The Benefits of Being in Nature (and Why We Built The Oasis Around It)

We didn't set out to build a wellness retreat — we set out to build an adventure park. But the more time we've spent watching guests move through our forest trails and creek, the more obvious it's become that the setting itself is doing almost as much work as the activities are.

It Doesn't Take Long

Researchers at Cornell found that as little as 10 minutes in a natural outdoor setting is enough to measurably improve mood and lower stress — no strenuous activity required, just sitting or walking somewhere with real trees and open air. Benefits kept building up to about 50 minutes before leveling off, which happens to line up nicely with a single round of activities here.

More Than Just a Feeling

The American Heart Association points to roughly two hours a week in nature as a research-backed threshold for meaningful health benefits — reduced anxiety, better mood, and even measurable drops in mental fatigue after a walk outdoors. Time in a forest setting specifically has been linked to real improvements in low mood, which is one more reason a day surrounded by trees does more for you than a day spent almost anywhere else.

Our Guests Already Feel It

We hear this from guests constantly, in their own words. It's a stress reliever. An amazing place for a getaway from the city and stress. A relaxing, breathtaking experience. Nobody's citing a study when they write that — they're just describing what a day away from the city, surrounded by forest and creek water, actually does to a person.

A Full Day of It

That's really the case for us: a day at The Oasis isn't just zipline and ATV and laser tag stacked back to back — it's hours spent under a forest canopy, next to blackwater creeks, away from traffic and screens, whether you're catching your breath between activities or just sitting by the water. The adventure gets people out the door. The nature is what they remember.

Come get your dose of it — book a day at The Oasis and see what a few hours outdoors can do.