Public Health Experience Creating a Nature Space for Undergraduate Students

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2025.3303

Keywords:

Urban Health, Environmental Design, Public Health Initiatives, Mental Health and Green Spaces

Abstract

The creation of a monarch butterfly waystation and student greenspace at the University of Utah represents a multidisciplinary effort to integrate ecological restoration with public health promotion. Students from architecture, urban planning, biology, and medicine collaborated through a nonprofit initiative to transform an unused, mulch-covered hillside into a biophilic space designed to support both pollinators and student well-being. Motivated by the decline of western monarch populations—down by more than 90% since the 1980s—and the growing stress experienced by college students, the team secured a $3,000 Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund grant to finance the project. After nine months of planning, departmental approvals, and plant procurement, the group partnered with Friends of Monarchs Utah and community donors to install 125 native plants, including five Utah milkweed species and complementary flowering plants that provide staggered blooms throughout the year. The planting was accomplished in one day with 11 volunteers, and the site was completed with an accessible walking path, automated watering, and monthly weeding days. Since its establishment, the waystation has been actively used by students and faculty as a restorative microenvironment, with anecdotal evidence suggesting reductions in stress and opportunities for reflection. The project illustrates the challenges and rewards of navigating university bureaucracy, highlights the importance of collaboration across disciplines, and demonstrates how small-scale conservation initiatives can yield both ecological and mental health benefits. Beyond its immediate impact, the initiative serves as a model for integrating nature into urban spaces, inspiring future student-led projects that link sustainability and wellness.

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References

Davis AK, Herkenhoff B, Vu C, Barriga PA, Hassanalian M. How the monarch got its spots: Long-distance migration selects for larger white spots on monarch butterfly wings. PloS One. 2023;18(6):e0286921.

Pelton E, Jepson S, Shultz C, Fallon C, Black SH. State of the Monarch Butterfly Overwintering Sites in California. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; 2016 p. 40.

Hung SH, Chang CY. Health benefits of evidence-based biophilic-designed environments: A review. J People Plants Environ. 2021 Feb 28;24(1):1–16.

This image shows a landscape design plan titled “Monarch Butterfly Way-Station Plan.” The layout includes a curved mulch walking path that runs through a garden filled with various flowerbeds arranged in different colors and patterns to attract butterflies. Key features include clusters of plants, circular groupings, and an interpretive panel located on the right side to provide educational information. The design emphasizes creating a habitat that supports monarch butterflies while offering an engaging space for visitors.

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Published

2025-08-20 — Updated on 2025-09-22

How to Cite

Powell, E. J., Muhlestein, M., Tuchyner, J., & Ellis, J. R. (2025). Public Health Experience Creating a Nature Space for Undergraduate Students. International Journal of Medical Students, 13(3), 345–347. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2025.3303

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Experience

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2025 Eron J, Powell, Mckay Muhlestein, Jeremiah Tuchyner, Jeremy R. Ellis

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