By Ryan Gwiazdon
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November 13, 2022
On Saturday, Warfighter Overwatch hosted a hike for members of Sacramento Fire Department. We chartered a bus that picked up the firefighters in Downtown Sacramento and drove to Pacifica. Once there, they hiked San Pedro Beach to Devils slide. After the hike, we hosted the guys for lunch at Humble Sea Brewing Co. (which we highly recommend!). We couldn't have asked for better hiking weather, and the camaraderie and fresh sea air was a nice break for these firefighters who are working increased mandatory overtime. These guys are trained to grind it out, no matter how tired they are. These hikes are an exercise in doing just the opposite - slowing down, taking a look around, and enjoying nature with your support system. Furthermore, human well-being is linked to nature in a myriad of ways, and there is a growing body of empirical evidence that suggests spending time in nature can have a significant positive impact on mental well-being . Nature connectedness is also associated with a reduction in risk factors and burden of some types of mental illness. The last, and perhaps scariest thing evidence suggests is that opportunities for experiencing nature are decreasing for many, as we get more concentrated and urbanized. This means it's never been more important to get outside and engage with nature! If you or your department are interesting in planning a hike with Warfighter Overwatch, send an email to info@warfighteroverwatch.org !