E.O. Wilson once said, “Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.” Wilson wasn’t the only one who believed in the significant impact of nature on well-being. Others, such as Claude Monet, Aristotle and even Albert Einstein, wrote about the nurturing ability of being outdoors. Even in higher education, Roger Ulrich, a professor and co-founder for the Center for Healthy Systems and Design at Texas A&M University, stated that just by “viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention/interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts.”
Given the extensive research demonstrating the advantages of nature, as part of the campus recreation and wellness world, our focus shifts to” How can we facilitate opportunities for our campus community to capitalize on these benefits?
One effective approach to leverage the benefits of the natural environment is to utilize your outdoor adventures program. At the University of North Florida, the primary aim of our outdoor Eco Adventures program is to develop and maintain unique innovative programs and services that integrate healthy individual behavior change and social connection in the natural environment. Eco Adventure offers free services and programs that range from our Osprey Challenge Course to Gear Checkout to Student Expeditions. Below are some wellness benefits observed through our services and activities:
1. Physical Health
The University of North Florida has one of the best natural assets of any Florida university, as it is uniquely placed in the middle of 500 acres of natural habitat. As an added benefit, our Eco Adventures unit oversees 12 miles of this natural habitat, including a nature trail system centered around a majestic lake. This location has been extremely beneficial in providing physical activity opportunities for our students such as:
- Guided hikes
- Paddle board yoga
- Daily lake activities featuring kayaking and canoeing
These activities allow students to take advantage of regular exercise and physical activity which enhances overall well-being.
2. Social Connection
As a society, we are becoming more and more disconnected. This divide can impact mental and emotional wellness, academic success, and retention. Therefore, we’ve prioritized crafting innovative activities that enable students to connect with peers from diverse backgrounds. Our offerings have included on-campus camping and speed-friendship dating at Eco Adventures, aimed at nurturing social connections and fostering a sense of community and belonging. Programs like these have assisted students in forming meaningful connections, which in turn have contributed to increased retention in other programs and services offered by our department.
3. Skill Development
Throughout the semester, Eco Adventures continuously provides opportunities for personal skill development and growth through our Osprey Challenge Course. Participants have the opportunity to learn, develop themselves, and become aware of the strengths and leadership skills they bring to others. The activities incorporated during the course enable individuals to cultivate communication skills, trust, camaraderie and leadership abilities through thoughtfully crafted challenges. It’s through this experiential learning process participants develop transferable skills that can be used in and outside of the classroom.
4. Stress Reduction
College is often a place for new adventures and excitement. However, those adventures are coupled with the stress of maintaining academic success. As emphasized throughout this article, nature and nature-based activities have a positive impact on mental and emotional health. Effective simple, low-impact solutions we’ve successfully implemented include:
- Provide hammocks for student to relax near our lake.
- Maintaining our trail system to ensure they are up to par for a midday run.
- Partnering with our Wellness Unit to provide stress reduction tips during special activities such as open zip nights.
Spending time in nature offers a variety of benefits to our students. Eco Adventures remains pivotal in fostering holistic well-being for our university community by offering a secure green space and engaging activities that cultivate connections.
