About Us
About Mood Walks
The program is designed to encourage and support the mental and physical health of participants by exposing them to the healing effects of nature, being physically active and engaging with the community.
Mood Walks is led by CMHA Ontario, in collaboration with Hike Ontario and Conservation Ontario. The program has been available since 2013 and is now being expanded to include additional CMHA branches and community partners to offer Mood Walks in communities across the province.
Become a Partner
Mood Walks can be a great addition to your organization’s programming, benefiting clients, their families, staff and the local community.
CMHA Ontario
Lead Organization
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario is a non-profit, charitable organization. We work to improve the lives of all Ontarians through leadership, collaboration, and continual pursuit of excellence in community-based mental health and addictions services. Our vision is a society that embraces and invests in the mental health of all people. We are a trusted advisor to government, contributing to health systems development through policy formulation and recommendations that promote positive mental health. Our 27 local CMHA branches, together with community-based mental health and addictions service providers across the province, serve thousands of Ontarians each year.
Hike Ontario
Supporting Organization
Hike Ontario’s mission is to encourage walking, hiking, and trail development in Ontario. It seeks to be the province’s most valuable support resource for pedestrian trail users, hiking and walking groups.
Hike Ontario facilitates trail development throughout Ontario to enable trail maintenance and best hiking practices to enhance the quality of walking experiences. Hike Ontario also facilitates the development and functioning of hiking clubs and trail associations, advocates for participation, programs and promotion of education and research into the health benefits of recreational walking.
Mood Walks and Hike Ontario work together to provide courses in safe hiking and hike leadership in both wilderness and non-wilderness settings to host partners of the Mood Walks program. This training helps to ensure that all facilitators are educated on proactive and reactive risk management and proper trail etiquette to lead safe walking groups in all settings.
Conservation Ontario
Supporting Organization
Conservation Ontario is a non-profit association that represents Ontario’s 36 Conservation Authorities.
Conservation Authorities are community-based watershed management agencies whose mandate is to undertake watershed-based programs to protect people and property from flooding and other natural hazards and to conserve natural resources for economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Conservation Authorities collectively own and operate over 500 Conservation Areas with a total area of more than 150,000 hectares. More than 300 Conservation Areas are accessible to the public. They play an essential environmental, educational, and recreational role in Ontario and contribute to visitors’ physical and mental health. Hidden within these natural gems are lakes, rivers and streams, wetlands, dunes, forests, and natural heritage sites.
To plan your visit, explore www.ontarioconservationareas.ca and stay connected through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Additionally, you can learn more about the Step Into Nature Healthy Hikes campaign at www.healthyhikes.ca.