Campus Nature Rx

Campus Nature Rx @ Texas State University

Texas State University is a leader in Campus Nature Rx, integrating nature-based health and well-being initiatives across academics, recreation, and community engagement. The university offers a Bachelor's Degree in Outdoor Recreation, preparing students to manage programs that promote health and well-being through nature-based recreational activities. The program equips graduates for careers in commercial recreation, non-profits, and government agencies, all focused on enhancing quality of life through outdoor engagement. The School of Social Work also offers an outdoor adventure therapy course, combining theory, research, and experiential learning at outdoor locations like ropes courses and trails. This service-learning class helps students use adventure-based group work to foster healing and growth, while engaging with the community through outdoor wellness activities.

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment connects faculty, staff, students, and community members to nature through its mission of advancing environmental stewardship. Its educational programs encourage lifelong learning about the environment and people's relationship to it, offering hands-on opportunities at Spring Lake—one of the world's largest artesian springs. These experiences deepen understanding of the natural world while inspiring long-term engagement in environmental issues.

Campus Recreation further supports this mission through the Adventure Trip Program (ATP), offering outdoor activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, and backpacking. These trips emphasize active learning, environmental awareness, and community building, giving participants opportunities to connect with nature and improve well-being. The university also offers minors in Adaptive Recreation and Sport and Outdoor Recreation Leadership, equipping students to design and implement programs that promote health and inclusion.

Bobcat Farm, a student-run care farm at the Freeman Center, combines agricultural education with community wellness. Students practice sustainable farming while growing produce for the campus food pantry and local markets. This initiative promotes food security, mental well-being, and community connection.

University Camp, a 126-acre facility along the Blanco River, offers hiking, kayaking, and fishing, providing the campus community with a peaceful setting for outdoor recreation and wellness.

Together, these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem of education, research, and service, emphasizing nature’s role in supporting the health of the Texas State community.