A rapidly growing body of scientific evidence shows that a positive emotional connection to the natural world is directly linked to better mental, physical, cognitive, and spiritual well-being as well as pro-environmental attitudes and behavior.  The vast majority of college students have been adversely impacted by the well-documented nationwide decline in nature connected activity in childhood. For most students, childhood was dominated by indoor activity in front of screens.

…on-campus nature experiences provide a high return on investment by offering scientifically proven, equitable, and cost-effective solutions for improving college student mental health, among other benefits. Quantitative and qualitative data reveal that students value the natural elements and spaces on their campuses, as well as efforts to enhance their engagement with them…

Outdoor Learning in Higher Education is essential reading for educational developers and academic teachers of all disciplines interested in the theory behind, and benefits of, learning outdoors. Filled with practical case studies and backed by recent research, it provides educators with the tools needed to create an effective yet inclusive learning experience for their students beyond the lecture hall or seminar room.

Connecting with nature is much more than just being in nature, it is how we interact with it that is most important. Our focus in this handbook is on psychological nature connection – how we relate to nature in our minds and through our emotions. It is based on a rapidly growing body of research that shows that the strength of a person’s connection to nature is linked to their wellbeing and environmental behaviour.

We are in a particular moment in human history when the “wicked problem” of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as the accompanying “eco-anxiety” many of us feel, is urgent and affects all of us. In response, campuses around the country are attempting to address climate change (e.g., “earth day, every day”), from cutting carbon emissions to adding charging stations for electric vehicles to investing in green energy. Educators are rallying for institutions to ramp up their environmental efforts, including through student-focused curriculum change and campus engagement.