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Wellness

a group of students are doing landscaping work in a field of shrubbery and small trees. A sign in the background says "Penn Park Orchard."

Penn focuses on promoting inclusive, innovative, and impactful initiatives for campus wellness. Not only are these initiatives for sustainability overall but they also raise the well-being of our communities. Weaved into our university’s fabric, sustainability is as a formal component of the Wellness at Penn Initiative.

Penn Wellness’ vision is to create a campus experience that integrates the science, theory, and practice of wellness. We are accomplishing this by infusing eight domains of Wellness throughout the Penn experience. The domains of Wellness include physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational, and spiritual.

By focusing on wellness holistically, Penn is dedicated to supporting students, staff, and faculty while creating a campus-wide community of care. All wellness initiatives are grounded in collaboration and fueled by CARE: compassion, accessibility, respect, and empowerment. Our team and partners offer a range of opportunities to access support, clinical resources, education, and practical tools to engage with one's health and well-being meaningfully. 
 

30x30 Nature Challenge

30x30 Nature Challenge
Civic Engagement
Natural Environment
Wellness
Faculty
Staff
Students

The 30x30 Challenge encourages the Penn community to spend 30 minutes in nature for all 30 days of April.

Sun filtering through trees in front of building
Purpose

Over the last decade, researchers have been documenting what many of us know intuitively - that nature is good for our health and well-being. Regularly spending time outdoors can reduce stress and boost immunity, energy levels, and creativity. 

Activites

Challenge yourself to spend at least 30 minutes outdoors in nature each day for all 30 days of April. Eat your lunch outside, go for a walk, or enjoy a local park! 

Connect

Tag us on Instagram (@pennsustainability), Twitter (@greenpenn), or Facebook (@PennSustainability) and use the hashtags #Penn30x30Challenge and #NatureRxPenn in your post to share your pictures of spending time outside. 

Get Involved

Check back in March for the link to register for the challenge here and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed of any updates.

My Climate Story

Civic Engagement
Wellness
Alumni
Faculty
Staff
Students

My Climate Story is a public research project that encourages participants to consider global climate change on a personal scale.

Student holding renewable energy sign
Purpose

In workshops for climate storytellers from the sixth grade on up, participants are sharing how we’re making sense of global climate change. These stories connect big data to real and personal experiences. They show how local climate impacts are shaping life stories, and how they’re making us feel.

NatureRx

Natural Environment
Wellness
Faculty
Staff
Students

An initiative built around writing prescriptions to spend time out in nature.

Student sitting in circle on grass
Purpose

Since research has shown that time spent in nature can have a positive impact on our health and wellbeing, our hope is for Penn students, faculty, and staff to spend time outdoors in nature to reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy, and have protective, restorative time.