UC Faculty & Staff Nature as Medicine Events

The Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC (Osher Center) has received funding from the Universal Provider Grant at the University of Cincinnati to promote campus health by engaging faculty from across the university to impact and support personal and campus health through inclusive and equitable nature engagement while expanding the reach of the University’s existing Campus Nature Rx initiatives.

Why is Nature as Medicine for UC Faculty/Staff

An impressive number of studies provide the evidence base for the health benefits of nature engagement including reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improved memory recall, concentration, sleep patterns, and overall mood. This program will include evidence-based nature as medicine education and experientials to promote faculty wellness, enhance connection to the campus community and increase engagement in teaching and connecting with students. Faculty will be equipped with the skills and evidence-base to promote the benefits of time in nature, the resources to provide course instruction outdoors and to serve as a nature as medicine resource to their students and university colleagues.

Virtual Nature as Medicine Introductions (No-Cost)

This 45-minute virtual course led by Dr. Barbara Walker via Zoom will be open to the entire UC faculty community and will contain empirical evidence on the mental and physical benefits of being in nature and include information on utilizing available Campus Nature Rx resources.

All faculty/staff who attend one of the virtual Nature as Medicine Introduction sessions and are interested in furthering their training/knowledge will be eligible to register for one of the immersive Nature as Medicine retreats.

Immersive Nature as Medicine Retreats (No-Cost)

Faculty and staff who attend one of the virtual Nature as Medicine introductions will be eligible to register and participate in an Immersive Nature as Medicine Retreat at no-cost. 

The half-day (4-hour) immersive retreat session will be held at the UC Field Center in Harrison, OH on the following dates and will each be limited to 15 registrants. Registrants will choose one date to attend. A nutritious meal will be served.

• Friday, April 4, 2025, from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Friday, April 11, 2025, from 1-5 p.m.
  

As a group, participants are guided through a defined sequence of invitations to slow down, allow the senses to open, and experience the environment to deepen the reciprocal relationship between participants and nature. Faculty participants will learn the science behind forest therapy and the benefits of spending time in nature. They will be given the tools to incorporate nature as medicine concepts and experiences into their professional and personal lives. Experiential immersive training is based on the established model created by INFTA (International and Nature Forest Therapy Alliance), and led by facilitators Barbara Walker, PhD and Kelly Lyle, MHA, MS who are certified by the INFTA.

Learn More about Planetary Health & Nature as Medicine