The Alarm Bells Ring

Silent Spring = Last Child in the Woods (2005)

Kids spend an average of 7 hours screen time/day; less than
1 hr/day in unstructured outdoor play
Obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder, asthma increasing in
Prescriptions children
for Outdoor Activity:
Stranger
Danger
Improving Mental,
Physical
and Emotional Health
Demographic
shift
80+% urban;
minority/majority.
through
Connections
with
Nature
Oxfords Junior Dictionary removed buttercup, minnows
and acorns
and added analogue,
broadband,
and cutNational Environmental
Justice Conference
and Training
March 2016
and-paste
National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF); 2016 Dimensions Foundation; USDA Forest Service

The Alarm Bells Ring

Kids spend >1 hour per day of
unstructured outdoor play
Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity
contribute to health problems
Demographics are shifting
Oxfords Junior Dictionary removed
buttercup, minnows, and acorns,
added analogue, broadband, and
cut-and-paste

State of Childrens Health

>1 in 3 children in the U.S. are obese or
overweight; minority and low-income
children are disproportionately affected
3,700 children are diagnosed with type 2
diabetes each year
7 million kids have asthma; overweight
children are at higher risk
70% of US children and adolescents have
insufficient levels of Vitamin D

Nature is Good for Us!

Restorative/therapeutic
Increases physical
activity
Reduces stress
Coping tool for
ADD/ADHD
Developmental benefits

Rx for Outdoor Activity

Prevent serious health
conditions related to
indoor, sedentary
lifestyles
Connect children and
families to nature for
good health, enjoyment,
and environmental
stewardship

Rx for Outdoor Activity

Educate pediatric health
care providers about
prescribing outdoor
activities to children and
families
Link to nature
programming at local
nature sites in safe and
easily accessible areas

Get into Nature for Better Health!

Nature Explore

What is Nature Explore?

Resources and programs that

support making nature an integral
part of childrens daily lives

All Nature Explore programs are

based on research by Dimensions
Educational Research Foundation

Mission: Transforming childrens lives through meaningful,

daily connections with nature

Research
The single most
important factor in
developing personal
concern for the
environment was
positive experiences
in the outdoors
during childhood.
Cross-cultural research study by
J.A. Palmer

Dimensions Foundation Research

Students who spend time in
well-designed Nature Explore
Classrooms with nurturing
adults develop valuable skills
across all learning domains.
(Miller 2007)

Nature-Based Outdoor
Classrooms

Compared to both indoor and

traditional playgrounds, children
in outdoor natural settings were
reported to be more relaxed,
happier, less impulsive, more
focused, more creative and
better behaved.
Post-occupancy Study of Nature-based Outdoor
Classrooms, Dennis 2014

Three Requirements for becoming a

Certified Nature Explore Classroom

Follow the Ten Guiding Principles

Create well-designed
outdoor spaces following
the principles in
the Learning With Nature
Idea Book

All Nature Explore Programs are based on research

Staff Development
Nature Explore Educator Workshops

All Nature Explore Programs are based on research

Family Involvement
Nature Explore Families Club and At Home With Nature

All Nature Explore Programs are based on research

Warren Village

Denver, CO

Infant/Toddler Area

Before

Warren Village

Denver, CO

Preschool Area

Before

US Forest Service Chiefs Honor Award for

Engaging Urban America

Smiths Playhouse

Philadelphia, PA

Smiths Playhouse

Philadelphia, PA

Lone Star Family Medical Center

Green Ambassadors creating a buzz:

Health and Fitness Initiative

Nature Explore Concept Plan

Nature Explore Concept Plan

natureexplore.org

USFS Educational Resources

Woodsy Owl
Lend a Hand, Care for the Land

Evaluation

Evaluation
Community Partners: Document changes in knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviors related to design and benefits of the
Nature Explore Classroom.
Nature Explore Workshop Pre/Post-Survey
Pre-training, participants already agreed with many of the
objectives and were generally supportive of the project.
After training, respondents were in much stronger agreement
with all project objectives.
Action steps planned by participants demonstrate strong buy-in.

Early Outcomes
Trees for Texas donating all the trees for the space
Sam Houston National Forest donating loose parts
Eagle Scout assembling many components under supervision of
Texas A&M Forest Service
College youth mentored with Nature Explore certified Landscape
Architect
Green Ambassador created a planting plan for the space
Texas AgriLife will provide classes on healthy eating using plants
grown in the Nature Explore garden beds
Partners will provide programming at the clinic and at the nearby
forests and parks

Evaluation
Healthcare Providers: Document changes in knowledge,
attitudes, and behaviors related to prescribing nature to patients
and benefits of doing so.
Pre/post-survey of healthcare providers participating in Rx for
Outdoor Activity training
Follow-up to track program implementation, number of
prescriptions written, and number of prescriptions fulfilled

Evaluation
Survey of Patients and Nature Explore Classroom
Programming Participants will measure:
perceived barriers and benefits to spending time in nature;
overall experience in the Nature Explore Classroom;
intent to visit the Nature Explore Classroom again and/or visit
another local nature area.

Future Research Opportunities

Identify tools or incentives necessary to increase
participation in Nature Explore or other Park Rx programs

Needs assessment
Space, access, community partners, demographics
Prescription/medication-adherence research
Managed Problem-Solving (MAPS) therapeutic
process

Future Research Opportunities

Which health outcomes can be measured?
Mental health/cognitive function
Physical activity & obesity
Stress and cardiovascular health
Mobile monitoring - smart phone apps, gps & wearable
devices

Questions?

NEEFusa.org

fs.fed.us/learn/kids

natureexplore.org

Tamberly Conway, Ph.D.

Partnerships, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, Conservation Education, USDA Forest Service
Sara Espinoza
Managing Director, Research and Best Practices, National Environmental Education Foundation
Michelle Kondo, Ph.D.
Scientist, USDA Forest Service