Walking is one of the simplest and most impactful ways for older adults to stay healthy and engaged. Regular walks can improve cardiovascular health, support joint mobility, boost balance and even enhance mood and cognitive function. Just as importantly, walking offers a chance to connect with nature and with others, turning everyday movement into meaningful adventure.
Engaging Experiences
Mapping It Out
Equipped with years of experience mapping trees, Jim answered a “desperate plea” during a grounds committee meeting to map the trails: “Can anyone help make a map of the trees?” he recalls. Using high-resolution imagery from Google Earth and working with data previously collected by residents Dennis Evans and the late Bill Preston, Jim was able to identify individual trees across campus. This was no small feat, considering that the entire Collington campus is an accredited arboretum. “Mapping the trails and walkways on this detailed imagery was a natural by-product of mapping all the trees,” Jim explained.
Accessibility Is Key
Accessibility is an essential feature of the trail system and a very important consideration in a community like Collington, according to Jim. After noticing that earlier trail maps of the Collington system didn’t include paved and covered walkways, he made it a priority to create a more detailed version. Most importantly for residents, his new trail map includes the many benches located on the trails and walkways, accommodating a wide range of mobility levels.
Off the Beaten Path
Beyond the mapped routes, there is also the freedom to step off the trails and encounter quieter corners of the Collington campus. Walkers can wander toward a serene retention pond or discover tucked-away spots ideal for reflection, birdwatching or simply enjoying a moment of tranquility, especially welcome in today’s fractured world. “The unpaved trails can lead to remarkable discoveries,” remarked Jim. According to Cory Hall, Collington’s associate director of sales and marketing, “Our campus is a haven, a green sanctuary just about 11 miles from our nation’s capital.”
An Educational Resource
“The educational focus of an arboretum changes the tenor of the journey,” Jim added. “Bringing the attention of the walker and hiker to that variety enriches the experience.” With nearly 100 trees and plants already labeled (and some 150 more to be added), each outing offers an eye-opening opportunity to learn.
Standout Features
Indeed, the trails have their highlights. For Jim, a favorite is the beaver dam along the Bald Hill branch of the Patuxent River. “The dam is often washed out in brutal storms, but the beavers always come back with their construction skills,” he said. A recent discovery was the numerous hickory trees on the way to the beaver dam. “They turned out to be bitternut hickories, which are profuse underfoot but spurned by the squirrels due to their bitterness.” On that same path, said Jim, is the great American beech, matriarch of the many small beeches that dot the landscape. “The fact that they hold on to their pale brown leaves throughout winter adds color to our hikes.”
Our Endless and Proper Work
In the words of poet Mary Oliver, Jim sums up the spirit of the trails: “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”