File: Learners and Learning

Preface: Nature Connection in Teaching and Learning


Dorothe’s Recommendation

While there's a rich knowledge base in K-12 education on integrating nature connection into the curriculum (think forest schools), the literature for higher education is just emerging. With this preface we seek to provide context for this collection.

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.