When people have meaningful outdoor experiences their health, quality of life, and social well-being improve, and in turn their communities become stronger and more sustainable. Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors, because when people connect with nature we all benefit. Let's break through the barriers!
Teacher Training
Nature prescription programming is a partnership between healthcare providers and parks and/or environmental education providers that focuses on connecting communities to the well documented health benefits of being in nature. Doctors prescribe outdoor experiences to patients, which is often just the motivation needed to get people outside. Starting with Dr. Pedro Moreno, and the Alisal Health Center, Ventana Wildlife Society is excited to bring prescription programming to Monterey County.
Meet our inspiration - Doctor Moreno
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Dr. Pedro Moreno has been a family physician for 20 years in east Salinas, an area that is 92% Hispanic (42% monolingual Spanish and indigenous dialects). Thirty-eight percent of children live under the federal poverty level, and 63% of families spend over 30% of their income on rent. Dr. Moreno’s patients are all from low-income migrant farm-working families, many who live in crowded conditions and are underinsured or uninsured. His patients are commonly affected by chronic pesticide exposure, food insecurity, mental health issues including stress, depression and anxiety, and obesity along with related chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and high cholesterol.
Dr. Moreno found himself struggling with the knowledge that he could only do so much for his patients, and that systemic issues such as lack of access to healthy foods, activities and outdoor experiences needed to be addressed to increase overall wellness. He applied to and was selected for participation in the University of California San Francisco Champion Provider Fellowship, through which he is developing innovative programs to address the obesity and diabetes epidemic in East Salinas. He runs a Wellness Program for Obese Children and Farmworker Families. He has secured access to vouchers for his patients to use for fresh fruits and produce at the local farmers market, partners with a local gym to have fitness instructors volunteer to lead fitness classes at the clinic and is now working with VWS to develop nature prescription programs. We are truly inspired by Dr. Moreno, and honored to partner with him to increase access to healthy outdoor experiences for his patients.
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Dr. Moreno with Executive Director, Kelly Sorenson
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Dr. Pedro Moreno, in Salinas California, offers wellness classes for his patients and their families.
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We are truly inspired by Dr. Pedro Moreno, and honored to partner with him to increase access to healthy outdoor experiences for his patients.
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Are You a Heath Care Provider?
We are looking for health care providers in Salinas or the Monterey Peninsula to participate in this growing collaboration. Contact Alena Porte.
