New Paper on the Beneficial Impacts of Nature Exposure for Amazon Employees; Results Suggest Stress Reduction Benefits

In these winter times when staying indoors feels especially magnetic, it’s important to reflect on the myriad of benefits that nature exposure can provide for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being — especially as employees throughout the US and across industries continue to report elevated levels of work stress. 

Nature and Health Researcher Kathleen Wolf Featured in Recent White House Fact Sheet

As the climate continues to change, so too must our response in how we address it. Cities in the Pacific Northwest and all across the United States experienced high heat events in summer 2021. 

Nature is Nurture: Outdoors are Key to Children’s Health, Buffer to Pandemic Stress

Treva Lind · Union-Bulletin · November 5, 2021
Featuring Dr. Amber Fyfe-Johnson, a Nature and Health researcher
Green spaces near homes and schools bring measurable benefits for children both in physical activity and mental health, according to widespread data. 

Call for Special Issue Papers: Nature and Health deadline Nov. 19th

The Special Issue of Ecopsychology is open to submissions on other work in the nature and health field, within the categories below, and also listed here, along with details about the issue. 

Children with Access to Nature are Mentally and Physically Healthier

Andrei Ionescu · Earth.com · September 30, 2021
Featuring Amber Fyfe-Johnson and Dr. Pooja Tandon, Nature and Health researchers
According to a massive review of data from almost 300 studies, researchers at Washington State University and the University of Washington have confirmed that exposure to nature leads to a variety of health benefits in children. 

Science Backs Nature as Key to Children’s Health

WSU Insider · September 29, 2021
Featuring Dr. Amber Fyfe-Johnson, a Nature and Health researcher
The presence of greenspaces near homes and schools is strongly associated with improved physical activity and mental health outcomes in kids, according to a massive review of data from nearly 300 studies. 

Washington Trails: When War Leads to Trauma, Trails May Lead the Way Out

Up until recently, there have been very few studies on how being outside and hiking might positively improve the functioning and quality of life for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Washington Trails: What Researchers are Discovering About how and why Being Outside is so Good for us.

Time spent in nature is good for you. Whether you’ve known that consciously or not, it’s likely that the physical and mental benefits have played a role in why you get outside and hike. 

UW Tri-campus Forest Bathing Map

The tri-campus Forest Bathing map represents the collective action of the UW Sustainability Action Plan Engagement Committee (Lauren Updyke, Lauren Brohawn, Toren Elste, Ellen Moore, Cheryl Wheeler, and Daimon Eklund). Daimon created the forest bathing map using Arc GIS StoryMap with site recommendations and photos provided by Alexa (UW Bothell), Cheryl (UW Seattle), and Ellen Moore (UW Tacoma). 

How Nature Nurtures Us in Seattle Parks on July 12th

On July 12, 2021, researchers and practitioners from Seattle explored the physical and mental health benefits of nature connection in an urban setting. During this online panel organized by Nature and Health, the community discussed questions like:

What does the research show about how nature is good for us?