I Tried a New Outdoor Hike for My Inner Wellbeing: Mood Walks
Have you heard about Mood Walks? This cool program with the funny name brings together community members for gentle walks that prioritize mental health and the restorative powers of nature. As one partner puts it, it’s all about “outdoor walks for inner wellness.” This year is ramping up to be Mood Walks’ best yet, and I couldn’t be more pleased.
The brainchild of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Ontario branch, in partnership with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario, Mood Walks was launched in 2013 as a way to support older adults. Jennifer Cooke, Mood Walks’ Provincial Program Coordinator, shares that, at the time, between 17 per cent and 30 per cent of Ontario’s seniors were affected by mental health problems. “That’s why CMHA Ontario developed Mood Walks,” she says, “to help them and provide them with opportunities to connect socially, to reduce loneliness.” It wasn’t long before the program expanded to include all ages. Presently, 26 community partners are offering Mood Walks in 40 locations.
I visited one of them, in the eastern Ontario town of Vankleek Hill. Like most communities hosting Mood Walks, hardcore hiking isn’t on the agenda. “Mood Walks really takes a different approach,” says Cooke. “We prioritize mental well-being, social connections and the simple joy of just being outdoors.” As someone who prefers daydreaming over huffing and puffing to a specific destination, I love that there’s no pressure to rush to the summit when you’re on a Mood Walk. In fact, there’s no summit at all! Hike Ontario’s certification chair Tom Friesen explains, “The Japanese have that term ‘forest bathing.’ [The Mood Walks program] is the same concept, getting people out into nature… lots of green on your eyes, and possibly an opportunity to interact with nature through bird songs or butterflies.” Though the pace is gentle, safety is a top priority. Hike Ontario offers a Certified Hike Leader program and Friesen has personally trained most Mood Walk leaders.
A sense of discovery is a common theme in the Mood Walks programming. Cooke shares: “We encourage people to explore their own communities, like a local park, conservation area, a quiet neighbourhood path. The focus really is about being present, moving at your own pace, using time outdoors to support your positive mental health.” I found that the power of sharing a walk with like-minded people who support this approach cannot be overstated. You don’t feel like you’re holding up the group if you stop to point out a bird’s nest or gaze at a patch of especially nice river rocks. On my first walk, our group was captivated by a thick carpet of little white flowers on either side of the path—strawberry blossoms! We were equally intrigued by some splashing in a path-side creek that’s well-known for having beaver dams, but the visitors turned out to be two ducks. During Mood Walks, organizers typically share reflection prompts along themes such as getting social, mindfulness, optimism and self-care. These helped to break the ice, and it wasn’t long before our conversations branched out into chats about gardening, homesteading, program cuts at the local college, dogs, grandchildren, the challenges of city life and more. There is no cost to participants, and the walks typically take place in a series of four to encourage friendship formation.
I thought I knew the trails in and around my city well, but a quick glance at all the different Mood Walk routes within an hour or so of my house made me keen to explore. The fun of finding new routes is one of Cooke’s favourite things too, who notes that many regions have repurposed old rail lines into multi-use trails and that Conservation Areas, in particular, are a wealth of unsung hiking opportunities. Depending on the location, Mood Walks might occur on a waterfront path, a city-centre trail, an urban forest or even a national park. Melinda Phuong, who works in External Relations at Rouge National Urban Park, shares: “Since 2016, Parks Canada has partnered with the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) to deliver this program to young adults in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program… Walks are facilitated by friendly and knowledgeable volunteer guided walk leaders and feature unique themes that explore a variety of trails throughout the operational season.”
To say that Mood Walks have been successful would be an understatement. Chantel Tessier, a manager at the CMHA’s Champlain East office, has seen the benefits of Mood Walks last far beyond the four-hike series in her community, noting, “We’ve had a lot of people who’ve returned to do several Mood Walks and have built lasting friendships through it.” Data from CMHA’s pre-and-post-series evaluations back up that observation. Cooke notes: “We’ve seen a significant enhancement in mood. We’ve had reports that they’re very satisfied with Mood Walks.” Just how satisfied? A whopping 87 per cent report less anxiety and feeling more calm.
I can certainly attest to that. Before my first walk, I had a few moments of self-doubt. What, exactly, was I doing by driving myself out to a new town, on a blustery day, to meet with strangers? Not just meet with strangers but actually go into the woods with them! Isn’t this the kind of thing I’m not supposed to do? My apprehension vanished as we started walking. It turns out that I’m not the only one who adores planting heirloom tomatoes and lamented the lack of funding for small theatres. I was with people who care about their community and are interested in making connections. Sadly, I couldn’t join the group for the informal post-walk socializing that takes place after most walks, but they wouldn’t let me go without sending me on my way with a healthy snack that was prepared for all participants.
In 2024, Mood Walks revitalized its program, launching a new website and inviting new partnerships. Cooke reports a noticeable increase in program inquiries this spring.
They couldn’t have known it then, but CMHA’s efforts couldn’t have come at a better time. These stressful political and economic times call for affordable programming that celebrates the beauty of Canada’s nature and strengthens community bonds and I cannot wait for my next trek.
