Just What the Doctor Ordered

By Grace Condon '25, April 25, 2024

NatureRX chapter takes advantage of IC’s natural lands.

Members of the Ithaca College chapter of NatureRx took part in a tree identifying activity as part of the group's monthly "frolics."

(Photo by Grace Condon '25)

One of the best things about Ithaca College is how it is nestled into the natural beauty of the region, with lush trees, trails, and greenery in abundance.

For students, faculty, and staff, that means there’s ample opportunity to experience nature — and its benefits — without leaving campus.

That’s one of the aims of the Ithaca College chapter of NatureRx, a national network of colleges and universities dedicated to improving student mental health through time spent in nature.

In the book “Nature Rx: Improving College-Student Mental Health,” authors Donald Rakow and Gregory Eells analyzed programming by colleges and universities encouraging the use of nature as a resource for student well-being.

In January 2019, representatives from four campuses—Cornell University, the University of California-Davis, the University of Minnesota, and William & Mary—met to discuss each of the school’s approaches. It was determined that the creation of Campus NatureRx could help campuses share their innovative ways of encouraging students to spend time in nature.

Participants were given sheets with information on branching patterns and buds to help them identify trees. (Photo by Grace Condon)

TheIthaca College chapter began a few years later as a subcommittee of the IC Natural Lands Committee. “I got involved with the IC Natural Lands Committee in the Fall of 2021,” said professor of writing Eleanor Henderson. “One of the projects the committee identified was starting a NatureRx chapter.”

Henderson describes the driver behind NatureRx as time outside being “a prescription for better mental health.”

“Our committee members all come from different parts of the campus, but we’re all interested in spending more time in nature, connecting with each other, and taking in surroundings,” Henderson says.

Cliff-Simon Vital, a committee member and assistant director at the BIPOC Unity Center, believes that the walks are beneficial for student and faculty health.

“We know that [nature] decreases cortisol levels,” he said. “We know that it creates a meditative space.”

For the spring semester, committee member John D. Witkiewicz, a licensed mental health counselor with the college’sCenter for Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), came up with the idea of a monthly Nature Frolic event. The first consisted of a walk from Boothroyd Hall to the college’sNatural Lands.

Another frolic involved a tree identifying activity led by Marney Lieberman, a CAPS administrative assistant.

“When I participate in these walks, I find that my nervous system calms down. It’s a pretty tremendous feeling, after running around all day.”

Professor of writing Eleanor Henderson

On a beautiful 50-degree day, beginning at Hammond Health Center and ending at Muller Chapel, participants searched the trees for indications of their species and type. The campus has a wide variety of native and ornamental trees, which meant there was much to learn. Lieberman passed out a sheet to everyone with different guides on branching patterns and buds to help identify tree types.

After identifying several types of trees, the group walked to the pond by Muller Chapel, before ending the walk inside with tea and fresh-baked cookies.

For those who took part, one of the best parts of the frolic was connecting with and observing the sights and sounds of nature.

“I found that to be a great exercise in observation,” Henderson said. “When I participate in these walks, I find that my nervous system calms down. It’s a pretty tremendous feeling, after running around all day.”