Recent research has assessed the many ways in which time in nature impacts us psychologically, physiologically, and behaviorally. This presentation will provide an overview of recent research findings and describe a number of research projects that address this issue for groups of different ages. These projects assess the implementation of nature exploration programs on elementary-aged students in rural and urban schools, the role of exposure to nature in middle childhood years on attitudes toward and engagement with nature in undergraduates, the question, “What is the minimum time dose in nature to positively impact the mental health of college-aged students?”, and the barriers to greater participation in parks and other green spaces for urban teens of color.
This session will help participants develop a deeper understanding of the value of nature experiences for people of all ages, and inspire participants to develop programs for audiences at their own gardens.
Presenter: D. Rakow, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
