“And it made me feel good inside”: Initial evidence and future methods for evaluating nature school effectiveness

Different methods used to evaluate a nature education program highlight growth in cognitive, social, environmental, and physical domains

Volpe, M., Derr, V., Kim, S., (2019). “And it made me feel good inside”: Initial evidence and future methods for evaluating nature school effectiveness. Children, Youth and Environments, 29(2), 5-26.

Implementing ecopedagogy as an experiential approach to decolonizing science education

Ecopedagogies empower urban youth to critically examine issues of environmental justice in their community

Zocher, J.L., Hougham, R.J., (2020). Implementing ecopedagogy as an experiential approach to decolonizing science education. Journal of Experiential Education

Forest School for wellbeing: An environment in which young people can ‘take what they need'

A forest school intervention for children and youth with serious social and emotional challenges supports them in “taking what they need” for improved wellbeing

Tiplady, L.S.E., Menter, H., (2021). Forest School for wellbeing: An environment in which young people can ‘take what they need'. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(2), 99-114.

Nature Mentors: A program to encourage outdoor activity and nature engagement among urban youth and families

Nature Mentors is a program designed to promote ongoing nature engagement among urban youth

Hackett, K.A., Ziegler, M.C., Olson, J.A., Bizub, J., Stolley, M., Szabo, A., Heller, E., Beyer, K.M.M., (2021). Nature Mentors: A program to encourage outdoor activity and nature engagement among urban youth and families. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(1), 35-52.

Bird feeders increase connection to nature in parents but not in their children

Bird feeders may be an effective tool for promoting connection to nature, but in parents more than children

Hammond, R.L., (2020). Bird feeders increase connection to nature in parents but not in their children. Ecopsychology, 12(1), 44-53.

Perceptions of nature and access to green space in four urban neighborhoods

Individual and environmental barriers may limit caregivers’ ability to access their urban green spaces

Sefcik, J.S., Kondo, M.C., Klusaritz, H., Sarantschin, E., Solomon, S., Roepke, A., South, E.C., Jacoby, S.F., (2019). Perceptions of nature and access to green space in four urban neighborhoods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13)

Electronic screen technology use and connection to nature in Canadian adolescents: A mixed methods study

For Canadian adolescents, as electronic media use increases, connection to nature decreases

Michaelson, V., King, N., Janssen, I., Lawal, S., Pickett, W., (2020). Electronic screen technology use and connection to nature in Canadian adolescents: A mixed methods study. Canadian Journal of Public Health

Parental perceptions of the nature of the relationship children with autism spectrum disorders share with their canine companion

A companion canine in the home may be beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorder & their families.

Harwood, C., Kaczmarek, E., Drake, D., (2019). Parental perceptions of the nature of the relationship children with autism spectrum disorders share with their canine companion. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 248-259.

“Lie in the grass, the soft grass”: Relaxation accounts of young children attending childcare

Young children choose nature to relax

Cooke, E., Thorpe, K., Clarke, A., Houen, S., Oakes, C., Staton, S., (2020). “Lie in the grass, the soft grass”: Relaxation accounts of young children attending childcare. Children and Youth Services Review, 109

The role of informal green spaces in reducing inequalities in urban green space availability to children and seniors

Making informal greenspaces available for recreation could help reduce inequity in access to nature

Sikorska, D., Laszkiewicz, E., Krauze, K., Sikorski, P., (2020). The role of informal green spaces in reducing inequalities in urban green space availability to children and seniors. Environmental Science & Policy, 108, 144-154.

Everyday wild: Urban natural areas, health, and well-being

The therapeutic value of parks may be from the totality of the experience rather than from its individual components

Cheesbrough, A.E., Garvin, T., Nykiforuk, C.I.J., (2019). Everyday wild: Urban natural areas, health, and well-being. Health & Place, 56, 43-52.

A study of the experiences of children aged 7-11 taking part in mindful approaches in local nature reserves

Mindfulness in nature could promote transcendent and holistic understandings consistent with indigenous cultures’ beliefs

Adams, D., Beauchamp, G., (2021). A study of the experiences of children aged 7-11 taking part in mindful approaches in local nature reserves. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(2), 129-138.

Our shared relationship with land and water: Perspectives from the Mayangna and the Anishinaabe

Indigenous perspectives can help restore and protect sacred bonds between humans and the rest of the natural world

Perez, M.A., Longboat, S., (2019). Our shared relationship with land and water: Perspectives from the Mayangna and the Anishinaabe. Ecopsychology, 11(3), 191-198.

The intersection of emotional and sociocognitive competencies with civic engagement in middle childhood and adolescence

Emotional and sociocognitive competencies are uniquely associated with different forms of civic engagement

Metzger, A., Alvis, L.M., Oosterhoff, B., Babskie, E., Syvertsen, A., Wray-Lake, L., (2018). The intersection of emotional and sociocognitive competencies with civic engagement in middle childhood and adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 47, 1663-1683.

Increasing Nature Connection in Children: A Mini Review of Interventions

Participant age and length of intervention influence nature connection outcomes of environmental programs

Barrable, A., Booth, D., (2020). Increasing Nature Connection in Children: A Mini Review of Interventions. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

Refocusing environmental education in the early years: A brief introduction to a pedagogy for connection

Early childhood environmental education should place connectedness to nature at the center and have environmental protection as its goal

Barrable, A., (2019). Refocusing environmental education in the early years: A brief introduction to a pedagogy for connection. Education Sciences, 9(1)

Biophilia and biophobia as emotional attribution to nature in children of 5 years old

Both biophilia and biophobia should be considered important adaptive factors in children’s connectedness to nature

Olivos-Jara, P., Segura-Fernández, R., Rubio-Pérez, C., Felipe-García, B., (2020). Biophilia and biophobia as emotional attribution to nature in children of 5 years old. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

The relationship between green space and prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents: A systematic review

Nearby urban green space is positively linked to the development of prosocial behaviors in children and adolescents

Putra, I.G.N.E., Astell-Burt, T., Cliff, D.P., Vella, S.A., John, E.E., Feng, X, (2020). The relationship between green space and prosocial behaviour among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

The role of urban/rural environments on Mexican children’s connection to nature and pro-environmental behavior

Rural children in northern Mexico hold a stronger sense of connection to nature and behave in a more pro-environmental way than urban children living in that area

Duron-Ramos, M.F., Collado, S., García-Vázquez, F.I., Bello-Echeverria, M., (2020). The role of urban/rural environments on Mexican children’s connection to nature and pro-environmental behavior. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

A prescription for “nature” – The potential of using virtual nature in therapeutics

Engagement with nature through virtual reality can be helpful in promoting physical, mental, and psychological healing

White, M.P., Yeo, N.L., Vassiljev, P., Lundstedt, R., Wallergård, M., Albin, M., Lõhmus, M., (2018). A prescription for “nature” – The potential of using virtual nature in therapeutics. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 3001-3013.

Caring local biodiversity in a healing garden: Therapeutic benefits in young subjects with autism

Healing gardens can promote ecosystem services and therapeutic goals for youth with autism

Scartazza, A., Mancini, M.L., Proietti, S., Moscatello, S., Mattioni, C., Costantini, F., Di Baccio, D., Villani, F., Massacci, A., (2020). Caring local biodiversity in a healing garden: Therapeutic benefits in young subjects with autism. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 47

The human relation with nature and technological nature

Technological nature may be better than no nature, but substituting technological nature for real nature raises concerns

Kahn, P.H., Severson, R.L., Ruckert, J.H., (2009). The human relation with nature and technological nature. Current directions in psychological science, 18(1), 37-42.

Environmentalism in families

Family plays an important role in environmentalism, with parents and children influencing each other

Aghayeeabianeh, B., Talebi, M., (2020). Environmentalism in families. Childhood, 27(2), 271-277.

Beyond restoration: Considering emotion regulation in natural well-being

The well-being benefits of nature go beyond restoration to wellness through emotional balance

Richardson, M., (2019). Beyond restoration: Considering emotion regulation in natural well-being. Ecopsychology

3-Dimensional nature-based therapeutics in pediatric patients with total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant

Children using a virtual reality device for nature-based therapy after extensive surgical procedures reported a decrease in pain, anxiety, and nausea

Kucher, N., Larson, J.M., Fischer, G., Mertaugh, M., Peterson, L., Gershan, L.A., (2020). 3-Dimensional nature-based therapeutics in pediatric patients with total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 48

An analysis of the educational and health-related benefits of nature-based environmental education in low-income Black and Hispanic children

Nature-based environmental education programs may improve health-related quality of life and STEM capacity in low-income Black and Hispanic youth

Sprague, N., Berrigan, D., Ekenga, C.C., (2020). An analysis of the educational and health-related benefits of nature-based environmental education in low-income Black and Hispanic children. Health Equity, 4(1), 198-210.

The health impact of nature exposure and green exercise across the life course: A pilot study

Nature exposure and green exercise during childhood predict adult nature exposure and green exercise, as well as connectedness to nature

Wood, C.J., Smyth, N., (2020). The health impact of nature exposure and green exercise across the life course: A pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 30(2), 226-235.

Association between childhood green space, genetic liability, and the incidence of schizophrenia

Childhood exposure to green space and genetic liability are both independently and additively associated with schizophrenia in adulthood

Engemann, K., Pedersen, C.B., Agerbo, E., Arge, L., Børglum, A.D., Erikstrup, C., Hertel, O., Hougaard, D.M., McGrath, J.J., Mors, O., Mortensen, P.B., Nordentoft, M., Sabel, C.E., Sigsgaard, T., Tsirogiannis, C., (2020). Association between childhood green space, genetic liability, and the incidence of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin

Feeling at home in nature: A mixed method study of the impact of visitor activities and preferences in a prison visiting room garden

A visitor’s garden in a prison setting promotes positive parent-child interactions

Toews, B., Wagenfeld, A., Stevens, J., Shoemaker, C., (2020). Feeling at home in nature: A mixed method study of the impact of visitor activities and preferences in a prison visiting room garden. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 59(4), 223-246.

Does active leisure participation promote psychological capital through peer support in economically disadvantaged children?

Active leisure participation can promote the psychological health of economically-disadvantaged children through peer support

Tu, H-M., (2020). Does active leisure participation promote psychological capital through peer support in economically disadvantaged children?. PLoS ONE, 15(6)

The impact of exercise environments on adolescents’ cognitive and psychological outcomes: A randomised controlled trial

The degree of nature in an exercise environment may or may not make a difference in the cognitive and psychological outcomes associated with green exercise

Wade, L., Lubansa, D.R., Smith, J.J., Duncan, M.J., (2020). The impact of exercise environments on adolescents’ cognitive and psychological outcomes: A randomised controlled trial. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 49

Promoting health-related quality of life in minority youth through environmental education and nature contact

Minority youth who participated in an environmental education and nature contact program reported improved overall health-related quality of life

Ekenga, C.C., Sprague, N,, Shobiye, D.M., (2019). Promoting health-related quality of life in minority youth through environmental education and nature contact. Sustainability, 11

Let’s splash: Children’s active and passive water play in constructed and natural water features in urban green spaces in Sheffield

Children engage in both active and passive water play in constructed and natural water features

Bozkurt, M., Woolley, H., (2020). Let’s splash: Children’s active and passive water play in constructed and natural water features in urban green spaces in Sheffield. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 52

Do animals engage greater social attention in autism? An eye tracking analysis

Children with autism demonstrated greater visual attention to the socially salient aspects of animal images than human images

Valiyamattam, G.J., Katti, H., Chaganti, V.K., O’Haire, M.E., Sachdeva, V., (2020). Do animals engage greater social attention in autism? An eye tracking analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

Attitudes about perceived park safety among residents in low-Income and high minority Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhoods

Both social and structural elements of urban parks contribute to feelings of safety

Groshong, L., Wilhelm Stanis, S. A., Kaczynski, A. T., Hipp, J. A., (2020). Attitudes about perceived park safety among residents in low-Income and high minority Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhoods. Environment and Behavior, 52(6), 639 - 665.

Predictors of nature connection among urban residents: Assessing the role of childhood and adult nature experiences

Both childhood and adult nature experiences predict nature connection among adult urban residents

Cleary, A., Fielding, K. S., Murray, Z., Roiko, A., (2020). Predictors of nature connection among urban residents: Assessing the role of childhood and adult nature experiences. Environment and Behavior, 52(6), 579-610.

Indoor nature-based play therapy: Taking the natural world inside the playroom

Nature engagement during an indoor counseling session may range from being present to nature to actively interacting with natural materials

Swank, J. M., Walker, K. L. A., Shin, S. M., (2020). Indoor nature-based play therapy: Taking the natural world inside the playroom. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29(3), 155-162.

Green space and early childhood development: A systematic review

Green space exposure during the early years is positively linked to healthy child development

Islam, M. Z., Johnson, J., Sly, P. D., (2020). Green space and early childhood development: A systematic review. Reviews on Environmental Health, 35(2), 189-200.

Self-regulation gains in kindergarten related to frequency of green schoolyard use

Higher frequency of green schoolyard use and more time outdoors are linked to self-regulation gains in kindergarten students

Faber Taylor, A., Butts-Wilmsmeyer, C., (2020). Self-regulation gains in kindergarten related to frequency of green schoolyard use. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 70

Early life exposure to green space and insulin resistance: An assessment from infancy to early adolescence

Exposure to greenspace during childhood may not have the protective effect on diabetes risk among adolescents as previously thought

Jimenez, M. P., Oken, E., Gold, D. R., Luttmann-Gibson, H., Requia, W. J., Rifas-Shiman, S.L., Gingras, V., Hivert, M.F., Rimm, E. B., James, P., (June, 2020). Early life exposure to green space and insulin resistance: An assessment from infancy to early adolescence. Environment International, 142

The role of dish gardens on the physical and neuropsychological improvement of hospitalized children

Children with a dish garden in their hospital room showed significantly greater gains in physical and neuropsychological health than children without a dish garden

Yar, M. A., Kazemi, F., (2020). The role of dish gardens on the physical and neuropsychological improvement of hospitalized children. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 53

Urban greenery, active school transport, and body weight among Hong Kong children

Street greenery in the area surrounding a school was significantly associated with children’s active school transport and body weight status

Yang, Y., Lu, Y., Yang, L., Gou, Z., Zhang, X., (2020). Urban greenery, active school transport, and body weight among Hong Kong children. Travel Behavior and Society, 20, 104-113.

Effects of an urban forest-based health promotion program on children living in group homes

Forest-based intervention programs can be effective in promoting the psychosocial health of vulnerable children

Song, M. K., Bang, K.S., Kim, S., Lee, G., Jeong, Y., (2020). Effects of an urban forest-based health promotion program on children living in group homes. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(6), 18-29.

Neighborhood greenspace influences on childhood obesity in Sheffield, UK

Higher tree density around residential addresses and higher levels of greenspace slightly further afield are significantly associated with lower levels of childhood obesity

Mears, M., Brindley, P., Baxter, I., Maheswaran, R., Jorgensen, A., (2020). Neighborhood greenspace influences on childhood obesity in Sheffield, UK. Pediatric Obesity, 15(7)

The lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residential experiences on young people

Lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residentials on young people include self-confidence, independence, and communication.

Prince, H. E., (2020). The lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residential experiences on young people. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

Are children actually losing contact with nature, or is it that their experiences differ from those of 120 years ago?

Contemporary children’s experience of nature (which includes mediated experiences) is significantly higher than the experience of nature for children in 1900

Novotný, P., Zimová, E., Mazouchová, A., Šorgo, A., (2020). Are children actually losing contact with nature, or is it that their experiences differ from those of 120 years ago?. Environment and Behavior

Impacts of urban landscapes on students' academic performance

Students' educational outcomes are linked to the level of green and blue spaces in the schools' attendance areas

Lin, M., Van Stan II, J. T., (2020). Impacts of urban landscapes on students' academic performance. Landscape and Urban Planning, 201

Contact with Nature can help ADHD children to cope with their symptoms. The state of the evidence and future directions for research

Nature contact can help alleviate ADHD symptoms, but more rigorous and nuanced research is needed

Di Carmine, F., Berto, R., (2020). Contact with Nature can help ADHD children to cope with their symptoms. The state of the evidence and future directions for research. Visions for Sustainability

5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment

A group of teachers in Norway rarely linked their outdoor teaching practices to sustainable development

Aksland, C., Rundgren, S. N. C., (2020). 5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment. Journal of Adventure Eduction and Outdoor Learning, 20(3), 274-283.

Risk-tasking and assessment in toddlers during nature play: The role of family and play context

Parents’ views of risky play influence toddlers’ risk-taking outdoor play behaviors

Murray, E. J., Williams, P. H., (2020). Risk-tasking and assessment in toddlers during nature play: The role of family and play context. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20(3), 259-273.