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Business card sized prescription for nature that is provided to patients with additional information from their provider about what it is and how to use it.
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Posters placed in Student Health and Counseling Services offices and waiting rooms reinforcing the power of nature for well-being. Each features scenes from outdoor spaces located on the UC Davis campus.
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Nature Rx worksheet that is given by the provider to the patient to help them understand the reason for the prescription and how they can best fulfill it.
UC Davis Nature Rx: Prescribing the Outdoors for Student Health
Category
Engagement > Targeted Constituency Engagement
Description
Best of CASE District VII Award
Institution: University of California, Davis
Title of entry: UC Davis Nature Rx: Prescribing the Outdoors for Student Health
About this entry: The UC Davis Nature Prescription, or Nature Rx, program is redefining how universities utilize their outdoor spaces—not just as aesthetic landscapes, but as essential health and wellness resources. A collaboration between Student Health and Counseling Services, the Arboretum and Public Garden, and Healthy UC Davis, the program’s strategic goal is to integrate nature-based wellness into campus healthcare practices to support student well-being holistically.
In an era where younger generations are increasingly engaging with screens instead of their environment, prescribing time outdoors has become more important than ever. Research shows that spending time in nature reduces stress, improves mood, enhances cognitive function, and fosters resilience—yet students often need a structured reminder to reconnect with the natural world.
Launched in early 2024, approximately 20 UC Davis healthcare providers have now formally prescribed time in nature, giving 157 of their student patients, a Nature Rx business card with a QR code linking to an interactive guide with activity ideas, campus nature locations, and reflection tools. Providers have embraced this simple, research-backed tool as a valuable addition to their holistic care approach, appreciating its ease of use and positive reception by patients.
Promotional posters, a dedicated website, social media campaigns, and follow-up emails further reinforce the message, ensuring that both students and providers have ongoing support. By transforming outdoor spaces into vital health resources, UC Davis sets a national precedent, proving that campus landscapes are also fundamental to student success and well-being.