the show to talk about what it means to help all people find nature where they live, work and play across the nine county greater Rochester region, and why that mission has never felt more urgent.Discover the Nature Rx movement, a growing practice where doctors and mental health practitioners prescribe time in nature as a medical intervention, with 70% of participants completing their prescriptions and reporting measurable improvements in wellbeing. Chris shares how Rochester Ecology Partners partnered with the Harley School and the Brown CRT Pediatric Research Foundation for a week long exploration of the health benefits of nature, including a trip to Cornell, a public lecture on mental health and outdoor research, and a family Vitamin N Day at the park complete with kite flying, creek critters and nature scavenger hunts.Chris also shares three Rochester nature gems worth visiting right now, Braddock Bay for the spring raptor migration and owl woods, Genesee Gateway Park downtown where 72 bird species have been documented throughout the year, and Black Creek Park on the southwest side, a hidden gem that feels far away even though it is not.Registration for the Growing Good summer youth program in collaboration with Food Link opens today at 5pm. A Finding Nature Friday drop in event takes place next Friday at the Rochester Ecology Partners office on Mount Hope, with book, plant and seed swaps and Earth Day activities. A free community fundraiser picnic is also coming in early June.Sign up for the newsletter and explore all summer programming at rochesterecologypartners.org.