EcoWellness

EcoWellness incorporates nature into the school counseling program by selecting 30 students across Sandburg and Stagg who report low well-being and school connectedness via the Panorama SEL survey. EcoWellness fills a gap in service for students who wouldn’t typically qualify for other interventions, helps them feel more connected to the school community, and increases their sense of well-being. EcoWellness provides an opportunity for students to step away from screens and connect with themselves, each other, and nature throughout the school day. Activities include gardening, natural dyeing, and field trips to locations like the Little Red Schoolhouse. The intended outcomes are to increase students’ overall sense of well-being and school connectedness, aligning with research showing nature access reduces behavioral problems and increases positive feelings toward school. The program builds a robust network of peer and mentor support, fostering a greater sense of belonging through intra-group bonding and intergroup interaction across both campuses.

Shannon Haberkorn (Sandburg) and Jocelyn Wysocki (Stagg)