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Nature prescriptions? Just what the doctor ordered
Blowing bubbles, breathing salty ocean air, collecting violet blooms — sounds like good medicine! At Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the Prescribe Outside program helps doctors write “nature prescriptions” for their patients. With support from the Children & Nature Network’s Nature Everywhere initiative, more than 50 providers across six CHOP locations have written prescriptions, reaching some 1,300 families and children. The prescriptions are tailored to each family and might include playing soccer with neighbors or exploring nearby parks. Working with partners, the program also offers organized hikes, outdoor yoga, farm tours and other family outings. Bonus: Some events welcome hospital staff, too, helping caregivers enjoy the same stress-relieving benefits they prescribe. Philadelphia.
Read MoreExploring barefoot trails as a way to connect with nature
It’s time to get our feet dirty. From Germany’s Black Forest to northern Arizona, barefoot trails are designed to help visitors experience the outdoors with all their senses. Walkers squish through cool mud, step on pine needles, explore meditation caves and test different textures beneath their feet. The idea has roots in 19th-century Europe, and a growing interest in “grounding,” or “earthing,” touts the benefits of standing barefoot on the earth, claiming improvements in emotional well-being, sleep and inflammation. In Arizona, one trail founder was inspired to create a U.S. version after visiting parks in Europe with her family. She now offers school visits, camps and educational programs for children. The bigger goal, she says, is “integrating those natural environments into people’s daily lives.” Associated Press.
Read MoreThe case for letting kids go rock climbing
Dear adults, our kids are braver and more capable than we think! In this story, climbing guides argue that rock climbing can help children discover confidence and resilience — by doing things they didn’t know they could do. One guide recalls an 8-year-old camper who was frightened during a climb. When she reached the top, all her fear had fallen away, and she declared it her favorite day of camp. The guides offer practical tips for getting kids climbing: Begin in the gym, emphasize fun, and build community with other families. Along the way, they reinforce the benefits of managed risk: “We’re giving them real responsibilities,” a guide said, mentioning activities like checking their knots. “It’s good for them to practice and learn that they can be trusted.” Gripped.
Read MoreAs nature terms disappear, so does our ability to see and protect the natural world
What happens when we no longer know the names of the plants, birds and animals around us? Researchers and educators say that if everything is just “bird” or “tree,” much of the natural world fades into the background, weakening our relationship to nature — and our ability to care for it. But there’s hope! We can rebuild that bond for children (and ourselves!) by learning the specific names of things in the natural world. Joining community science projects and using identification apps can help. The payoff is big: Learning names sparks curiosity, strengthens memory and turns ordinary surroundings into places of wonder, relationship and care. Resilience.
Read MoreLet’s keep high schoolers learning outdoors
High school student Dyami Mason wants people to understand what could be lost when outdoor learning programs are cut. In this passionate editorial, Mason writes about the TEAM program at his school in San Anselmo, California, which hosts backpacking trips, leadership challenges and time in nature. Despite its popularity, the program is at threat of being reduced. “Programs like TEAM are not a break from education; rather, they are a powerful form of it,” Mason explains, noting that its format helps participants build independence, teamwork and real-world skills. Pointing to research that suggests time in nature can boost focus and classroom engagement, Mason argues that programs like TEAM help make school meaningful for all students. Point Reyes Light.
Read MoreThere will be mud! Could my child (and buggy) survive a day at a sculpture park?
Want to introduce your kiddos to art? On a rainy first trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, England, with her toddler, author Hannah Davies makes the case for skipping the hush-hush and hands-off of the museum and going outdoors instead. “No white walls. No string barriers. No alarms. No beady-eyed gallery attendants. Just a whole lot of green space in which to charge about and come across awe-inspiring art while you’re at it.” Across 500 acres of fields, woodland and gardens, children can discover (and touch!) art, while making bark rubbings, gathering twigs and exploring the Hidden Forest designed for under-fives. Where art and nature connection are entwined, both feel more playful and less intimidating. The Guardian.
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