According to UC Berkeley research, the awe we feel in nature can dramatically reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, exercise such as hiking done in groups has been shown to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
For these reasons, we intentionally included exercise and time in nature as part of the History, Healing and Hope Tour. In the Sanok area, Polish and Ukrainian teens will spend the day hiking together in the Bieszczady Mountains. In the Zakopane region, the Ukrainian teens embark on a Dunajec river rafting experience or a boat cruise on Czorsztyn lake (dependent on the weather conditions). There is also an excursion to Morskie Oko, which is the largest and most beautiful lake in the Tatra Mountains.
Supportive social interaction, expression, and play is also known to help reduce stress. Therefore, as we journey from Sanok to Zakopane, we stop to visit the “chocolate factory” in Korczyna, and on the way from Zakopane to Kraków , we visit the Gubałówka Hill to ride down the gravitational slides. From Kraków , we depart for a full day excursion to Energylandia the largest amusement park in Poland, offering 123 attractions located on 70 hectares – a good way to play, relax, laugh, and be a teenager!