June 17 , 2026 | Health & Nature Webinar Series: Creating a National Movement Around Nature Contact- Jay Maddock, PhD

Jay Maddock presented a comprehensive overview of the national movement to integrate nature contact into health and wellness, sharing research findings from the Center for Health and Nature at Texas A&M University. He discussed the growing public health crisis, including rising obesity rates, mental health disorders, and decreased time spent in nature, presenting data from their American Nature and Health Surveillance Survey showing a significant decline in nature contact since 2015-2016. Jay outlined the progress of the Nature and Health Alliance, which has grown to over 220 members across 40 states and 5 countries, and discussed their work with strategic partners including REI, Houston Methodist, and various state chapters. He highlighted successful initiatives including nature prescriptions, hospital integration programs, and community-based projects like agrihoods, while emphasizing the need for implementation science and addressing equity concerns in nature access across different populations.