A young child's perspectives on outdoor play: A case study from Vancouver, British Columbia

Young children's perspectives of nature and environmental education are important elements of research

Beattie, A. E., (2015). A young child's perspectives on outdoor play: A case study from Vancouver, British Columbia. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 3(1), 38-52.

Education for sustainable development in early childhood education: A review of the research literature

A research review of early childhood education for sustainability illustrates teachers’ differing definitions and changes in practice over time

Hedefalk, M., Almqvist, J., Ostman, L., (2015). Education for sustainable development in early childhood education: A review of the research literature. Environmental Education Research, 21(7), 975-990.

School-based experiential outdoor education - A neglected necessity

Outdoor education improves students’ engagement in and motivation for learning

James, J.K., Williams, T., (2017). School-based experiential outdoor education - A neglected necessity. Journal of Experiential Education, 40(1), 58-71.

Food for thought: The intersection of gardens, education, and community at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans

Edible schoolyard garden in New Orleans promotes students' food security, environmental knowledge, and emotional and social well-being

Fakharzadeh, S., (2015). Food for thought: The intersection of gardens, education, and community at Edible Schoolyard New Orleans. Children, Youth and Environments, 25(3), 175-187.

Playing with nature: Supporting preschoolers' creativity in natural outdoor classrooms

Natural outdoor classrooms promote preschoolers’ creativity in the areas of problem-solving and ingenuity

Kiewra, C., Veselack, E., (2016). Playing with nature: Supporting preschoolers' creativity in natural outdoor classrooms. The International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 4(1)

Outdoor explorations with preschoolers: An observational study of young children's developing relationship with the natural world

Children’s understanding of the natural world develops through direct, positive experiences with nature, supported by adult guidance

McClain, C., Vandermaas-Peeler, M., (2016). Outdoor explorations with preschoolers: An observational study of young children's developing relationship with the natural world. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 4(1)

Getting to know nature: Evaluating the effects of the Get to Know Program on children's connectedness to nature

The key to enhancing children’s connectedness with nature may be a focus on nature itself

Bruni, C.M., Winter, P.L., Schultz, P.W., Omoto, A.M., Tabanico, J.J., (2017). Getting to know nature: Evaluating the effects of the Get to Know Program on children's connectedness to nature. Environmental Education Research, 23(1), 43-62.

Honoring voices, inspiring futures: Young people's engagement in open space planning

Engaging children and youth in open space planning produces meaningful outcomes

Derr, V., Ruppi, H., Wagner, D., (2016). Honoring voices, inspiring futures: Young people's engagement in open space planning. Children, Youth and Environments, 26(2), 128-144.

Early childhood environmental education in tropical and coastal areas: A meta-analysis

Informal learning activities can help young children learn about the natural world

Sawitri, D.R., (2017). Early childhood environmental education in tropical and coastal areas: A meta-analysis. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 55

Saving Squawk? Animal and human entanglement at the edge of the lagoon

Encounters with wild animals provoke a sense of responsibility among 9th graders

Gannon, S., (2015). Saving Squawk? Animal and human entanglement at the edge of the lagoon. Environmental Education Research

Affordances of ditches for preschool children

Ditches have the potential to become an important design element in outdoor playspaces for young children

Lerstrup, I., Moller, M.S., (2016). Affordances of ditches for preschool children. Children, Youth and Environments, 26(2), 43-60.

Bringing outdoor play indoors in United Arab Emirates: Mud as a powerful binding element

A Mud Day project is successful in bringing outdoor learning indoors

Baker, F.S., (2017). Bringing outdoor play indoors in United Arab Emirates: Mud as a powerful binding element. Childhood Education, 93(1), 73-79.

Geotheorizing mountain-child relations within anthropogenic inheritances

Early childhood pedagogy based on relationality rather than separation could serve as a form of resistance to an extractive relationship with the more-than-human world

Nxumalo, F., (2017). Geotheorizing mountain-child relations within anthropogenic inheritances. Children's Geographies, 15(5), 558-569.

Love and social justice in learning for sustainability

Learning for sustainability requires a social justice approach applicable to both humans and the more-than-human world

Griffiths, M., Murray, R., (2017). Love and social justice in learning for sustainability. Ethics and Education

"We won't hurt you butterfly!" Second-graders become environmental stewards from experiences in a school garden

School-garden program promotes positive attitudes toward the environment

Fisher-Maltese, C., (2016). "We won't hurt you butterfly!" Second-graders become environmental stewards from experiences in a school garden. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 4(1), 54-69.

Outdoor experiences and sustainability

Positive role models and mentors have an important role to play in promoting pro-environmental behaviors

Prince, H.E., (2017). Outdoor experiences and sustainability. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17(2), 161-171.

'Love honey, hate honey bees': Reviving biophilia of elementary school students through environmental education program

Integrating cognitive and emotional goals in environmental education program significantly improved affinity toward nature

Cho, Y., Lee, D., (2018). 'Love honey, hate honey bees': Reviving biophilia of elementary school students through environmental education program. Environmental Education Research, 24(3), 445-460.

Pedagogical school gardens as a Food and Nutrition Education strategy: Perception of parents and educators of their impact on children's diets

Children and families experience dietary benefits of school gardens

Garcia, M.T., Coelho, D.E.P., Bogus, C.M., (2017). Pedagogical school gardens as a Food and Nutrition Education strategy: Perception of parents and educators of their impact on children's diets. Demetra

The perception, management and performance of risk amongst Forest School educators

Forest School educators altered their risk management practices in response to competing conceptions of childhood and risk

Connolly, M., Haughton, C., (2017). The perception, management and performance of risk amongst Forest School educators. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 38(2), 105-124.

Eco-school evaluation beyond labels: The impact of environmental policy, didactics and nature at school on student outcomes

Active teaching methods, environmental education policy, and the presence and use of natural green elements impact eco-schools’ environmental education outcomes

Boeve-de Pauw, J., Van Petegem, P., (2018). Eco-school evaluation beyond labels: The impact of environmental policy, didactics and nature at school on student outcomes. Environmental Education Research, 24(9), 1250-1267.

Education for sustainable development, nature, and vernacular learning

Nurturing a sense of wonder, joy, and belonging in learners as they experience nature is vital to developing an ethic of care for the planet

Selby, D., (2017). Education for sustainable development, nature, and vernacular learning. CEPS Journal, 7(1), 9-27.

Live green, think green: Sustainable school architecture and children's environmental attitudes and behaviors

Sustainable school design promotes students’ pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors

Tucker, R., Izadpanahi, P., (2017). Live green, think green: Sustainable school architecture and children's environmental attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 51, 209-216.

Knowledge of neighborhood nature is associated with strong sense of place among Milwaukee youth

Neighborhood nature may help create a strong sense of place in youth

Kroencke, R., Hormann, K., Heller, E., Bizub, J., Zetts, C., Beyer, K., (2015). Knowledge of neighborhood nature is associated with strong sense of place among Milwaukee youth. Children, Youth and Environments Quarterly, 25(3), 129-144.

Are young children's utterances affected by characteristics of their learning environments? A multiple case study

Preschool children use richer language in a natural environment than in indoor or outdoor classrooms

Richardson, T., Murray, J., (2017). Are young children's utterances affected by characteristics of their learning environments? A multiple case study. Early Child Development and Care, 187(3-4), 457-468.

No-self, natural sustainability and education for sustainable development

Education based on natural sustainability highlights the non-dual relation between the self and the rest of the natural world

Wang, D-L., (2017). No-self, natural sustainability and education for sustainable development. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 49(5), 550-561.

'If there's no sustainability our future will get wrecked': Exploring children's perspectives of sustainability

Children’s ideas about sustainability are developed through experiential, investigative, sensorial and place-oriented ways of learning

Green, M., (2017). 'If there's no sustainability our future will get wrecked': Exploring children's perspectives of sustainability. Childhood, 24(2), 151-167.

Identifying and characterizing risky play in the age one-to-three years

The existing definition and characteristics of risky play may not be useful for one-year-olds

Kleppe, R., Melhuish, E., Sandseter, E.B.H., (2017). Identifying and characterizing risky play in the age one-to-three years. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 25(3), 370-385.

Down by the Bay

The resources of a nature center help second-graders learn more in-depth information about their local environment

Allison, E., Tunks, K., Hardman, K., (2017). Down by the Bay. Science and Children, 54(7), 29-33.

Cultural transmission at nature kindergartens: Foraging as a key ingredient

Educational benefits of foraging include the transmission of culture and strengthening children’s connection with nature

Nugent, C., Beames, S., (2015). Cultural transmission at nature kindergartens: Foraging as a key ingredient. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 20, 78-91.

Assessing a school gardening program as an integrated component of a pilot farm-to-school initiative based in South Carolina

School gardens are used for multidisciplinary academic instruction more than contribution to school nutrition programs

Taylor, C., Symon, E.B., Dabbs, A., Way, E., Thompson, O.M., (2017). Assessing a school gardening program as an integrated component of a pilot farm-to-school initiative based in South Carolina. HortTechnology, 27(2), 228-234.

'I saw a magical garden with flowers that people could not damage!': Children's visions of nature and of learning about nature in and out of school

Children’s deep emotional connection with nature generates a strongly protective disposition

Rios, C., Menezes, I., (2017). 'I saw a magical garden with flowers that people could not damage!': Children's visions of nature and of learning about nature in and out of school. Environmental Education Research, 23(10), 1402-1413.

Going back and beyond: Children's learning through places

Fostering students’ connections for places beyond their own locality and for both rural and urban environments may enhance their environmental learning

Diaz-Diaz, C., (2017). Going back and beyond: Children's learning through places. Environmental Education Research, 23(10), 1440-1447.

Between indigenous and non-indigenous: Urban/nature/child pedagogies

Integrating indigenous perspectives and environmental education broadens place-based pedagogies

Somerville, M., Hickey, S., (2017). Between indigenous and non-indigenous: Urban/nature/child pedagogies. Environmental Education Research, 23(10), 1427-1439.

Children's discourses of natural spaces: Considerations for children's subjective well-being

Engagement with nature has a significant influence on children’s social and emotional well-being

Adams, S., Savahl, S., (2017). Children's discourses of natural spaces: Considerations for children's subjective well-being. Child Indicators Research, 10, 423-446.

Rethinking relationships with curriculum by engaging with foxes and sharing stories in early childhood spaces

Inuit-articulated interests and priorities contribute to place-based education for Indigenous children

Rowan, M.C., (2017). Rethinking relationships with curriculum by engaging with foxes and sharing stories in early childhood spaces. Global Studies of Childhood, 7(2), 131-147.

Effects of regular classes in outdoor education settings: A systematic review on students' learning, social and health dimensions

Regular classes in outdoor settings can promote students’ learning, health, social development, and concern for the environment

Becker, C., Lauterbach, G., Spengler, S., Dettweiler, U., Mess, F., (2017). Effects of regular classes in outdoor education settings: A systematic review on students' learning, social and health dimensions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14

Outdoor learning spaces: The case of forest school

Outdoor space provides new opportunities for children and teachers to interact in a way that stimulates both teaching and learning

Harris, F., (2017). Outdoor learning spaces: The case of forest school. AREA

From nature deficit to outdoor exploration: Curriculum for sustainability in Vermont's public schools

Vermont elementary school educators find ways to effectively integrate environmental education into their practice

Silverman, J., Corneau, N., (2017). From nature deficit to outdoor exploration: Curriculum for sustainability in Vermont's public schools. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17(3), 258-273.

Earth at rest: Aesthetic experience and students' grounding in science education

Aesthetic experiences integrated into science education can heighten children’s cognition and their engagement with the natural world

Østergaard, E., (2017). Earth at rest: Aesthetic experience and students' grounding in science education. Science and Education

Mechanisms of children's exposure to nature: Predicting adulthood environmental citizenship and commitment to nature-based activities

Children’s self-exposure to nature is a strong predictor of adulthood environmental citizenship and a lifelong commitment to nature-based activities

Asah, S.T., Bengston, D.N., Westphal, L.M., Gowan, C.H., (2018). Mechanisms of children's exposure to nature: Predicting adulthood environmental citizenship and commitment to nature-based activities. Environment and Behavior, 50(7), 807-836.

Multiple environments: South Indian children's environmental subjectivities in formation

Children’s environmental subjectivities develop through a complex interplay between various aspects of their lives

de Hoop, E., (2017). Multiple environments: South Indian children's environmental subjectivities in formation. Children's Geographies, 15(5), 570-582.

Stories for living on a damaged planet: Environmental education in a preschool classroom

Children’s encounters with dead and dying bees foster more complex and deeper relationships with more-than-human others

Nxumalo, F., (2017). Stories for living on a damaged planet: Environmental education in a preschool classroom. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 16(2), 148-159.

The matter of the stick: Storying/(re)storying children's literacies in the forest

In the context of forest school pedagogy, post humanism and the common worlds framework suggest that children’s learning is about, through and with the elements of the forest

Harwood, D., Collier, D.R., (2017). The matter of the stick: Storying/(re)storying children's literacies in the forest. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 17(3), 336-352.

Sustainability by default: Co-creating care and relationality through early childhood education

Early childhood education for sustainability can benefit from earlier pedagogical traditions focusing on connectivity, care, and crossing boundaries

Wals, A.E.J., (2017). Sustainability by default: Co-creating care and relationality through early childhood education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 49, 155-164.

Thrown together: Incorporating place and sustainability into early literacy education

Literacy learning can be broadened to integrate issues of sustainability

Schmidt, C., (2017). Thrown together: Incorporating place and sustainability into early literacy education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 49(2), 165-179.

Direct learning about nature in 6-year-old children living in urban and rural environments and the level of their knowledge and skills

Living in and having direct contact with natural environments can help young children develop nature-related knowledge and skills

Nazaruk, S.K., Klim-Klimaszewska, A., (2017). Direct learning about nature in 6-year-old children living in urban and rural environments and the level of their knowledge and skills. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 16(4), 524-532.

The Schaus Swallowtail Habitat Enhancement Project: An applied service-learning project continuum from Biscayne National Park to Miami-Dade County Public Schools

School grounds can be used for the dual purpose of enhancing student learning and increasing the biodiversity of organisms

Clayburn, J., Koptur, S., O'Brien, G., Whelan, K.R.T., (2017). The Schaus Swallowtail Habitat Enhancement Project: An applied service-learning project continuum from Biscayne National Park to Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Southeastern Naturalist, 16(10), 26-46.

Specificities of French community gardens as environmental stewardships

Participation in urban community gardens can enhance relationships toward nature and among people

Torres, A.C., Nadot, S., Prevot, A-C, (2017). Specificities of French community gardens as environmental stewardships. Ecology and Society, 22(3)

The importance of children interacting with big nature

Deepening children’s interaction with nature addresses the issue of environmental generational amnesia

Kahn, P.H., Weiss, T., (2017). The importance of children interacting with big nature. Children, Youth and Environments, 27(2), 7-24.

Nature-based environmental education of children: Environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature, together, are related to ecological behaviour

While connectedness to nature and environmental knowledge, together, promote ecological behavior, connectedness to nature is the stronger motivator

Otto, S., Pensini, P., (2017). Nature-based environmental education of children: Environmental knowledge and connectedness to nature, together, are related to ecological behaviour. Global Environmental Change, 47, 88-94.