Research consistently shows that even brief encounters with nature, such as five minutes outdoors, can lift mood, reduce stress, and restore attention. Inspired by those findings, Professor Sarah Bouchard, Department of Biology and Earth Science, used her sabbatical to develop Otterbein Outdoors, an initiative designed to encourage the Otterbein community to connect with nature. Central to the program is a web-based interactive map highlighting outdoor spaces and naturebased opportunities on and near campus.
As part of Bouchard’s sabbatical work, Otterbein also became a member of Campus Nature Rx, a global coalition of more than 110 colleges and universities committed to improving health, academic success, and sustainability through nature engagement.
The project was a collaborative effort involving Psychology Professor Michele Acker, Dean of Student Engagement Melissa Gilbert, and the student organizations Birderbein, Pollinators, and Plan-It Earth. Additional mapping data was provided by the Westerville Parks and Recreation Department, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Bouchard’s sabbatical project was supported by the Mark ’78 and Deborah ’77 Thresher Fellowship Fund.
