Second Annual
Healing Connections: Nature and Wellness
Community Symposium

in Thomas Hall at
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA

October 11 and 12, 2024

Join Us October 11th and 12th to:

Gather, Learn, Share, Connect, Wander, and Wonder

Schedule

Friday, October 11th
at University of Puget Sound

10:00 - 12:30 Listening to the Body, Listening to the Earth: Yin Yoga and Poetry with Jessica Gigot
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall
Bring a yoga mat and notebook, if possible

1:00 - 1:45 Therapeutic Benefits of Nature Panel with Claudia Linares-Ruthruff, Leslie Davenport, Samiyrah Weaver, and Sarah Doerner
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall

2:00 - 3:00 Nature Mindfulness Walk with Sarah C. Low
Sponsored by the University of Puget Sound Department of Human Resources
Location: Outside of Thomas Hall on Commencement Walk
Rain or Shine

Saturday, October 12th

9:00 - 10:00am Co-Current Walk: Caminata De Atención Plena en Espanol con Claudia Linares-Ruthruff
Thomas Hall

9:00 - 10:00am Co-Current Walks: Wandering Among Trees with Sarah C. Low
Location: Outside of Thomas Hall on Commencement Walk

10:30am Quincy Henry from Campfire Coffee
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall

11:00am Mini Resource Fair and Networking
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall

1:30 - 3:30 Co-Current Workshop: Haiku Comics with David Lasky
Sponsored by Tacoma Tree Foundation in partnership with Tacoma Creates
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall

1:30 - 3:00 Co-Current Workshop: Nature is Medicine: Mindfulness, Somatic Movement, and Writing for BIPOC with Joy Muhammad and Claudia Linares-Ruthruff
Location: Room 271 in Thomas Hall

3:30 - 4:00 Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Location: Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall

Rhododendron in a forest

About the Symposium

The Nature and Wellness Symposium is an invitation to explore the healing connections we can make with the natural world around us and within us. During this two-day event, we will explore the science and practice of healing in nature and with nature. Through talks, walks, and panel discussions, we will experience ways of connecting with nature, consider how nature can connect with specific needs, and learn about programs that are connecting people with nature.

We invite health professionals, educators, guides, researchers, community members, policy makers, and nature lovers of all sorts to gather, learn, share, connect, wander, and wonder together.

This event is free to the public. Register on Eventbrite to save your seat.

Event Location

Most of the event will happen in the Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. Walks will start in front of Thomas Hall on Commencement Walk.

Free parking is available onsite. parking locations can be found on our map here: https://www.pugetsound.edu/campus-map-directions. The closest lot to Thomas will likely be our P4 lot off of Union, which will be northwest of Thomas Hall. The lot has plenty of parking, including ADA accessible parking and ramps. There are plenty of bike racks on campus for those that wish to bike. Pierce Transit Route 11 goes directly to our campus. We also encourage carpooling.