Nature Rx at Hiram College

Hiram College is a small, liberal arts college located in rural Northeast Ohio. The surrounding area is filled with local and state parks and nature preserves, as well as a national park. Additionally, there are many outdoor recreation companies and outdoor education opportunities. Hiram College itself has an abundance of green space on campus, a 550-acre field station just three miles from campus, and a 12-acre field station in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Along with these locations, many programs, such as student organizations, Tech & Trek, study away/study abroad, and curricular offerings provide opportunities for outdoor experiences throughout the college experience. 

Hiram is actively building on our tradition of active and engaged learning to establish cohesive curricular and co-curricular outdoor programming, of which Nature Rx is one important part. The vision of this outdoor programming in general is to offer a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable co-curricular outdoor program that enlivens and strengthens our diverse community, contributes to the physical and mental well-being of our students, supports student growth and leadership, and enhances an ethos of environmental stewardship. Regarding the Campus Nature Rx program specifically, the mission, vision, and plan follow below.

Mission: Nature Rx at Hiram College will provide all students with opportunities to improve their mental and physical health by spending time outdoors.

Vision: Nature Rx at Hiram College will be a collaboration between faculty members, health and counseling services, administrators, and other staff. Those participating will: 

•        Ensure a variety of regular outdoor programming, 

•        Improve access to and comfort in the outdoors for all groups, and

•        Encourage the utilization of green spaces for personal well-being.

This might include:

•        Leading, collaborating, or supporting a variety of outdoor programs

•        Maintaining a green space inventory

•        Prescribing or encouraging time in nature for students

•        Improving access to green space and outdoor equipment

•        Working with students to understand and alleviate their inhibitions about the outdoors

•        Providing training and workshops in outdoor leadership, wilderness first aid, and other related topics

•        Encouraging experiential learning, outdoors learning, and “trekking” in the curriculum