NHH-UT partnered with the Division of Outdoor Recreation’s Every Kid Outdoors initiative to produce four research briefs highlighting the importance of getting children into nature. The briefs are intended for educators, administrators, pediatricians, parents, and community organizers. They are intended to serve as a guide for those making the case for more time outdoors or for those who need to learn more about why it is important to bring children outside.

The Jordan River Stewardship project, funded through UCORE, will strengthen Salt Lake City School District 5th graders' understanding and appreciation of the Jordan River through guided walking field studies that include water quality monitoring, observation, and natural history. By engaging with their local environment, students will develop a stronger sense of stewardship and connection to nature, fostering a lifelong commitment to protecting our water resources. NHH-UT is assisting SLCSD in developing the pre/post assessment for this program.

NHH-UT surveyed U of U students to examine how climate change anxiety affects young adults and their mental health. The hope with this project is to better understand how the University community can better support young adults facing climate stressors. The results from this survey was published in an article in May 2026.

The Landscape Assessment conducted by Nature and Human Health UT is a comprehensive project that involves close collaboration with community organizations, including non-profits and government agencies, all dedicated to (either directly or indirectly) advancing the connection between nature and human health. This initiative sought to gain a birds-eye perspective on organizations’ ongoing work, challenges, and opportunities within this field.

NHH-UT worked with Get Healthy Utah, Healthy West Valley, and Salt Lake County in the Spring of 2024 to understand how people use Decker Lake, and increase the accessible health benefits of the space. The goal of this project was to understand the multiple ways that people use Decker Lake Park. By administering a survey at the park and in surrounding workplaces and community venues, the project sought to answer multiple questions about how residents utilize the park.

NHH-UT worked collaboratively with other state chapters to develop a toolkit that highlights various ways and methods for initiating a state nature and health chapter. The toolkit highlights different funding structures, activities to focus on, and strategies for increasing engagement and utilizing community partners throughout the state to share a cohesive message surrounding nature and health.