Campus Nature Rx

Campus Nature Rx @ University of Arkansas

Founded in 1871 as a land-grant institution, the University of Arkansas is the flagship of the University of Arkansas System. Our 33,610 students represent all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The U of A has 10 colleges and schools offering more than 273 academic programs. 

Our picturesque campus is located in Fayetteville in the hilly northwest corner of Arkansas and includes two arboreta overlooking the Ozark Mountains. Some of the nation’s best outdoor amenities and most spectacular hiking trails are within a short drive of campus.

The Campus Nature Rx (CNRx) program at UARK seeks to reduce barriers to mental health services to our campus community by promoting opportunities to explore self and others through nature-based activities. College students are at a higher risk of experiencing anxiety issues due to the challenges and stressors that come with balancing academic work and parental expectations with their social lives, extracurricular activities, and the pressing expectation that they will solidify their career decisions, in addition to the adjustment of leaving home. While CAPS has long offered group therapy sessions to address these issues, many students are unwilling or unable to participate in these process groups due to perceived stigma, difficulty acknowledging the extent of their problems, or discomfort in sharing openly with others. Adventure therapy is a metaphor-driven intervention, allowing students to process their circumstances at a level where they are comfortable while providing rich opportunities for exploring interpersonal functioning from a new perspective.