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How climbing 250 feet up a tree can be a healing experience

The beauty of the Pacific Northwest can be more than an escape; it can be a healing experience.

We’ve been told this stuff since we were kids – nature is a huge part of our life and it seems like we need more of it. As technology grows and people become addicted to screen time, more and more studies are finding nature helps us to de-stress from society.

Deception Pass State Park is one of the more popular state parks in Washington state. The famous bridge looming over Puget Sound and monster trees shooting up over a rocky beach help bring in people from around the world. There’s a new company that is helping people de-stress and get more in tune with these large Coastal Douglas Fir trees. It’s called Adventure Terra.

“Forest bathing originated in Japan," Matt Cunningham, an Adventure Terra guide. "It is where doctors are describing people to get out in nature."

Adventure Terra will strap you into one of their harnesses and help you climb up to the top of a 250-foot tall Coastal Douglas Fir.

"Can you smell the forest? Those are some essential oils that the trees are giving off. They believe that those oils can actually boost your immune system," said Cunningham. "So being cooped up in the office all day, you’re exposed to so many airborne toxins... but being out here you have the sweet smell of nature so it’s really good to get out and just get your blood flowing and calm yourself down.”

There’s something called nature deficit disorder, outlined by a man named Richard Louv, and it looks at kids who don’t get out in nature. They don’t experience anything like what's seen in Deception Pass State Park. Therefore, as they go through life, they’re not working to protect outdoor spaces that future generations and the ecosystem at large need to survive.

Adventure Terra is located at Deception Pass State Park. You can reserve a spot to climb these trees on their website. Next year they’re looking to expand and allow patrons to camp alongside these monster trees.

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