May 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 38

How Kids Learn in Nature
By Rachel Szczytko and and Kathryn Stevenson, Ph.D.

R

ecreationists and researchers agree that everyone benefits from being outside. It is especially important for today's youth, who are facing more urbanization, more environmental problems and more technology, while
having less access and exposure to the natural world.

There is a robust and quickly growing body of research that supports the
health, social, emotional, academic and
behavioral benefits for children when
they spend time outside. Researchers at
North Carolina State University are especially interested in the benefits nature has
for environmental literacy, since building
kids' environmental literacy and connection with nature could secure a healthier,
more sustainable future. The researchers
posed the following questions to find out
what works best:
Do kids learn better inside or outside?
Working with schools is one of the
best ways to get kids involved with nature. Research has shown that having
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Parks & Recreation

trees outside classroom windows can
improve attention and test scores. Curricula that integrate the environment
in meaningful ways also do this to an
even greater degree, especially among
students from low socioeconomic and
minority backgrounds. In addition, NC
State University researchers have found
that kids who go outside during class
time are more likely to have pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.
So, what does this mean for parks?
Park professionals can help communicate this message to schools and provide
opportunities, such as facilitating school
field trips to parks, to get kids outside
during the school day. It may be the best
chance we have to reach every child.

| M AY 2 0 1 7 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

Does the " wildness " of nature matter?
The word " nature " can have a different connotation based on a person's
culture, history and current climate.
However, when it comes to outdoor
learning, not all nature is created
equal. Does the nature in your front
lawn or at a local park provide the
most benefits? Preliminary research
at NC State has shown that nature
that is more " wild " - that is, less human-maintained with native vegetation - is better for increasing a child's
curiosity and interest in nature. Playing in manicured nature, such as short
cut grass on a park field, does not elicit the same excitement for science and
nature as playing in nature that has
grown wild. This does not mean kids
have to learn in a national park, but
an unmown field is better than a manicured lawn, and a natural play space
is better than a traditional playground.



May 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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