Above, nurses at BWMC participate in an outdoor yoga session and BenchTalk journaling activity.

Beyond medicine

If we could visualize emotions like stress, fear, and anxiety on a heat map, hospitals across the country would glow bright red—intense clusters of concentration. Anxious patients. Families in waiting rooms. Doctors and nurses, strained. In fact, research shows that access to greenspaces not only helps patients recover faster and with less stress, but also reduces burnout and emotional strain for hospital staff.

This is why we’re committed to creating more Sacred Places in hospitals—vibrant greenspaces that act like cool patches on this heated map, offering peace and renewal. Our footprint is growing, with new spaces in Lincoln and Baltimore, and a new project about to get underway at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

In this issue, we share how we're helping hospitals envision the potential of Sacred Places on their campuses; we introduce you to two people who are making this work a reality, though from very different vantage points. Plus, we visit Lincoln.

What if every hospital in America had a healing greenspace? It’s a dream that feels within reach, and one we are actively working toward—thanks to your support!

Alden E. Stoner CEO, Nature Sacred

The Garden of Hope and Healing

Sacred Place at the April Sampson Cancer Center opens

Sunlight filtered through the tall pines, and a gentle breeze moved through the garden as we gathered with staff, caregivers, and community members at the April Sampson Cancer Center in Lincoln, NE, recently to celebrate the opening of The Garden of Hope and Healing.

Designed to offer moments of calm and reflection, the garden features native plantings, a labyrinth, and a winding path that invites everyone to pause, breathe, and reconnect with nature. Made possible by the generosity of June and Paul Schorr, III, this space will be a refuge for patients, families, and staff, nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Discover more about this space. 

>>Take a virtual tour of the Garden of Hope and Healing.

What can happen in Sacred Places in health care settings?

The (starry) sky is the limit

Hospital night shifts can be grueling. Picture breaking up the long hours with a quiet moment of stargazing.  This is just one of the creative programming ideas from our newly released guide for Sacred Places on health care campuses.

This resource is designed to help health care institutions discover all that’s possible in their Sacred Places, bringing rest, reflection, renewal, and wonder to patients, staff, and visitors.

Download the guide.

Beyond the walls, into the garden

With Firesoul and Chaplain, Reverend Cherie Smith of MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

"This project, rooted deeply in community and care, promises to be a cornerstone of wellness for those who give so much of themselves every day."

As a hospital chaplain, Reverend Cherie Smith is a guiding light for those navigating the grief and stress that permeate hospital walls. She witnesses the toll on families and the strain on health care workers.

She understands, too, the healing that can only happen outside those walls. In Sacred Places like the Garden of Little Angels and the new Garden of Gratitude, she calls on nature as a source of respite and healing that clinical settings alone cannot provide.

From a traumatic incident with an unruly patient to supporting families through heartbreaking losses, hear her stories that underscore why these greenspaces are more than just a retreat—they are essential sanctuaries for healing. >>

Over 300 participants, including doctors, nurses, and staff, took part in the first design charrette for the new MedStar Franklin Square Garden.

A profile in giving: Julie Brenton

A lifelong connection to healing through nature

Julie Brenton’s connection to Nature Sacred runs deep. Inspired by her lifelong ties to co-founder Tom Stoner and a personal experience at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, Julie and her family are working to bring the healing power of nature to where it is often absent—hospitals in the city. Her family’s belief in nature as a healer continues to drive meaningful change, and we are grateful for her unwavering support.

Discover how Julie is helping create a Sacred Place, a rooftop garden at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Listen in: Nature Sacred on Health Gig 

Alden recently joined Tricia Reilly Koch and Doro Bush Koch on their podcast, Health Gig, to talk about the power of Sacred Places.

It’s a warm and inspiring conversation that captures the heart of our work.

Are you a hospital interested in finding out how much installing a Sacred Place can benefit your bottom line?

Try our calculator—(and then give us a call!)

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