-
It’s something that most people experience and intuitively know, and studies increasingly prove: spending time in nature is a foundational aspect of health and well-being.
-
The restorative impact of time outdoors does not require certain activities. It is simply about regular engagement (at least two hours per week of broad attention) with the sights and sounds of the natural world.
-
Ravenwing is a shrubsteppe landscape on the Columbia River just outside of Wenatchee, WA. Days begin and end with the sun on the river and towering basalt cliffs. Nights are quiet, dark and star-filled. A diverse array of plants, animals and birds thrive in our four distinct seasons.
Where wellness begins with the land.
Ravenwing Ranch is located just outside of Wenatchee, WA, an area beloved for outdoor recreation and four distinct seasons. Physical activity drives local culture in a variety of ways, and is often how friends and families choose to spend time together. Our owners love the ability to walk, hike, bike, paddle and boat within steps of their front door.
As valuable as that is, it is not the most critical aspect of the Ravenwing environment. Ravenwing’s most important asset is the way in which our natural landscape promotes personal well-being on a deeper, more fundamental level.
A growing body of research is showing that time spent outside in natural environments—simply being in nature, not necessarily engaging in any particular activities—brings a host of benefits, including:
lowered blood pressure and stress hormone levels
reduced anxiety and nervous system arousal
enhanced immune system function
improved cognitive function
increased self-esteem and mood
+ More at Yale environment 360
Broad attention, engaged senses.
How and where we direct attention is of fundamental importance to the quality of our daily lives. There are so many specific tasks in modern life (some mundane, some rewarding, so many of them screen-based) that demand our highly-directed attention.
Attention Restoration Theory, a framework pioneered by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan and subsequently studied by many others, holds that “soft fascination” is a critical part of what makes nature so restorative to people and their cognitive function. The sights and sounds of the natural world combine to create an engaging environment in which people’s attention is broadly held, and creative brains are allowed to wander.
Studies suggest spending 120 minutes outside per week is the threshold for experiencing nature’s restorative benefits. Ravenwing makes access to land, water and sky an integrated part of daily life.
SEE THE COLUMBIA
Proximity to water is a fundamental human need, with measurable impacts on health and happiness.
— Read more at The Guardian
HEAR THE MEADOWLARK
Natural sounds people enjoy—especially flowing water and birds singing—lower blood pressure and improve cognition.
— Read more at Smithsonian Magazine
walk the land
Feeling connected to nature increases eudaimonic well-being—a type of contentment linked to meaningful purpose in life.
— Read more at American Psychological Association
COUNT THE STARS
Dark skies evoke wonder, support human Circadian rhythm, and protect wildlife habitat and migratory routes.
— Read more at BBC
A landscape that renews and restores.
The Ravenwing Ecosystem
Ravenwing is located in the shrubsteppe—a richly diverse, arid ecosystem that is composed of sagebrush and other woody shrubs on a rolling, grassy steppe. Ravenwing is at the northern edge of this great “Sagebrush Sea” that once covered a large portion of the American West.
Ravenwing encompasses 640 total acres, and is bordered on its eastern edge by over a mile of Columbia River waterfront. To the west of the river, 48 estate-sized lots, ranging from 1.5 to 10 acres, give way to 385 acres of protected open space. The Ranch features a wide variety of rock outcrops and is bisected by a dry riverine gulch, aptly named Dry Gulch. Footbridges and a network of walking trails have been thoughtfully integrated to allow easy access to this uniquely beautiful and rugged landscape.
