Campus Nature Rx Network
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous - Aristotle
Registration now open, 2023 CNRx Symposium
When: Friday, Oct 27th, 2023 | 12:30pm- 4:30pm EST
Who: Free, open to the public
How: Register for the Zoom event today!.
View the agenda here.
About the Symposium
Mental health issues are on the rise among college students, and universities are struggling to support them. The pandemic’s impact has only magnified these trends, resulting in increased occurrences of depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions. Research supports what we inherently know: nature engagement provides myriad benefits to our health and well-being. The Campus Nature Rx Network (CNRx) brings together the people behind the organized programs at colleges and universities that encourage and support students and other campus community members to spend time in nature for improved health & well-being.
Oct 27th, 2023 (12-4pm Eastern), we invite you to attend our 4rd annual symposium, held virtually via Zoom. Symposium presentations and discussions will share the work of innovative programs, provide tips and ideas for campus nature programming and collaborations, and offer the opportunity to connect with others to discuss research, teaching, and programming collaborations.
The meeting is free and open to the public, and is particularly geared towards campus faculty, staff, and students as well as others interested in starting or expanding campus nature programs, curious about the movement and wanting to learn more, and/or looking to network and share ideas with like-minded people.
The tentative agenda will be posted on online in mid-September. Watch recordings of previous symposia here.
About CNRx
Research conducted for the book, ‘Nature Rx: Improving College-Student Mental Health,’ revealed that a number of colleges and universities had recently turned to an ancient source – time in nature – to contribute to their student’s health and well-being.
To advance this burgeoning movement, in January 2019, representatives from four campuses -- Cornell University, University of California-Davis, University of Minnesota, and William & Mary-- met to discuss each school’s unique approach. During this meeting, it was determined the members wanted a means of sharing their successes, failures, and innovative ways of encouraging college students to engage with nature. This led to the creation of the Campus Nature Rx Network.
CNRx is a coalition of over 50 colleges and universities dedicated to supporting campus mental and physical health through inclusive and equitable nature engagement teaching, research, and outreach.
An annual symposium each Fall keeps members connected and informed about novel approaches to campus nature engagement, while providing opportunities for cross-campus discussions and collaborations.
Don Rakow (Cornell University) and Dorothy Ibes (William & Mary) are the co-directors of the CNRx network.
Please refer to the members page and reach out to the network members directly for more information on individual programs.
CNRx is supported by generous grant from the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-driven nonprofit founded by REI that directly supports organizations creating more accessible and inclusive outdoor spaces and places for everyone. Learn more at REIfund.org