•  
  •  
 

Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education

Denise Mitten

Abstract

Outdoor education practitioners share the wonders of the outdoors and help participants receive the health benefits of being in nature. However, in our technology and activity centered culture the intrinsic value of being in nature has been overlooked and undervalued. As people spend less and less time outside and more people become obese and develop diabetes, spending time in nature and having healthy natural areas available to them is more important than ever. Many disciplines have growing bodies of research demonstrating the developmental and health benefits of spending time in nature and having natural areas close to living areas. In this paper three theoretical concepts and underpinning theories that ground the research about the healing impact of nature will be examined. These concepts and theories indicate humans need healthy connections with a healthy earth to survive.

Download

Share

COinS