Nature Bloomers: at the forefront of health, community, and environmentalism

Five years ago, Mehdi Zade and his friends set off on a hike around Lake Berryessa. As the group climbed the hills, they noticed the trees change from vibrant pillars speckled with moss to charred, lifeless twigs. To Mehdi’s surprise, one of his friends wondered how the recent drought may have contributed to the fires. As a water resources engineer with expertise in hydrogeology, he could spend hours on this topic but instead, he hesitated and, expecting his friends to lose interest quickly, shared a brief response. As he spoke, though, his friends nodded, their curious questions carrying the conversation topic throughout the hike.  

Soon, Mehdi began organizing hikes for his community, inviting colleagues to share their work and its connection to nature. Word spread quickly, reaching Yasaman Nourkhalaj, a neurobiology clinical researcher, who eagerly signed up for a hike. After the event, she knew she had found a community of like-minded folks passionate about nature, health, and education. By this point, Mehdi had decided to turn his passion for science, education, and adventure into a nonprofit, Nature Bloomers, focused on fostering environmental stewardship through guided hikes. Yasaman, believing in nature as a form of medicine, partnered with Mehdi to incorporate health into the mission. 

They created the slogan “nature to cherish, mind to nourish, body to flourish,” which emphasizes their belief that health, environmentalism, and community are deeply connected. Their events reflect this philosophy; for example, an invasive species removal last month boosted mental health by bringing people together, improving physical health through activity, and leaving the park cleaner.  

Since its founding, Nature Bloomers has grown to 2,500 members and has organized over 100 events, including an annual overnight trip to The Eastern Sierra, home to some of the first water wars in California, making it an ideal location to learn about water scarcity/conservation, environmental health, and environmental justice. While many of Mehdi and Yasi’s colleagues excitedly volunteered to be the “experts” on the hikes, they’ve begun to expand, collaborating with partners such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power who educate Eastern Sierra overnight trip attendees on how engineering can mitigate dust rise in the area.  

So what’s next? Recently, Nature Bloomers initiated a study with the Stanford School of Medicine looking at how outdoor activities reduce stress. Participants will fill out pre- and post-activity questionnaires and wear tech that measures physiological stress parameters while engaging in outdoor activities. Through this, Yasaman and Mehdi hope to build a scientific understanding of nature’s benefits on mental health. Another goal is to have more students attend events to create a generation of people passionate about protecting the environment, building community health, and connecting through nature. As a Stanford student and nature lover, I’m excited to attend an upcoming event. I’m particularly intrigued by the opportunity to learn from and engage with experts, including Stanford professors, in a more casual setting. Overall, it seems like a cool way to explore a new part of California, learn something new, find community, and destress (I know I definitely could’ve used a hike during finals).  

Interested in getting more involved? Their next event will be the 4th Annual Eastern Sierra Nature & Wellness Tour from May 24 to May 26, 2025. Nature Bloomers is also seeking volunteers and student interns interested in grant writing, social media, neurobiology research, wearable technology, and nature leadership. Contact Mehdi or Yasaman to learn more.