Reflecting on 2025
Dear Nature and Health Community –
As the year draws to a close, our small team paused to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we’re heading next. Navigating the choppy waters of 2025 was no small task, but again and again, we were buoyed by the dedication, courage, and camaraderie that define the NW Nature and Health community.
In a year when federal support for parks, public health, and science waned, something powerful emerged. New partnerships took shape, trusted community leaders rose to the moment, and community-driven solutions filled critical gaps. These ground-up, collaborative efforts made us even more grateful for the strength and resolve of our local communities and leaders.
This year also marked an important internal milestone for our team as we concluded our first strategic planning journey. Along the way, we wrestled with big questions: Where can we make the biggest impact with limited resources? What are our strengths and where do we need to grow? How can our work best support communities among shifting funding landscapes and evolving priorities? Through thoughtful, iterative reflection, we arrived at a strategic plan we’re deeply proud of—one that we believe positions the Center for success over the next five years, even in uncertain and dynamic times.
We’re also proud to share that in 2025, we
- Co-authored 30 publications across multiple disciplines, including conservation, land-based healing, and olfaction (i.e., sense of smell).
- Kick-started an analysis to quantify the healthcare costs savings of spending time in nature in Washington state.
- Hosted our 8th annual symposium that drew nearly 125 attendees from across the region.
- Created plain language summaries for 72 of our publications.
- Coordinated two community dinnerss and reflected upon the connection and networking our dinners have consistently provided over the last decade.
As we look toward 2026, we are excited to continue growing and fostering community through our public events. We hope that you will join us for a community dinner with Rachel Berney, PhD on February 10, our 9th annual symposium on April 29, and a spring-summer community dinner with Dr. Sabine Thomas (date will be announced soon).
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We head into the new year grounded in purpose, strengthened by partnership, and hopeful about what we can build together.
The Nature and Health team
Greg, Josh, and Alicia
The Center is dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of all people and the planet through sound research, policy engagement, and community building. If you are passionate about uplifting student changemakers, supporting novel research, and building authentic communities, please consider supporting our work