Nature & Health Center
The UNF Nature and Health Center explores the reciprocal relationship between people and the natural world through a One Health framework—recognizing that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. As part of the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE), the Center leads research, education, outreach, student programs that emphasize nature’s role in enhancing mental and physical well-being while promoting environmental stewardship for future generations.
The Center is a proud member of the Campus Nature Rx Network and serves as the official Florida chapter of the national Nature and Health Alliance, helping to advance evidence-based nature solutions to public health challenges.
Education
The Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE) is home to UNF’s Environmental Studies minor and the new interdisciplinary B.S. in Environmental Science (2025), which will result in more students in the community focused on nature and health through internships and other experiential learning opportunities.
IERE’s Career Pathways Program supports workforce development by equipping students with the academic foundation, practical skills, and professional readiness needed to make meaningful contributions in northeast Florida and beyond. The Digital Badge Program enhances lifelong learning and professional growth for students and community members through micro-credentials in Environmental Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship, with a new Nature and Health badge currently in development. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the Florida Field School, where immersive, nature-based experiences are designed to support both learning and well-being.
Outreach
The Nature and Health Center is deeply rooted in the Jacksonville community, building strong, long-term partnerships through collaborative events, educational outreach, and shared research initiatives. By serving on local boards such as the Timucuan Parks Foundation’s Healthy Parks Advisory and working alongside partners like the Nature and Health Alliance, Children & Nature Network, REI, and the Winston Family Foundation, the Center fosters meaningful relationships that amplify its impact.
These partnerships have laid the foundation for innovative community programming, including Florida's first-ever Nature and Health Symposium—a milestone event that brings together leaders in health, environment, and education to explore the transformative power of nature as a tool for individual and community well-being.
Student Programs
Student engagement is central to the Center’s mission. Programs are designed to provide interdisciplinary, hands-on experiences that connect academic learning with wellness and community impact.- The Nature Prescription Rx Program encourages students, faculty, and staff to connect with the natural world as a pathway to improved mental, physical, and emotional health. Rooted in the growing national movement to “prescribe nature,” the program leverages UNF’s unique campus ecosystems—such as the Sawmill Slough Preserve—to promote time outdoors through guided trips, on-campus events, and indoor nature experiences. Whether paddling on Lake Oneida, walking campus trails, or exploring local beaches, Nature Rx empowers the Osprey community to recharge, reflect, and build resilience through nature-based experiences.
- The Youth Environmental Leadership Program (YELP) offers a competitive, year-long pre-college experience for high school students. Participants explore environmental science and stewardship while developing leadership skills and designing capstone projects that increase access to nature. This interdisciplinary approach connects public health, urban planning, and conservation, preparing students to lead initiatives that promote equitable access to parks, green spaces, and the natural world.
YELP Past Students and Projects
- The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a merit-based, two-semester scholarship program open to undergraduate UNF students from all majors. Through academic enrichment, hands-on projects, and professional mentorship, students develop the skills to lead environmental initiatives. Past projects (hyperlink to ELP past projects - not specific) have included transforming gardens into on-campus enterprises, exploring the mental health benefits of plant propagation, and promoting urban tree planting as a public health strategy.
Research
The UNF Nature and Health Lab, housed within IERE, serves as a collaborative hub for interdisciplinary research on the dynamic relationship between people and the natural world. From studying how nature supports human well-being to understanding how human activity impacts ecosystems, the lab drives inquiry at the intersection of environment and health.
Through IERE’s Research Seed Grants, faculty across UNF are empowered to launch innovative, cross-disciplinary projects that address urgent environmental challenges—laying the foundation for future external funding and real-world impact.
UNF Nature & Health Symposium:
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