Give the Gift of Experiencing Nature

With gift-giving season arriving, and the wish lists assembling, now is the perfect time to consider giving the gift of experiences to our family and friends, which will be cherished and bring lots of happiness.

Research shows that experiences like a concert, nature hike, vacation or even a dinner out brings more happiness than material items because it lasts longer. Researchers Erica J. Boothby and colleagues from Yale University found that sharing an experience with another person, even without communicating, amplified each individual's experience. Events become a part of our personal history. Giving the gift of experience is a powerful bonding agent.

If you want to make that person on your "nice list" really happy this holiday season, consider gifting a Redwing Institute Culture and Nature Discovery Walk. This experience will have the participants enjoy an unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Toronto's First Nations people, awaking all the senses - taste, touch, smell, sound and sight through food, music, sacred plants and the breath-taking natural beauty of the Humber River Valley.

As the gift giver, you too will benefit from your experiential purchase:

According to a recent study by behavioural psychology researchers, Jesse Walker, Amit Kumar and Thomas Gilovich, over 62% of participants enjoyed a boost in gratitude from their experiential purchases compared to their material ones. "People are more grateful for what they've done than what they have. That is, feelings of gratitude are inspired more by the trips we take, the venues we visit, and the meals we eat rather than the gadgets, furniture, or clothes we buy," confirms Amit Kumar, currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Chicago's Booth School of Business.

Feeling grateful has been associated with increasing well-being, reduced visits to the doctor's office, enhanced social connection, improved sleep quality, decreased feelings of envy and depression and an increased sense of meaning and life satisfaction. The researchers found that people are likely to feel grateful for purchases that connect them to others, enhance their sense of self, and encourage them to appreciate what they've purchased for its intrinsic value, not for how it compares with what others have purchased.

Redwing Institute was awarded the 2016 "Unique Experience of the Year" for Toronto, by the Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards for the Culture and Nature Discovery Walk. The programs are based in nature and grounded in the science of positive psychology, the scientific study of human flourishing and well-being, focused on our strengths and what's right about us. 

Tours will take place during the Spring, Summer and Fall, so during the winter months the anticipation for the tour will add to their feelings of excitement and enjoyment. The Holiday Gift Cards can be purchased in a variety of denominations from $25 to $1,000 online at redwinginstitute.com.

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