Thrive Outside Challenge
10 challenges. Complete 6. Claim your picnic blanket prize.
The Thrive Outside Challenge is your opportunity to learn more about nature while dedicating time to take care of your mental health.
September
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September 18
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September 25
October
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October 2
How it works
The challenge consists of 6 special events and 4 self-guided activities.
- Register and complete any 6 of the 10 activities
- Submit the digital tracking form after each completed activity
- Claim your picnic blanket prize!
Digital Tracking Form
All completion forms must be submitted by October 25th
Special events
Outdoor Yoga
September 18 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Picnic Point, firepit #2 (rain location: D.C. Smith Greenhouse)
Participate in an outdoor yoga session designed to help you breathe, root, and restore in a peaceful outdoor setting. All levels are welcome. Yoga mats will be available. Please bring your own if possible.
Garden Tour
September 25 from 1 – 3 p.m. at Eagle Heights Community Garden
Explore a historic 1962 community garden through hands-on learning, discovering how fresh food grows and deepening your connection to the natural world.
Invasive Species Removal
October 2 from 1 – 3 p.m. location TBD
Remove invasive species, restore native habitats, and make a meaningful impact on the ecosystem. Reflect on how releasing what on longer serves us can restore both the land and our wellbeing.
Meditation and Mindfulness Walk
October 9 from 1 – 3 p.m. beginning at the entrance of Picnic Point
Pause and reset your mind through guided meditation and nature walk while exploring how time in nature and mindfulness can regulate the nervous system and support emotional balance.
Birding
October 16 from 1 – 3 p.m. beginning at the entrance of Picnic Point
Participate in a guided birdwatching walk and discover the diversity of birds. As we observe, we’ll explore how experiences of awe can reduce stress and build resilience.
Facilitator: Dexter Patterson aka the “Wisco Birder” co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin and author of Birds of the Great Lakes.
First Nations Cultural Landscape Tour
October 23 from 1 – 3 p.m. beginning at the Memorial Union Information Desk
Join us for a guided tour exploring the Indigienous past and present of Teejop. As we engage with the land and stories that shape our campus, we’ll reflect on how where we live can deepened our belonging and remind us of our shared responsibilities to the land.
Self-guided activities
Attend an Outdoor UW event or rent equipment. To get credit for this, please submit your confirmation or share a photo in the digital tracking form.
Rent a fire circle at Picnic Point. To get credit for this, please submit your confirmation or share a photo in the digital tracking form.
Take a photo of a plant, flower, or bug and submit it on the iNaturalist app. Search for the “Thrive Outside Challenge” project in the app to submit.
Spend time outside to sketch nature scenery, plants, or animals. To get credit for this, please submit a photo of your sketch in the digital tracking form.
Frequently Asked Questions
The digital tracking form must be completed for each individual activity completed. You should end the challenge with at least 6 submissions to be eligible for the picnic blanket.
All forms should be completed by October 25th. Forms submitted past the deadline may not be eligible for a picnic blanket.
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