Mountain Lotus Speaker Series: Connection to Nature and Land Stewardship &Nature and Wellness

Connection to Nature, Land Stewardship & Wellness

At the heart of Mountain Lotus is a commitment to wellbeing — for individuals, our community, and the Sierra ecosystem. The Mountain Lotus Speaker Series brings together leaders, educators, and innovators for conversations exploring the intersection of ecology, wellness, and community action.

This evening explores the relationship between connection to nature, land stewardship, and human health through two engaging presentations.

T. Will Richardson, Ph.D. — Co-Founder & Executive Director, Tahoe Institute of Natural Science Dr. Richardson will discuss how developing a deeper relationship with the natural world — from observing backyard wildlife to exploring local ecosystems — cultivates a sense of stewardship that inspires meaningful action.

Peter Mayfield — Founder & Principal, NatureUP Health Can getting out of the clinic and into the woods transform mental health care? Peter will explore emerging evidence for nature-based therapies as effective treatments for mental illness and how these approaches may complement — or reimagine — the traditional medical model.

A longtime social entrepreneur, Peter founded Whole Hearts, Minds & Bodies, a clinically supervised nature-based therapeutic mentoring program for youth and young adults facing severe emotional disturbance, complex trauma, and substance dependence. The program became the first in the U.S. to secure County Behavioral Health contracts and Medicaid reimbursement, marking an important step in bringing nature-based therapy into mainstream mental health care.

Join us for an evening of learning, dialogue, and connection as we explore how nurturing our relationship with the land supports both ecological resilience and human wellbeing.