A nature therapy program currently at 4 HCPS buildings has shown to bolster kids’ learning, mental health, moods and outlook.
BEL AIR, MD — A school-based nature therapy program utilized at Harford County schools showed proven success during the 2024-2025 school year. Now, even more students are being reached with the addition of two buildings to the program.
Led by Nature Worx of Bel Air, the nature therapy program uses experiential outdoor sessions to provide students with tools for “mindfulness, emotional regulation and resilience,” Philip Hosmer with Nature Worx told Patch.
“We teach students how spending intentional time in nature can support their mental, physical and emotional health. They learn ways to use all of their senses to experience nature and become fully present in the moment, thus reducing stress and anxiety and improving their mood,” Hosmer said. “Focusing on nature helps shift students from doing mode to being mode and from thinking mode to sensing mode, thus giving their mind an opportunity to rest and reset, so they come back to the classroom with their attention and focus restored. This phenomenon is documented in Attention Restoration Theory by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan (1989).”
The nonprofit, which was founded in 2017, received a grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission and Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports to renew the program within Harford County Public Schools, and to add Aberdeen Middle School and Magnolia Middle School.
While all students can benefit from nature therapy, students dealing with emotional, behavioral or disciplinary issues in particular can benefit, Hosmer said.
“Our program can help them manage stress and emotions that can make learning more challenging,” Hosmer told Patch. “Students report in surveys that they feel calm and relaxed and are in a better mood after participating in our program.”
Last year, Nature Worx rolled out its experiential, nature-based sessions to 722 students at Joppatowne High School and Edgewood Middle School last year. Nature Worx saw the following outcomes for program participants:
73% of students reported improvements in both learning and mental health.
64% said they learned how nature can help them feel better.
49% felt calmer and less anxious after the session.
47% said they were more likely to go outside when they want to feel better.
Students also shared reflections on what they enjoyed most about the program, including “Reconnecting with myself,” “Walking on the trail and talking about our feelings,” “Seeing the trees and breathing to calm myself,” “I loved how it made me feel and identifying nature. It was amazing, I loved it” and “Learning more about nature and the lessons I can learn.”
“Learning how to be in nature and how to use these simple, free resources can have a deep impact on students’ mental health and their behavior,” Hosmer said. “The results we recorded last year demonstrated significant positive outcomes for participants. This grant renewal recognizes the valuable work we’re doing with students and we’re grateful for the Consortium’s continued support.”
Nature Worx will continue to partner closely with educators, administrators and community organizations to support student well-being in meaningful, evidence-based ways. The experiential, outdoor sessions provide students with tools for mindfulness, emotional regulation and resilience—all grounded in the natural world around them.
“The Consortium is thrilled to continue our partnership with Nature Worx to support the mental health and wellbeing of Harford County students,” said Consortium Chair David Rudolph. “We look forward to working with Nature Worx and the Harford County Hub as they implement this grant.”
Nature Worx interacts with a variety of groups including veterans, corporate employees, health care workers, seniors, people in recovery from substance use disorder, first responders and also the general public. We have a free program on the first Saturday of each month at Masonville Cove in Baltimore, too.
Nature Worx is located at 125 Williams Street in Bel Air.