On a recent Saturday, a group of Salem College students spent an afternoon at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons gaining greater understanding of nature and themselves. They participated in the college’s Women in Nature (WIN) program, a new initiative from the Dean of Students’ office.

Through Women in Nature, students get the opportunity to explore the natural world while nurturing their own inner well-being. Activities such as personal expression, movement, meditation and expressive art, all performed outdoors, allow students to better know themselves and the world around them. The program has several goals:

-Help students explore the role of nature in their wholeness as a woman
-Give students a better understanding of their inner being
-Allow students to gain new skills for relaxation to use in a personal wellness plan
-Help students express their individuality

In addition to the outdoor programs, Salem chaplain Amy Rio-Anderson will teach a course this spring titled, “Nature and Spirituality,” which will help students explore and understand the role that nature plays in spirituality.

The Women in Nature program is a part of Salem’s campus-wide wellness initiative. Wellness at Salem focuses on promoting awareness and education, motivation for positive behavior changes, and influencing campus practices and policy to support a healthy environment.