Our Story
A home for healing, connection, and courage.
The Nest began as a small idea inside the Wellness Impact Lab (WIL) at York University and has since grown into a student-led movement rooted in compassion, creativity, and collective resilience. Guided by WIL’s evidence-informed approach to climate wellness and inspired by the global health values of the Dahdaleh Institute, The Nest was created to support students navigating ecological stressors in a way that feels human, hopeful, and community-led.
In August 2025, The Nest became an official project of York University’s Agents of Change (AoC) program. Through AoC, we grounded our work in the Social Determinants of Health, recognizing that climate distress is shaped not only by the environment but also by the structural, emotional, and social conditions that influence how students cope, connect, learn, and act.
The Nest sits at the intersection of education, wellbeing, justice, and climate action.
Here, students can breathe, create, learn, rest, grieve, connect, and rise.
Here, climate emotions are not a burden — they are signs of awareness, compassion, and deep care for the world.
Here, we grow resilience together.
Our Mission
To create gentle, accessible, and safe spaces where students can explore climate emotions, reconnect with their inner capacity for resilience, and build supportive relationships grounded in community, care, and shared action.
At the heart of our mission is a commitment to the social and emotional conditions that shape student wellness, including belonging, safety, social connection, and empowerment. We aim to nurture a culture where students feel seen, heard, and supported as they navigate both personal and planetary challenges.
Our Vision
A university community where climate distress is met with support, not silence; where every student has access to social support networks, meaningful relationships, and the emotional scaffolding they need to thrive.
We envision spaces that honour the connection between education and wellbeing, recognizing that learning and mental health are inseparable. We see a future where climate action feels nourishing rather than overwhelming, and where young people are equipped to lead with grounded courage, creativity, and compassion.
Our Values
The Nest actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, understanding that climate wellness and student wellbeing are deeply interconnected with global systems of health and justice. Our work aligns with:
SDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing. We offer emotionally supportive spaces that promote mental health, climate resilience, and holistic wellbeing.
SDG 4: Quality Education. We build educational environments where emotional literacy, climate awareness, and wellbeing are integrated into the student experience.
SDG 5: Gender Equality. We create inclusive spaces that uplift the voices of gender-diverse students, acknowledging the disproportionate climate burdens they carry.
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. We centre equity by ensuring that our programs are accessible, culturally sensitive, and supportive of marginalized student communities.
SDG 13: Climate Action. We foster climate-engaged, emotionally grounded action that empowers students to participate in sustainable change, without burnout.
