Ma’yan Tikvah holds its services and other events outside for the joy and connection to the rest of the natural world, for a sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves, and for the healing aspects of being in nature. In doing so, just as in a city we take care crossing the street, in the woods we need to take care as well. The mitzvah sh'mirat haguf - care for the body, reminds us that caring for our physical selves is a sacred responsibility.

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To take care outdoors reminds us to be in good relationship with ongoing creation in the more-than-human world we encounter outside and to be familiar with the plants and animals and weather so we can make good judgments about our own behavior.

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Learn more: Some places to learn more about hiking in the woods and the life we find there include the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Peterson and Audubon field guides are helpful for learning about the plants and animals around you. There are many useful nature ID apps available for your smartphone, which you can explore here. 

An important way to care for the Earth and its inhabitants is to follow Leave No Trace practices. Leave No Trace is based on seven principles, including “know before you go” to plan ahead for safety, carrying out trash and disposing of it responsibly, staying on trails to avoid causing erosion and other environmental harms, and practicing fire safety.

 

Learn More: For more information on Leave No Trace practices, see the AMC’s guide.

Here are some general preparedness and hiking tips:

• Check before you begin your trip to make sure you have everything you need.

• Wear appropriate clothing for the season and trail conditions. Dress in layers, so you can adjust your clothing as needed. Consider the worst conditions you might reasonably expect on your hike.

• Know The 10 Essentials for being outdoors in nature, which include a portable first-aid kit, extra water, food, and clothing, and sun protection.

• Bring water with you, and drink regularly.

• Protect yourself from potentially disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes by wearing long sleeve clothing and long pants, and using a mosquito or tick repellant. Check for ticks after your hike. 

• Wear sunscreen or other forms of sun protection as appropriate.

• Respect the weather. If conditions change suddenly for the worse, be prepared to turn around, or if that’s impossible, seek shelter nearby.

• Respect your group’s physical conditions. Choose hikes that are within the current abilities of your group. If someone is feeling unwell, or the group is not making the progress to your destination you’d hoped, be prepared to turn around or shorten your hike. The woods will be there another day.

• Familiarize yourself with poisonous plants and venomous animals.

• Do not consume unfamiliar fungi or plants.

• When possible, travel with a companion. Let others know where you will be and what time you expect to return.

• Never feed or approach wild animals.

Learn more: These tips were adapted from New England Forestry  See the AMC Guide to the 10 Essentials for more information on what to bring hiking. If you wish to become more proficient in first aid to be available to your group in an emergency, Wilderness First Aid courses are available, for example through the AMC or REI.