Description
This course will explore physiological components of the human stress response including an introduction to causal stimuli, neural pathways, and acute and chronic effects of stress. Particular attention will be paid to strategies for managing stress rather than attempting to avoid or eliminate it altogether. Two primary emphases will be the concept of resilience and the therapeutic value of nature and natural environments for managing stress. During the course, students spend a specified amount of time immersed in natural settings for the purpose of exploring the therapeutic value of nature for managing stress. The culminating activity of the course will be a weekend trip to a camp, lodge, or retreat center setting to discuss and practice nature-informed stress management in a variety of settings. Required weekend trip.