NW Nature and Health Symposium | May 21
Intellectual House | Seattle, Wa
We’re only 28 days away from our 8th annual Northwest Nature and Health Symposium in Seattle! This year’s event is packed with inspiring talks from a diverse mix of fields, including neuroscience, entrepreneurship, health equity, and landscape architecture. During the lunch hour, you can pursue a poetry gallery from The Nature of Our Times while connecting with Nature and Health advocates from across the Pacific Northwest. In the afternoon, join us for an inspiring transdisciplinary panel on land-based healing, where you’ll hear firsthand from a profound group of regional experts about their transformative journeys. This is your chance to engage directly with the panelists, ask questions, and deepen your understanding of land-based healing. Take a moment to explore their stories below.
Land-Based Healing Panel
This panel will be moderated by Michelle Johnson-Jennings, PhD.
- Jeff ᎦᏃᎭᎵᏙ Corntassel, PhD, Cherokee Nation, Professor, Indigenous Studies, University of Victoria
- Michelle Johnson-Jennings, PhD, Choctaw Nation, Executive Co-Director, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute
- Hillarie Maddox, MS, Consultant & Creative, Rewild Learning + Black Girl Country Living
- Launa Payne, Xa’xtsa First Nation, Executive Director, Rise Up Indigenous Wellness
- Friendly Vang-Johnson, MPP, BIPOC Community Organizer, Farmer Advocate, Friendly Hmong Farms
REGISTER BY MAY 6
We are deeply grateful for REI Cooperative Action Fund’s support of the symposium and programs across the country that are working toward a more equitable outdoors.
Community Dinner | June 10
Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden | Seattle, Wa
From curious students to passionate community leaders, our community dinners are open to anyone eager to discuss the health benefits of nature and champion equitable access to green spaces. These gatherings bring together voices from all walks of life—activists, researchers, policy makers, and neighbors—to share ideas, shape solutions, and spark lasting collaborations at the intersection of nature and health.
Our June dinner will feature speed talks from three JPB Environmental Health Fellows:
- Michael Anastario, PhD, Assistant Professor, Health Sciences, Northern Arizona University
- Jose Guillermo “Memo” Cedeño Laurent, PhD, Director, Climate Adaptive and Restorative Environments (CARE) Lab
- Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, PhD, Environmental and Health Sciences, Spelman College
We hope that you will join us on June 10 at Fremont Brewing’s Urban Beer Garden for an evening of community, learning, and networking.
REGISTER BY June 1
We are deeply grateful for REI Cooperative Action Fund’s support of our community dinners and programs across the country that are working toward a more equitable outdoors.
National Get Outdoors Day | June 14
National Get Outdoors Day is the perfect time to lace up your hiking boots, grab your bike, or simply take a stroll. Connecting with nature isn’t just about getting some fresh air—it’s about nourishing our minds, bodies, and souls. Research shows that spending time outdoors can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and stress. So, whether it’s a hike through the woods, a picnic in the park, or simply lounging in your backyard, make some time to soak up the beauty of our great outdoors.
In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day on June 14, 2025, many day-use recreation sites in national forests and state parks are free. Visit our Free National and State Park Day webpage for more details.
In the first quarter of this year, our Research Collaborative has been busy working together on six papers that explore a range of nature and health topics, from climate change to adolescent-nature interactions. Here are some of the key highlights:
- Safeguarding Nature and Cities in a Burning Country
Shared values unite Americans in the face of crisis — the importance of the country’s natural heritage, the well-being of communities, and the necessity of protecting nature across urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes.
- A Review of the Effects of Climate Change on Visitor Use in Us Public Lands and Waters
This report reviews the literature on how climate change is influencing visitor use in the United States and how visitor use may be affected in the future.
- The Psychological Benefits of Open-Water (Wild) Swimming
Using survey data from 1,200 people across 19 different countries, researchers found that outdoor swimming was linked to positive well-being and open-water swimming was linked to higher well-being than open-air pool swimming.
View all Papers
Free National and State Park Days
From lush temperate rainforests and rugged coastlines to alpine meadows and glacier-capped peaks, the Pacific Northwest is home to an abundance of diverse state and national parks. During select holidays throughout the year, entrance to some parks are free. These fee-free days provide a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite.
Self-Guided Forest Bathing
How do you relax and recharge? You are invited to learn and practice forest bathing, a nature immersion activity that has been shown to increase health and well-being. To get started, check out the handout or follow along with the audio guide, courtesy of UW Botanic Gardens.
UW Campus Nature
There are many different ways people interact with nature, and it can happen on various scales. UW Sustainability has put together some resources to help the UW community connect with nature, whether that means taking a quick break on campus or getting away from the urban environment for a hike or other activity.
Our cross-cutting research and policy engagement improves the lives of our communities. With your support, we can better understand how nature affects human health, how to best leverage these benefits, and how to implement policies that make nature more accessible to all communities.
Contributions of any size will help sustain our cutting-edge research, our community-building efforts, recognize equitable leaders in the field of nature and health, and support the next generation of researchers. Thank you.
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