The Happiness Walk:  Finding Happiness in the, Sac State Urban Forest

ABOUT THE HAPPINESS WALK

• One of the most recognizable features of Sacramento State University is what can be described as its “urban forest.” As such, it offers anyone who takes a walk across campus a wonderful opportunity to get some exercise while enjoying the benefits that come from being attentive to the green world that provides the living context for the campus infrastructure.
• Numerous studies have demonstrated that connecting with nature can yield a bevy of valued outcomes, both physical and mental, which combine to promote significant levels of happiness. This slide show describes a guided walk focused on our urban forest. We call it the Happiness Walk.
• The Happiness Walk is designed to guide you on a a walk across campus, and in the process become familiar with some of the more impressive and unusual trees that make Sacramento State a remarkably beautiful campus.
• You will be directed to “exemplar trees.” These are trees that have been chosen as examples of their species. Once you learn how to identify a species from your observations of an exemplar tree, you will be able to identify other trees of the same species. In this PowerPoint, a photo of each exemplar is provided and in some cases a close-up of the leaves.

Click the tree above to access the Happiness Walk PDF