Campus Nature Rx

Campus Nature Rx @ University of Wisconsin-Madison

Campus Nature Rx @ UW-Madison is an interdisciplinary group of campus partners with a mission to improve our campus community’s health and empower students to discover, engage with, and regularly use the restorative natural spaces on campus. UW-Madison is located on an isthmus and has several natural areas around this unique land formation. Two notable natural areas are the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve and UW Arboretum. However, many of these areas are underutilized by students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, many campus community members are unaware of the benefits of time spent outdoors.

Campus Nature Rx @ UW-Madison was created in response to this issue. Our current initiative Thrive Outside works with UW students to understand their current use of outdoor spaces, address barriers to being in nature, and create tailored health interventions based on this information.  

Our chapter’s goals are: 

1. Improve physical and mental health: Provide opportunities and resources for students, faculty, and staff to connect with nature to improve overall health. 

2. Increase awareness: Educate the campus community on the evidence-based benefits of spending time in nature (e.g., improved concentration, sleep, mood). 

3. Enhance access and equity: Identify and promote accessible, safe, and inclusive natural spaces on and near campus for all members of the community. 

4. Facilitate clinical integration: Collaborate with campus health services to offer nature recommendations (such as prescriptions) as part of a holistic approach to well-being. 

Current committee members include staff and faculty from the following campus organizations: 

• University Health Services 

• UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve 

• Multicultural Student Center 

• Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture 

• School of Human Ecology 

• UW-Madison Extension 

• Facilities Planning & Management