Nurturing nature-connected campus communities that foster mental health, sustainability, and environmental stewardship
W&M Students, get your free, customized Park Prescription!
Scan this QR code to complete the form during the academic year to be referred to a local park by a peer Park Ambassador, based on your preferences.
Publication: Campus Nature Rx (2022)
PERL's director co-published an editorial in Frontiers in Psychology: Campus Nature Rx: How investing in nature interventions benefits college students.
Documentary Film: Nurture with Nature
Free! Watch the award-winning documentary short film produced by PERL Director, Dorothy Ibes, and filmmaker Tanya Stadelmann. Stream at nurturewithnaturefilm.com
PERL on Public Radio 🎤
PERL's director, Dorothy Ibes, talks urban parks and ecotherapy on public radio's "With Good Reason" (May 2021).
Campus Greenspace Map
The PERL team has been working hard, and now the W&M Campus Greenspace Map beta is live! Also find via the official William & Mary app.
Podcast Episodes:
In this episode of Sustainable Brain Podcast, "Nature as Medicine." PERL's Director talks about ecotherapy and Nature Rx on college campuses (June 2021)
PERL's Director discusses the benefits of nature on our mental health on William & Mary's Ways to Flourish podcast (March 2021).
Publication: Barriers to Nature Engagement By Youth of Color (2021)
A collaboration with Dr. Don Rakow (Cornell) this article outlines the physical, psychological, and socio-economic barriers that cause inequity in nature access and prevent youth of color from spending more time in parks, greenspace, and nature sites. Published in the journal of Children, Youth and Environments. Link to article. Email dcibes@wm.edu for full-text.
Feature Story by Richard Louv: "Outdoors for All: Access to Nature is a Human Right"
"In May 2019, Richard Louv wrote a compelling cover story for Sierra Magazine, calling for recognition of nature as a basic human right for all people—and for recognition of the inherent rights of nature" (childrenandnature.org).
Promote DEI Outdoors
Check out the guide: Anti-racism in the Outdoors: Resources related to inclusion, diversity, equity and access of black, indigenous, and people of color in parks and greenspaces.
W&M Students: Apply to Join PERL!
Are you a W&M student interested in joining PERL? We recruit students to our team twice a year. Applications are taken on a rolling basis and are reviewed 4-6 weeks before the start of each semester. Fill out the PERL Team Application today!
