Marketing Team
Izzy, Yulanda, Oliver
Embedded Files
Project Overview
Project Overview
Over the semester we raised awareness about Ecotherapy practices and events through multiple social media platforms and word-of-mouth. By combining social media outreach with in-person promotion, we attempted to close the gap between those that are online and offline. Each week, we shared social media content through instagram stories, videos, graphics, or YouTube videos, as well as educated those outside of class about Ecotherapy in a casual/conversation setting. In sharing information about events and practices we inspired nature-based wellness to encourage those that we reached to practice daily and mindful interaction with the environment.
Meet the team!
IZZY ANDERSON
Editing and video content participant
Outreach for PERL digital information stream (instagram posts, linktree, facebook, email, etc)
YULANDA TSAI
Graphic and poster design
Stamp card design and distribution
OLIVER SUN
Filming and editing long form videos
Website design
Earth day media coordinator
Our Audience
Our Audience
Our target audience includes students and faculty who are unfamiliar with ecotherapy, with a focus on individuals facing mental or physical health challenges—particularly those from marginalized communities, those experiencing anxiety or depressive disorders, and chronically online individuals who may lack regular contact with nature.
This group often faces barriers such as limited access to green spaces, time constraints, or skepticism about non-clinical wellness practices. Our engagement strategy addresses these needs by offering accessible, inclusive, and culturally sensitive content across digital platforms, while promoting low-barrier nature-based activities that support mental and physical well-being.
Theoretical Framework
Theoretical Framework
Stress Reduction Theory (SRT)
By sharing Ulrich’s findings, we can encourage individuals to get in a “dose” of nature using logos. By sharing data, people can be convinced by research to go out and activate their parasympathetic nervous system as well as t
Attention Restoration Theory (ART)
By promoting a variety of eco-events and sharing different ways to be creative in nature, we can reach many different people’s ‘soft fascination’ and create a variety of ways to get outside and let the directed attention rest.
Biophilia Hypothesis
The biophilia hypothesis supports our approach by highlighting humans' innate connection to nature—though not all individuals feel it. This justifies our word-of-mouth strategy: sharing what we learn in class, especially about biophilia, can shift perspectives and spark personal engagement. Evidence from Nature-Based Stress Management Courses (NBSC) shows that such interventions significantly reduce burnout, stress symptoms, and sick leave, while improving workability and long-term well-being. These findings underscore the urgent need to promote nature’s benefits, particularly among students at risk of stress-related health issues.
Background & Justification
Stress Recovery During Exposure to Natural and Urban Environments
Roger Ulrich and colleagues conducted one of the earliest and most often cited studies. Researchers presented a stressful movie to subjects and then each individual viewed one of six videos depicting various urban and natural environments. Data was obtained using both self-rating of stress levels and physiological indicators: heart period, muscle tension, skin conductance, and pulse transit time (which correlates with systolic blood pressure). Individuals who viewed natural versus built settings experienced more rapid and complete recovery. Stress recovery from nature views happened remarkably fast—in about 4 minutes —as can be seen in Figure 1.
Interior Plants May Improve Worker Productivity and Reduce Stress in a Windowless Environment
College students with more natural views from their dorm windows have scored higher on tests of capacity to direct attention, and rate themselves as able to function more effectively. The ability to focus attention and achieve a high level of cognitive functioning is important for success as a college student. In this study plants were added to a college computer lab. Students were more productive; demonstrating a 12% faster reaction time on computer tasks, and were less stressed (indicated by having lower blood pressure). Study participants also reported feeling more attentive and better able to concentrate in the presence of plants.
What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis
Through a meta-analysis of multiple studies, the authors found that even short periods—around 20–30 minutes—of green exercise (physical activity in natural environments) can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The benefits appear to level off after longer durations, suggesting that frequent, moderate exposure to nature is most effective. The study supports nature-based interventions as a low-cost, accessible tool for improving mental health.
Barriers to Nature Engagement For Youth Of Color
highlights how systemic racism, lack of access, cultural exclusion, and safety concerns limit outdoor experiences for youth of color. It calls for inclusive policies, community-driven programs, and representation to make nature more accessible and welcoming.
Data & Methods
Our methodology combines digital outreach with measurable engagement tools to assess impact. We tracked total social media interactions—likes, comments, and shares—across dedicated accounts, using analytics to evaluate reach and resonance.
Content include graphics, videos, and research-backed posts aligned with the Year of the Environment calendar. We also collaborated with the Office of Sustainability to share updates through official emails. This multi-channel strategy ensures consistent messaging and robust data collection for continuous refinement.
Our Results & Deliverables
Our Results & Deliverables
Social Media: Short form videos and graphics🫶
Word of mouth: At least 3 people who has nature barrier persuaded to go out in the nature per week. 60+ stamps/bracelet handed during earth day bash; 40+ bird maps handed out
Earth Day Showcase🌍
A Greener Future for Marteting Team
A Greener Future for Marteting Team
To ensure the success and sustainability of this project beyond our current team, we have outlined key next steps and resources for future student teams to continue promoting PERL, ecotherapy, and Nature Rx with consistency and impact.
Institutionalize the Initiative:
Continue collaborations with the Office of Sustainability and integrate Nature Rx messaging into campus wellness campaigns, academic departments, and ENSP programming to strengthen the initiative's presence and support.
Maintain a Digital Archive:
Create and regularly update a shared Google Drive containing graphics, videos, captions, analytics, and contact sheets (e.g., PERL leads, ENSP faculty, Office of Sustainability). This will streamline onboarding and ensure continuity in content tone and strategy.
Diversify Digital Platforms:
Expand reach by exploring new platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Future teams should tailor content to these formats, including ambient nature reels, relatable ecotherapy tips, and trend-adapted messaging to connect with broader student demographics.
Collect Feedback and Refine Strategy:
Conduct semesterly surveys to gather student feedback and monitor content engagement. Use this data to refine messaging, improve delivery formats, and better serve the evolving needs of the target audience.
Embed the Project in Academics:
To support long-term sustainability, embed the project within ENSP coursework, internship programs, or capstone opportunities. This ensures a steady flow of passionate student leadership and institutional support.
Resources to utilize for future teams:
Final thoughts
Final thoughts
What went well: This project really came together thanks to strong teamwork, creative energy, and a shared goal—to help students reconnect with nature in meaningful ways. One of our biggest strengths was making big ideas like ecotherapy and the dose of nature into tangible media content. We kept up a steady flow of content—videos, graphics, and posts—that helped us build momentum and a sense of community. Using different formats like short videos, infographics, and stories helped us reach a wide range of people. Earth day bash was a huge sucesss thanks to the stamp cards, it brought up people engagement level across all groups. We split up tasks clearly based on each person's strength: some focused on design and video editing, others handled research and writing, and a one person managed our social media and coordinated with the Office of Sustainability. That structure helped us get off to a strong start.
What to work on: One of the toughest parts was trying to cut through digital burnout. A lot of our audience spends so much time online that it's hard to get them to pause and engage—especially with wellness content, which can sometimes feel overdone. Also, while we worked well as a team, juggling different schedules made it tricky to keep things moving at times. In hindsight, we could’ve done a better job keeping roles and responsibilities clear as the project went on.
Lessons learned:
This experience really showed us how closely mental health and the environment are connected. We realized that lasting change doesn’t always come from big gestures—it can start with small, honest conversations and consistent sharing. We learned how to balance good-looking content with real meaning, and how important it is to base our work in both facts and human stories. Overall, we came away with a deeper appreciation for how real impact comes from combining knowledge with heart.
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