10 Principles of Nature Education.

Here are 10 Principles of Nature Education:

1. CONNECTION WITH NATURE. Nature education helps satisfy humans’ need in connecting with nature, which is a feeling of belonging to the natural community

2. WELL-BEING. Nature education fosters physical and psychological health and well-being.

3. COMMUNITY. Nature education contributes to community outcomes such as social cohesion, shared experiences, and development of shared values.

4. STEWARDSHIP. Nature education fosters environmental stewardship and action.

5. PLACE. Nature education fosters connection with nature in many different places, from wilderness to city centers.

6. INCLUSIVITY. Everyone benefits when nature education offers inclusive experiences for people with any background: different ages, ethnicities, cognitive and physical abilities, and special needs.

7. CARE. Nature education includes caring role models, family, and other significant people who help anyone connect with nature.

8. PLAY. Unstructured time in nature helps children and adults establish a lasting connection with nature.

9. INTERPRETATION. Interpretative nature education, including storytelling, art, film, and mobile technology, fosters connection with nature.

10. CULTURE. Traditional and indigenous ways of connecting with nature, such as meditation and urban foraging, are part of nature education.

From studying nature and play-based pedagogies, it’s interesting to see the common threads that weave their way through our interactions with the natural world. These are from my studies of Nature Education with the Civic Ecology lab at Cornell University. It’s a list entangled with that of the Forest School Association. My favourite parts? Inclusivity and stewardship. Where better for our communities to feel part of a whole than out in nature? And where better to nourish respect and a sense of caretaking for the land than to step out of our boxes and out onto it? After all, we are a part of the land and it is a part of us.

If this doesn’t resonate with you or you know someone that could benefit from nurturing a connection to nature, please get in touch, I’d love to welcome you on a walk or forest school experience, free of charge to get you hooked!

Kiddos fostering a sense of stewardship for the land.