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Meaning-making of student experiences during outdoor exploration time
Teachers and students identify multiple benefits of regular opportunities for self-directed outdoor learning
Berg, S., Bradford, B., Barrett, J., Robinson, D. B., Camara, F., Perry, T., (2021). Meaning-making of student experiences during outdoor exploration time. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(2),The outcomes of nature-based learning for primary school aged children: A systematic review of quantitative research
A systematic review of the literature highlights the potential positive impact of nature-based learning for primary school aged children
Miller, N. C., Kumar, S., Pearce, K. L., Baldock, K. L., (2021). The outcomes of nature-based learning for primary school aged children: A systematic review of quantitative research. Environmental Education Research, 27(8),Planting the seeds for nature-based learning: Impacts of a farm- and nature-based early childhood education program
Nature- and farm-based preschool programs have the potential to positively impact children and their families.
Rymanowicz, K., Hetherington, C., Larm, B., (2020). Planting the seeds for nature-based learning: Impacts of a farm- and nature-based early childhood education program. The International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 8(1),A dog-assisted reading programme's unanticipated impact in a special education classroom
A dog-assisted reading program can promote positive behaviors and academic outcomes for students with special educational needs
Kirnan, J., Shah, S., Lauletti, C., (2020). A dog-assisted reading programme's unanticipated impact in a special education classroom. Educational Review, 72(2),Nature connection in early childhood: A quantitative cross-sectional study
Attending a nature nursery is associated with higher nature connection
Barrable, A., Booth, D., (2020). Nature connection in early childhood: A quantitative cross-sectional study. Sustainability, 12(375)Supporting school readiness naturally: Exploring executive function growth in nature preschools
Children attending nature preschool showed growth in executive function skills beyond what would be expected in typically developing children
Zamzow, J., Ernst, J., (2020). Supporting school readiness naturally: Exploring executive function growth in nature preschools. The International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 7(2),Contributions to sustainability through young children's nature play: A systematic review
Nature play is a valid contributor to sustainability outcomes
Ernst, J., McAllister, K., Siklander, P., Storli, R., (2021). Contributions to sustainability through young children's nature play: A systematic review. Sustainability, 13,Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature
Review of the early childhood environmental education literature presents overwhelmingly strong evidence of positive child development and environmental outcomes
Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., (2020). Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature. Educational Research Review, 31Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs
Young children, with support of early childhood educators, have the ability to be meaningfully involved in ecologically sustainable practices
Konerman, R., Elliott, S., Pugh, R., Luthy, T., Carr, V., (2021). Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs. Children, Youth and Environments, 31(2),Finnish student teachers’ ideas of outdoor learning
Finnish student teachers’ ideas align with reforms promoting sustainability and outdoor learning
Ratinen, I., Sarivaara, E., Kuukkanen, P., (2021). Finnish student teachers’ ideas of outdoor learning. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor LearningThe importance of recognising and promoting independence in young children: The role of the environment and the Danish forest school approach
The forest school approach reflects theoretical understanding of young learners’ development of independence
Cerino, A., (2021). The importance of recognising and promoting independence in young children: The role of the environment and the Danish forest school approach. Education 3-13, 51(4),Comparing the impact of nature, blended, and traditional preschools on children's resilience: Some nature may be better than none
Preschool nature experiences support young children’s resilience
Ernst, J., Juckett, H., Sobel, D., (2021). Comparing the impact of nature, blended, and traditional preschools on children's resilience: Some nature may be better than none. Frontiers in Psychology, 12Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: A mixed-methods systematic review
Nature-based early childhood education may support children’s growth in multiple areas of social, emotional, and cognitive development
Johnstone, A., Martin, A., Cordovil, R., Fjørtoft, I., Iivonen, S., Jidovtseff, B., Lopes, F., Reilly, J. J., Thomson, H., Wells, V., McCrorie, P., (2022). Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: A mixed-methods systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19Nature-based instruction for science learning – a good fit for all: A controlled comparison of classroom versus nature
Nature-based instruction supports science learning for all students regardless of socioeconomic status
Faber Taylor, A., Butts-Wilmsmeyer, C., Jordan, C., (2022). Nature-based instruction for science learning – a good fit for all: A controlled comparison of classroom versus nature. Environmental Education ResearchHow does play in the outdoors afford opportunities for schema development in young children?
Loose parts in an outdoor environment can enhance children’s play and promote their holistic development.
Boulton, P., Thomas, A., (2022). How does play in the outdoors afford opportunities for schema development in young children?. International Journal of Play, 11(2),Naturally enough? Children, climate anxiety and the importance of hope
A pedagogy of hope encourages and supports children’s climate change activism
Buchanan, J., Pressick-Kilborn, K., Fergusson, J., (2021). Naturally enough? Children, climate anxiety and the importance of hope. The Social Educator, 39(3),‘A new adventure’: A case study of autistic children at Forest School
Children with autism experience benefits and challenges during Forest School sessions
Friedman, S., Gibson, J., Jones, C., Hughes, C., (2022). ‘A new adventure’: A case study of autistic children at Forest School. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning“You don’t wanna teach little kids about climate change”: Beliefs and barriers to sustainability education in early childhood
Sustainability education at nature-based preschools in the United States is limited
Ginsburg, J.L., Audley, S., (2020). “You don’t wanna teach little kids about climate change”: Beliefs and barriers to sustainability education in early childhood. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 7(3),Affordances of small animals for young children: A path to environmental values of care
Affordances of small animals may promote sustainability goals for young children
Lerstrup, I., Chawla, L., Heft, H., (2021). Affordances of small animals for young children: A path to environmental values of care. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 9(1),Effects of nature (greenspace) on cognitive functioning in school children and adolescents: a systematic review
Exposure to nature can enhance cognitive functioning in children and adolescents
Vella-Brodrick, D. A., Gilowska, K., (2022). Effects of nature (greenspace) on cognitive functioning in school children and adolescents: a systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 34,Outdoor nature-based play in early learning and childcare centres: Identifying the determinants of implementation using causal loop diagrams and social network analysis
Educator confidence and agency, along with other key leveraging points, are crucial for optimal implementation of nature-based play
Zucca, C., McCrorie, P., Johnstone, A., Chambers, S., Chng, N. R., Traynor, O., Martin, A., (2023). Outdoor nature-based play in early learning and childcare centres: Identifying the determinants of implementation using causal loop diagrams and social network analysis. Health and Place, 79Nature-based early childhood activities as environmental education?: A review of Japanese and Australian perspectives
Guidelines and practices for nature-based activities with young children tend to lack a comprehensive approach to early childhood education for sustainability
Inoue, M., Elliott, S., Mitsuhashi, M., Kido, H., (2019). Nature-based early childhood activities as environmental education?: A review of Japanese and Australian perspectives. Japanese Journal of Environmental Education, 28(4)Teachers as learners: Outdoor elementary science
Outdoor Science Education program helps teachers learn science as 5th graders learn science
Carrier, S. J., Fraulo, A. B., Peterson, M. N., Stevenson, K. T., Romeo, L. M., (2023). Teachers as learners: Outdoor elementary science. Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education, 27(2),Elementary students’ ‘outdoor – digital’ explorations in ecology - learning through chains of transduction
Children’s learning across natural and digital environments supports developing eco-literacy
Caiman, C., Kjällander, S., (2024). Elementary students’ ‘outdoor – digital’ explorations in ecology - learning through chains of transduction. Environmental Education Research, 30(1),Nature-based education for facilitating resilience and well-being among youth—A Nordic perspective
Nature-based education can promote resilience and well-being among youth
Hofman-Bergholm, M., (2024). Nature-based education for facilitating resilience and well-being among youth—A Nordic perspective. Education Sciences, 14(43)Methodological considerations for movement education interventions in natural environments for primary school children: A scoping review
Learning in nature is a feasible intervention for promoting positive learning outcomes for children
Petrigna, L., Thomas, E., Scardina, A., Rizzo, F., Brusa, J., Camarazza, G., Galassi, C., Palma, A., Bellafiore, M., (2022). Methodological considerations for movement education interventions in natural environments for primary school children: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19Systematic review: Neurodevelopmental benefits of active/passive school exposure to green and/or blue spaces in children and adolescents
Nature in the school environment supports children’s and adolescents’ healthy neurodevelopment
Díaz-Martínez, F., Sánchez-Sauco, M. F., Cabrera-Rivera, L. T., Ojeda Sánchez , C., Hidalgo-Albadalejo, M. D., Claudio, L., Ortega-García, J. A., (2023). Systematic review: Neurodevelopmental benefits of active/passive school exposure to green and/or blue spaces in children and adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20Teacher and parent perception of biophilic conditions in primary-school environments and their impact on children’s wellbeing
Teachers with numerous biophilic elements in their schools report favorable views of biophilic design’s impact on learning
Lanzaro, B., Ucci, M., (2024). Teacher and parent perception of biophilic conditions in primary-school environments and their impact on children’s wellbeing. Architecture, 4(2)Empathy capacity-building through a community of practice approach: Exploring perceived impacts and implications
A community of practice approach can enhance educators’ capacity for developing young children’s empathy for nature
Ernst, J., Underwood, C., Wojciehowski, M., Nayquonabe, T., (2024). Empathy capacity-building through a community of practice approach: Exploring perceived impacts and implications. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Garden, 5,Nature play in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research
Young children engage in higher quality play in nature than in non-nature settings
Prins, J., van der Wilt, F., van der Veen, C., Hovinga, D., (2022). Nature play in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
School gardening activities + physical activity improves children’s fruit and vegetable intake but not their weight status
Qi, Y., Hamzah, S. H., Gu, E., Wang, H., Xi, Y., Sun, M., Rong, S., Lin, Q., (2021). Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 13(2605)School gardening activities aimed at obesity prevention improve body mass index and waist circumference parameters in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
School gardening projects have a modest positive impact on children’s nutrition and body measurements
Rochira, A., Tedesco, D., Ubiali, A., Fantini, M. P., Gori, D., (2020). School gardening activities aimed at obesity prevention improve body mass index and waist circumference parameters in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Childhood Obesity, 16(3)Navigating approaches to “thinking with”: A discussion of the practicalities of posthuman research involving young children
Forest school research highlights 3 post-humanist approaches to study child-nature relationships
Boileau, B. Y. S., (2024). Navigating approaches to “thinking with”: A discussion of the practicalities of posthuman research involving young children. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40,Practitioner perspectives on nature-based learning for autistic children
Nature-based learning can promote the well-being of autistic children by affirming and supporting their way of learning
Friedman, S., Morrison, S. A., Shibata, A., (2024). Practitioner perspectives on nature-based learning for autistic children. The Journal of Environmental EducationAttending 12 weekly sessions of Forest School sessions improves mood and cooperation in 7–8- year-old children
Forest School participation is beneficial for children’s mood and cooperation.
Hepworth, A., Haddad, H., Edmonds, C. J., (2024). Attending 12 weekly sessions of Forest School sessions improves mood and cooperation in 7–8- year-old children. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor LearningSupporting young children’s self-regulation through nature-based practices in preschool
Nature-based practices may help children from disadvantaged backgrounds develop self-regulation and attention skills
Ernst, J., Stelley, H., (2024). Supporting young children’s self-regulation through nature-based practices in preschool. Behavioral Sciences, 14Seeing the forest through the trees: at the intersection of Forest Kindergartens and art-based environmental education
Art-based environmental education can provide empowering opportunities for children to make their own ecological discoveries
Hunter-Doniger, T., (2021). Seeing the forest through the trees: at the intersection of Forest Kindergartens and art-based environmental education. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(3),Children’s artistic expressions inspired by nature during early childhood garden pedagogy
An arts-based garden pedagogy supports children’s creativity and environmental education
Ruokonen, I., Lepisto, J., (2024). Children’s artistic expressions inspired by nature during early childhood garden pedagogy. International Journal of Education Through Art, 20(2),School gardens and student engagement: A systematic review exploring benefits, barriers and strategies
School gardens are hard to maintain but yield academic, social-emotional, and environmental benefits
Walshe, R., Evans, N., Law, L., (2024). School gardens and student engagement: A systematic review exploring benefits, barriers and strategies. Issues in Educational Research, 34(2)Engaging youth in public lands monitoring: opportunities for enhancing ecological literacy and environmental stewardship
Youth in different citizen science programs manifest scientific understanding and environmental stewardship differently
Pitt, A. N., Schultz, C. A., Vaske, J. J., (2019). Engaging youth in public lands monitoring: opportunities for enhancing ecological literacy and environmental stewardship. Environmental Education Research,Early childhood educators’ professional learning for sustainability through action research in Australian immersive nature play programmes
Early childhood educators' shifts towards relational pedagogies acknowledged nature's rights and agency
Hughes, F., (2023). Early childhood educators’ professional learning for sustainability through action research in Australian immersive nature play programmes. Educational Research for Social Change, 12(1),“When I’m playing with him, everything else in my life sort of falls away”: exploring grandparents’ and grandchildren’s learning through outdoor play
Grandparent-grandchild outdoor play enriches learning and appreciation of nature for both generations
Duflos, M., Hussaina, H., Brussoni, M., (2025). “When I’m playing with him, everything else in my life sort of falls away”: exploring grandparents’ and grandchildren’s learning through outdoor play. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 25(2),Children’s perceptions of nature experiences from participating in a nature experience for nature connectedness intervention in Swedish school-age educare
After-school programs can foster children’s nature connectedness through frequent experiences in nearby nature
Wünsche, T. U., Beery, T., Fridberg, M, (2025). Children’s perceptions of nature experiences from participating in a nature experience for nature connectedness intervention in Swedish school-age educare. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor LearningAn exploratory study of preschool children at forest schools and traditional nurseries in Portugal and the UK
Preschoolers who attend forest school may experience greater enjoyment of nature, fewer negative emotions, and better emotional regulation
Pina, M., Edmonds, C. J., (2025). An exploratory study of preschool children at forest schools and traditional nurseries in Portugal and the UK. International Journal of Early Years EducationJourneys through forest school: a model for understanding diverse educational experiences of children
Theoretical model suggests that forest school can meet the unique needs of each student
Harris, F., (2026). Journeys through forest school: a model for understanding diverse educational experiences of children. Environmental Education Research, 32(2),Unearthing forest pedagogies: Autoethnographic encounters within critical forest studies
Children’s and parents’ forest school encounters reveal a forest-led pedagogy
Chartrand, M., (2026). Unearthing forest pedagogies: Autoethnographic encounters within critical forest studies. Australian Journal of Environmental EducationMADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM:
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