michael b. scott, executive director

about the founder

Michael B. Scott formed the Nature for Wellness Foundation in 2024. Michael is a civilian employee of the United States Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Virginia where he has served for over three decades. He spent seven years on active duty as a Field Artillery and Military Intelligence officer before pursuing his civilian career. Outside of work, Michael serves as a volunteer guide at the Ivy Creek Natural Area in Charlottesville where he has enjoyed teaching in a natural setting for the past 25 years. 

As a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Michael understands the challenges and lasting impacts that military service can create, both for the service member and for families. Rates of suicide and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are at an all-time high. Even without any specific traumatic event or official diagnoses, the effects of hyper-vigilance, extreme stress, disrupted sleep, and disrupted lives take a toll on a person’s well-being. Working with military personnel and veterans his entire life, Michael has seen how that toll can tragically become too much. 

Having been fortunate enough to spend a considerable amount of time in nature over the years, Michael began researching the science behind why he feels overall better after being in nature, regardless of whether the time was spent working, recreating, or simply relaxing. Nature is known to have many healing properties, including for healing the human mind and spirit. Nature-based healing can be active or passive, or a combination of the two. Studies have shown that nature-based therapy has real benefits for those dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. While there are numerous people who could benefit from nature-based therapy and there are many groups that would like to help, access to safe, quiet, natural areas can be a limiting factor. With that in mind, Michael began to frame an idea to help open that access.