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, 395-415.

Children’s pro-environmental behaviour: A systematic review of the literature

Review identifies internal and external factors underlying children’s development of pro-environmental behaviors

Liu, J., Green, J., (2024). Children’s pro-environmental behaviour: A systematic review of the literature. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 205

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, 13

Is 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)

Nature connection in adulthood: The role of childhood nature experiences

Childhood nature experiences are associated with stronger nature connections in adulthood

Barrable, A., Friedman, S., Beloyianni, V., (2024). Nature connection in adulthood: The role of childhood nature experiences. People and Nature, 6(4)

A toolkit of biophilic interventions for existing schools to enhance student and faculty health and performance

Study identifies impactful and affordable biophilic design strategies for existing K-12 schools

Leif, K., Loftness, V., (2024). A toolkit of biophilic interventions for existing schools to enhance student and faculty health and performance. Architecture, 4, 445–456.

Impact of youth education on green stormwater infrastructure recommendations to increase equity and resilience in marginalized communities

Youth involvement in infrastructure planning in response to climate change can benefit both the youth and the community

Reckner, M., Tien, I., Smith, S., Omunga, P., Alemdar, M., Hyde, A., (2024). Impact of youth education on green stormwater infrastructure recommendations to increase equity and resilience in marginalized communities. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 150(9)

Exploring children’s participation in the framework of early childhood environmental education

Environmental education can engage young children as equal partners through participatory approaches

Tsevreni, I., Tigka, A., Christidou, V., (2023). Exploring children’s participation in the framework of early childhood environmental education. Children's Geographies, 21(3), 394–409.

Youth visions in a changing climate: Emerging lessons from using immersive and arts-based methods for strengthening community-engaged research with urban youth

Participatory research approaches can engage urban youth in working towards ecological resilience

Sitas, N., Selomane, O., Atkins, F., Hlongwane, E., Fanana, S., Wigley, T., Boulle, T., (2022). Youth visions in a changing climate: Emerging lessons from using immersive and arts-based methods for strengthening community-engaged research with urban youth. Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement, 15(2)

Participatory action research for primate conservation: A critical analysis of a nonformal education program in Southern Mexico

Conservation education may benefit from incorporating participatory action research principles

Franquesa‐Soler, M., Sales, L. J., Rivera, E. S., (2022). Participatory action research for primate conservation: A critical analysis of a nonformal education program in Southern Mexico. American Journal of Primatology, 85(5)

Connecting children to nature through the integration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge into early childhood environmental education

Integrating Indigenous Ecological Knowledge into early childhood environmental education can deepen young children’s connectedness to nature

Acharibasam, J. B., McVittie, J., (2023). Connecting children to nature through the integration of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge into early childhood environmental education. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 39, 349–361.

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, 216–230.

Interdisciplinary nature journaling improves mood and helps build connection in middle school students

Nature journaling supports students’ well-being and environmental awareness

Arbor, R. N., Matteson, K., (2024). Interdisciplinary nature journaling improves mood and helps build connection in middle school students. Environmental Education Research, 37(4), 748-758.

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 Education

Attending 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 Learning

Supporting 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, 14

Children’s moral judgments and reasoning regarding environmentally harmful behaviors: Variation by victim type and moderation effect of connectedness to nature

Connectedness to nature affects children’s understanding and interpretation of environmentally harmful behaviors

Hye-Jung, C., Naya, C., (2024). Children’s moral judgments and reasoning regarding environmentally harmful behaviors: Variation by victim type and moderation effect of connectedness to nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology

Turning science lessons inside out: Professional development for elementary school teachers’ outdoor instruction

Elementary teachers need continued administrative support to take science out to the schoolyard

Fiocca, S., Carrier, S. J., McGowan, J., (2024). Turning science lessons inside out: Professional development for elementary school teachers’ outdoor instruction. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 16(4), 15-31 .

“It’s the only world we’ve got.” Children’s responses to Chris Jordan’s Images about SDG 14: Life below water

Environmental artworks can enhance children’s learning about sustainability

O'Gorman, L., (2024). “It’s the only world we’ve got.” Children’s responses to Chris Jordan’s Images about SDG 14: Life below water. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40, 693-705.

Effects of school‐led greenspace interventions on mental, physical and social wellbeing in children and adolescents: A systematic review

Engaging with nature in educational settings can improve students’ well-being for optimal learning experiences

Ly, V., Vella‐Brodrick,, D. A., (2024). Effects of school‐led greenspace interventions on mental, physical and social wellbeing in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 36(133)

Painting trees in the wind: socio-material ambiguity and sustainability politics in early childhood education with refugee children in Denmark

An art activity with immigrant children, promoting simultaneous immersion in and detachment from nature, questions dominant early childhood pedagogy in Denmark

Jørgensen, N. J., Martiny-Bruun, A., (2020). Painting trees in the wind: socio-material ambiguity and sustainability politics in early childhood education with refugee children in Denmark. Environmental Education Research, 26(9-10), 1406-1419.

Effects of an art-based environmental education camp program on the environmental attitudes and awareness of diverse youth

At worst, arts-based environmental education is just as good as conventional environmental education

Staples, A. F., Larson, L. R., Worsley, T., Green, G. T., Carroll, J. P., (2019). Effects of an art-based environmental education camp program on the environmental attitudes and awareness of diverse youth. The Journal of Environmental Education, 50(3), 208-222 .

Seeing 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), 217-229.

Enhancing preschoolers’ creativity through art-based environmental education for sustainability

Art-based environmental education engages young children’s creative thinking around sustainability issues

Kalafati, M., Flogaiti, E., Daskolia, M., (2025). Enhancing preschoolers’ creativity through art-based environmental education for sustainability. Environmental Education Research, 31(1), 46-73.

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), 167-182.

Eco-Capabilities as a Pathway to Wellbeing and Sustainability

Arts in nature can strengthen economically disadvantaged students’ well-being and environmentally sustainable behaviors

Walshe, N., Moula, Z., Lee, E., (2022). Eco-Capabilities as a Pathway to Wellbeing and Sustainability. Sustainability, 14(3582)

The value of outdoor environmental education programs for girls and youth of color: cultivating positive dispositions toward science and the environment

Girls and youth of color experienced the largest gains in their dispositions toward science and the environment through participation in outdoor environmental education

Collins, M. A., Romero, V. F., Young, A., Dorph, R., Foreman, J., Strang, C., Pande, A., Laina, V., (2025). The value of outdoor environmental education programs for girls and youth of color: cultivating positive dispositions toward science and the environment. Environmental Education Research

From seeds to harvest in seven weeks: Project-based learning with Latina girls and their parents

Family-centered, culturally responsive garden-based learning supports Latina girls’ engagement and science identity development

Rillero, P., Jiménez-Silva, M., Short-Meyerson, K., Rillero, K. M., (2025). From seeds to harvest in seven weeks: Project-based learning with Latina girls and their parents. Education Sciences, 15(246)

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)

Fostering diversity and participation with school gardens: Examining possibilities and challenges under different national educational policies

Physical and sensory dimensions of school gardens may reduce barriers to participation and engagement

Carvalho, A. E., Blanc, S., Aguiar, M., Torres, A. C., (2024). Fostering diversity and participation with school gardens: Examining possibilities and challenges under different national educational policies. Educational Process, 13(2), 122-138.

“We are all interconnected.”: Relationships and hierarchies among preschool teachers’ conceptions of early childhood education for sustainability

Pre-school teachers connect sustainability in education to the care and protection of our world

Navarrete, A. M. L., (2025). “We are all interconnected.”: Relationships and hierarchies among preschool teachers’ conceptions of early childhood education for sustainability. Journal of Early Childhood Research

Wilding pedagogies: Impact of an in-service teacher training in Greece with nature as co-teacher

Greek teachers shift toward ecocentric environmental education through wild pedagogical teacher training

Theodosaki, Z., Georgopoulos, A., Gavrilakis, C., (2025). Wilding pedagogies: Impact of an in-service teacher training in Greece with nature as co-teacher. Australian Journal of Environmental Education

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, 1386-1399 .

Differential effects of an urban outdoor environment on 4–5 year old children’s attention in school

Holding classes outdoors, even in urban settings, may support the attentional capacity of socio-economically disadvantaged children

Atkinson, M., Goldenberg, G., Dubiel, J., Wass, S., (2025). Differential effects of an urban outdoor environment on 4–5 year old children’s attention in school. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 104

School-based outdoor education and teacher subjective well-being: An exploratory study

School-based outdoor education is positively related to teachers’ subjective well-being

Deschamps, A., Scrutton, R., Ayotte-Beaudet, J., (2022). School-based outdoor education and teacher subjective well-being: An exploratory study. Frontiers, 7

Discussing mental health benefits for teachers participating in outdoor education in Canada: a conceptual analysis and future research directions

Outdoor education contributes to educators’ mental health, professional development, and self-care

Barker, C., Chisholm, N., Foran, A., (2024). Discussing mental health benefits for teachers participating in outdoor education in Canada: a conceptual analysis and future research directions. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

A systematic review of the impacts of nature exposure on the nervous system in children and youth: Implications for nature-based learning

Exposure to nature promotes a state of relaxed alertness, improved attentional processing, and optimal cognitive resource allocation for children and adolescents

Quintela Do Carmo, G., Ayotte-Beaudet, J., Jordan, C., (2025). A systematic review of the impacts of nature exposure on the nervous system in children and youth: Implications for nature-based learning. Journal of Environmental Psychology

‘Can we see our voices?’ Young children’s own contributions to authentic child participation as a pillar for sustainability under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

A child rights-based participatory approach to climate education should support children’s authentic and meaningful participation

Ranta, M., (2023). ‘Can we see our voices?’ Young children’s own contributions to authentic child participation as a pillar for sustainability under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 31(6), 914-931.

Wild pedagogies and young children through the mosaic approach

Wild pedagogies supported children’s agency and relationships with place

Beattie, E. A., Scott, S., Adler, D., (2025). Wild pedagogies and young children through the mosaic approach. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 41, 249–260.

In search of eco-democracy: Education for mutually beneficial flourishing

Eco-democracy in environmental education could contribute to mutually beneficial flourishing

Blenkinsop, S., Wilhelmsson, L., (2025). In search of eco-democracy: Education for mutually beneficial flourishing. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 41, 325–337.

Transforming pedagogical landscapes in the Anthropocene: perspectives on more-than-human agency and nature as a co-teacher in vernacular way

Educators’ respectful relationships with nature can center nature as a co-teacher and acknowledge the agency of the more-than-human world

Kondo, J., Baars, R. C., (2025). Transforming pedagogical landscapes in the Anthropocene: perspectives on more-than-human agency and nature as a co-teacher in vernacular way. Environmental Education Research, 31(8), 1658-1673.

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), 69-83.

“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), 319–332.

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 Learning

An 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 Education

Journeys 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), 418-431.

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 Education