Contemporary studies on nature-based activities have evidenced mental health benefits of being in/with nature. Previous quantitative studies generally verified the effectiveness of ecotherapy, and qualitative studies identified the healing mechanisms. However, existing studies on ecotherapy have not considered local contextualities in…

Despite the documented benefits of nature-based learning (NBL), research around the use of NBL with autistic children from a strengths-based perspective remains sparse. To understand how practitioners perceive the experience of engaging in NBL with autistic children, we interviewed 14 practitioners from the United States, United Kingdom, and…

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is an enterprise which impacts the social and economic standing of communities globally. ECEC quality, accessibility, innovation and sustainability have been considered in a wide body of research. However, there was a gap in research when considering non-traditional (specifically, nature immersion) ECEC,…

In the context of the escalating ecological crisis, which is deeply intertwined with colonial and capitalist structures of oppression, mainstream public schooling in Canada is not supporting the health and wellness of many students or creating the eco-social-cultural changes needed to live within the Earth's carrying capacity. In this paper, we…

This paper reflects upon the value of education in nature, its features and particularities and especially its relationship with learning science and sustainability early in childhood. The relationship with the natural environment is closely linked to learning. Nature is replete with risk, emotions, challenges, etc. Walking through a fierce storm,…

In response to the increasing alienation from nature exacerbated by digital living, this course design presents an advanced composition "rewilding" course. Combining natural history writing, nature therapy research, and mindfulness activities, the course aims to reconnect students with the natural world. Inspired by Micah Mortali's…

While outdoor education may traditionally be linked to such aspects as personal development and outdoor skills, environmental issues now prompt a consideration of how outdoor education can contribute to pro-environmental changes. In this article, we explore one pedagogical perspective on friluftsliv as an approach to wild pedagogies. Special…

Educational praxis incorporating intercultural wisdom, transdisciplinary cooperation, and nature-culture dialogues can arguably contribute to the UN's education for sustainable development (ESD) and ameliorate current social-ecological challenges. This article elucidates how 14 Norwegian pupils aged 11-13 reflect on their experiences and feelings…

There is growing recognition amongst scholars that addressing the current global ecological crisis requires a new ecological awareness, and a different model of education, in order to live together on a 'planet under pressure'. Against this backdrop, several studies internationally have pointed to initiatives such as school gardens, with the…

Background: 45-60% of global climate emissions come from individual consumerism choices. In Western culture, nature is seen as a resource, a series of challenges to conquer, limited to facts and figures, or a threat. As practices and language of sustainability still view the environment simply as a resource, and therefore as something separate…

It is crucial that future generations have the knowledge about nature and the willingness to make right decisions for sustainable development, including the halt of global biodiversity loss. Perception of species and the ability to identify wild species (i.e. animals, plants and fungi) are fundamental for the understanding of biodiversity.…

Promoting positive agency through garden-based and outdoor learning is a powerful and engaging way of learning about the environment and helping assuage some of the undoubted damage done by climate anxiety. In this article, gardener, plant scientist and teacher, Susie Burr offers some advice on developing teaching activities that not only help…

The strategy of outdoor learning can be combined with various models and methods. The discovery learning model is one approach that can be integrated with outdoor learning and can be utilized in biology education. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how the outdoor-based Discovery Learning methodology affects Class X pupils' ability to think…

Purpose: A recent United Nations (2021) report stated that education needs to be concerned with enhancing human relationships with the natural world if we are to work toward building a sustainable future. This paper proposes that educational practices underpinned by an ecological orientation in mid-century Aotearoa offer insights for educators…

The growing interest in outdoor early childhood education, even in countries with a weak environmental tradition such as Portugal, tends to be associated with a concern over the alienation between urban/Western children and nature. While educational projects in nature criticize this separation, they still maintain a bad culture vs good nature…