We've known for some time that being in nature is good for health and wellbeing!
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Definition Nature Based Activities
Nature Based Activities occure in natural settings and where elements of nature have been brought into built environments, such as plants, animals, and water.
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Health Benefits of Nature Based Activities
We've known for some time that being in nature is good for health and wellbeing. New studies reinforce the growing evidence that doing things in nature is associated with large gains in mental and physical health.
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Regular sun exposure is the most natural way to get enough vitamin D.
To maintain healthy blood levels, aim to get 10–30 minutes of midday sunlight, several times per week. People with darker skin may need a little more than this.
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Research -- led by the University of York
The study found that activities lasting for 20 to 90 minutes, sustained for over the course of 8 to 12 weeks, have the most positive outcomes for improving mood and reducing anxiety.
Gardening and Exercise were among the activities associated with mental health benefits. Engaging in conservation activities was also reported to make people feel better, as did 'Forest Bathing' (stopping in a forest to take in the atmosphere).
One of the key ideas that might explain why nature-based activities are good for us is that they help to connect us with nature in meaningful ways that go beyond passively viewing Nature.
Gardening and Exercise were among the activities associated with mental health benefits. Engaging in conservation activities was also reported to make people feel better, as did 'Forest Bathing' (stopping in a forest to take in the atmosphere).
One of the key ideas that might explain why nature-based activities are good for us is that they help to connect us with nature in meaningful ways that go beyond passively viewing Nature.
Examples of Nature Based Activities
Outdoor gardening can help your body fight disease.
You’re more like a plant than you may realize.
the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock
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Regular walks can be enough to improve your health and keep you fit. The health benefits of walking regularly are numerous.
When it comes to taking care of our health, nothing beats water sports. They are notoriously therapeutic; whether it’s swimming in a pool, surfing the waves, exploring ocean depths, boating, or kayaking down at the river, there’s something undeniably thrilling and soothing about being in (or sometimes, on) the water.
Forest Bathing is rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which is often translated as “Forest Therapy.” But it’s not a literal bath; the term refers simply to immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the forest.
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Earthing/Grounding shows benefit for inflammation, the immune response, wound healing, and the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases!
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Birdwatching
Bird Watching is the practice of observing birds in their natural environment as a hobby.
Camping
Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home with or without a shelter, such as a tent or a recreational vehicle. Typically participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more natural ones in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment.
Nature Based Learning
Nature based Learning, or learning through exposure to nature and Nature Based Activities, occurs in natural settings and where elements of nature have been brought into built environments, such as plants, animals, and water.
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The Many Benefits Of Learning In Nature
Nature offers infinite ways to support a child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development. This is not to say that nature can completely replace the time children spend in the classroom. However, I believe that if teachers and parents neglect the benefits an entirely natural environment presents to us, children may miss out on incredible opportunities.
Time spent in nature has decreased in a significant way in the past few years. On average youth plays outside in nature 4-7 minutes a day, while spending more than 7 hours each day in front of a screen. However, stress, depression, and anxiety levels skyrocketed. Antidepressant use has increased by 49 percent among US school-aged children with the most significant increase attributed to preschoolers. Healthcare professionals point out a direct link between children’s deteriorating mental and physical state and the absence of unstructured outdoor play in the fresh air.
“I would far rather write a prescription for safe outdoor play for my patients than see them five years later with depression, anxiety and obesity.” Dr Wendy Kohatsu
I want to highlight the benefits and advantages of nature play and learning in nature from the perspective of a Montessori educator. Several important aspects positively influence the learning process.
Nature is the ultimate resource for eco-friendly craft and art materials for children. All materials – pine cones, twigs, shells, fallen leaves, flowers, branches, pebbles, and the list goes on and on are naturally produced by our environment and can be recycled – returned to where originally came from with zero carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, no water wasted.
Significant health benefits – it is essential for mental and physical well- being. Children are encouraged to venture outdoors, breathe fresh air, run, take risks, climb. For example, one of the most effective ways for children to experience and learn to appreciate silence is in the forest on the bank of a lake. It creates nothing but stillness, mindfulness, and peace.
Interaction with living things. Children learn that everything around them is living, flourishing, progressing from one stage to another, coexisting in harmony. Children interact with the land that is breathing; they too start to breathe deeper, look closer. Children are the best at observing and absorbing information.
Children learn to be bold, carefree. As soon as children emerge from the natural environment all social stigmas disappear. They have no one to impress, no one to compete with, they are free to be themselves. this allows children an opportunity to be carefree, take bold steps, challenge, and extend their potential.
Physiologically children learn to relate, be empathetic, and understand their behaviours in nature. Children may realise that, just like humans, nature has different patterns and “characters”. Nature can be daring, silent, wild, gentle, gloomy, or glorious. There is no one way to “be”. These patterns come and go. Our feelings come and go, we don’t need to be ashamed of feeling one way or another, carry stereotypical cliché of being called “quiet”, “nerdy” or “wild”.
Nature changes, we change from one moment to another.
Hands-on experiences. Nature provides countless opportunities for hands-on learning experiences and discoveries. All children naturally become explorers and artists. They draw with sticks on the ground; they mix soil and water. In nature, children are free to experiment, prove or disprove their own theories.
Child-driven explorations. Nature presents ways to follow a child’s interest and boosts curiosity – they may choose to build a forest house, study trees, investigate, study the content of the soil. Their interest is their ultimate motivator.
Sensory experiences. Every single aspect of learning in nature already predetermined to influence and generate sensory experiences and involve all senses in the learning process.
Nature as a source of inspiration. Nature is an unbeatable source of inspiration – not just in the sense of creating art but also nature helps to clear head, gain perspective and become more creative at problem-solving.
Nature is free.
Educational benefits. I struggle to think of one concept or subject that is impossible to teach using the natural environment – science, biology, math, language, art, geography, chemistry, astronomy, technology. Nature takes all sorts of forms and shapes – from a backyard to the beach, cave, forest, meadow, lake, waterfall, creek, swamp. It all can be successfully implemented, explored, studied, tested, examined in nature.
Nature has no walls.
Children do not require a great deal of adult involvement when they play in nature. They can be more independent. Children are more prone to resolve their conflicts and misunderstandings with the minimum participation from adults. They also seem to have much fewer reasons for being unhappy with each other.
It’s hard to be passive in nature. Even a child who tends to be indifferent when it comes to learning (I would call it unmotivated) still can absorb everything and benefit from stillness and moments of mindfulness that nature brings without having to be very active. Additionally, nature will eventually force anybody to move around – the shade moves, ants get under the shirt, it gets too cold – you are going to be moving whether you like it or not.
Children learn to embrace sustainable living and be self-sufficient. Nothing is ever wasted in nature. Growing garden, picking edible berries, mushrooms, making tea in the forest – these are all a part of learning to appreciate natural resources and processes. Learning to value what you’ve got and waste not.
In nature, children learn to connect.
Every child has a high potential to thrive in nature. We need to make sure they experience this advantage early on in life. I grew up in a school located in the forest, and I could not recall as many classes as I do our infinite number of adventures we had there as kids. This experience forever ignited the passion I have for our natural environment and desire to see a child’s mind, soul, spirit, and body embrace all the benefits nature has to offer.
Time spent in nature has decreased in a significant way in the past few years. On average youth plays outside in nature 4-7 minutes a day, while spending more than 7 hours each day in front of a screen. However, stress, depression, and anxiety levels skyrocketed. Antidepressant use has increased by 49 percent among US school-aged children with the most significant increase attributed to preschoolers. Healthcare professionals point out a direct link between children’s deteriorating mental and physical state and the absence of unstructured outdoor play in the fresh air.
“I would far rather write a prescription for safe outdoor play for my patients than see them five years later with depression, anxiety and obesity.” Dr Wendy Kohatsu
I want to highlight the benefits and advantages of nature play and learning in nature from the perspective of a Montessori educator. Several important aspects positively influence the learning process.
Nature is the ultimate resource for eco-friendly craft and art materials for children. All materials – pine cones, twigs, shells, fallen leaves, flowers, branches, pebbles, and the list goes on and on are naturally produced by our environment and can be recycled – returned to where originally came from with zero carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, no water wasted.
Significant health benefits – it is essential for mental and physical well- being. Children are encouraged to venture outdoors, breathe fresh air, run, take risks, climb. For example, one of the most effective ways for children to experience and learn to appreciate silence is in the forest on the bank of a lake. It creates nothing but stillness, mindfulness, and peace.
Interaction with living things. Children learn that everything around them is living, flourishing, progressing from one stage to another, coexisting in harmony. Children interact with the land that is breathing; they too start to breathe deeper, look closer. Children are the best at observing and absorbing information.
Children learn to be bold, carefree. As soon as children emerge from the natural environment all social stigmas disappear. They have no one to impress, no one to compete with, they are free to be themselves. this allows children an opportunity to be carefree, take bold steps, challenge, and extend their potential.
Physiologically children learn to relate, be empathetic, and understand their behaviours in nature. Children may realise that, just like humans, nature has different patterns and “characters”. Nature can be daring, silent, wild, gentle, gloomy, or glorious. There is no one way to “be”. These patterns come and go. Our feelings come and go, we don’t need to be ashamed of feeling one way or another, carry stereotypical cliché of being called “quiet”, “nerdy” or “wild”.
Nature changes, we change from one moment to another.
Hands-on experiences. Nature provides countless opportunities for hands-on learning experiences and discoveries. All children naturally become explorers and artists. They draw with sticks on the ground; they mix soil and water. In nature, children are free to experiment, prove or disprove their own theories.
Child-driven explorations. Nature presents ways to follow a child’s interest and boosts curiosity – they may choose to build a forest house, study trees, investigate, study the content of the soil. Their interest is their ultimate motivator.
Sensory experiences. Every single aspect of learning in nature already predetermined to influence and generate sensory experiences and involve all senses in the learning process.
Nature as a source of inspiration. Nature is an unbeatable source of inspiration – not just in the sense of creating art but also nature helps to clear head, gain perspective and become more creative at problem-solving.
Nature is free.
Educational benefits. I struggle to think of one concept or subject that is impossible to teach using the natural environment – science, biology, math, language, art, geography, chemistry, astronomy, technology. Nature takes all sorts of forms and shapes – from a backyard to the beach, cave, forest, meadow, lake, waterfall, creek, swamp. It all can be successfully implemented, explored, studied, tested, examined in nature.
Nature has no walls.
Children do not require a great deal of adult involvement when they play in nature. They can be more independent. Children are more prone to resolve their conflicts and misunderstandings with the minimum participation from adults. They also seem to have much fewer reasons for being unhappy with each other.
It’s hard to be passive in nature. Even a child who tends to be indifferent when it comes to learning (I would call it unmotivated) still can absorb everything and benefit from stillness and moments of mindfulness that nature brings without having to be very active. Additionally, nature will eventually force anybody to move around – the shade moves, ants get under the shirt, it gets too cold – you are going to be moving whether you like it or not.
Children learn to embrace sustainable living and be self-sufficient. Nothing is ever wasted in nature. Growing garden, picking edible berries, mushrooms, making tea in the forest – these are all a part of learning to appreciate natural resources and processes. Learning to value what you’ve got and waste not.
In nature, children learn to connect.
Every child has a high potential to thrive in nature. We need to make sure they experience this advantage early on in life. I grew up in a school located in the forest, and I could not recall as many classes as I do our infinite number of adventures we had there as kids. This experience forever ignited the passion I have for our natural environment and desire to see a child’s mind, soul, spirit, and body embrace all the benefits nature has to offer.
We have put together a list of nature-based activities that we know you’ll love. Inspire and entertain the kids with the world around us, while providing a breath of fresh air and keeping negative behavior at bay. Now, let’s see what you can do this weekend.
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Go On A Nature Hunt…
Let’s start with something that costs time but no pennies. A nature hunt is a great exercise for little ones, triggering their imagination and getting them into the fresh air.
Start by grabbing your favorite felt tips and make your own scavenger hunt! There are lots of examples online that you can use for reference, or print out if you would prefer. We love the color scavenger hunt and the mandala scavenger hunt most, but there are so many to pick from. What can you spot in the garden that is green? Or pink?
Next, head out into the garden or a local woodland area and begin the hunt. For extra fun, you can add prizes for those who finish first or are most creative in their finds.
Garden Camp-out…
It is not common that your trips away have been postponed or cancelled, but that does not stop the fun. Set up a tent in the garden and camp out close to home. The kids can pack their bags for a night away and spend the night camping in the garden. You can even add some nature-inspired music for extra entertainment. Even better, smores by the campfire! For a safer option, follow this microwave s’more recipe.
A Documentary Day…
When the weather is not looking great, you can enjoy nature-based learning inside too. Take a look at the recommendations and each pick a documentary you would like to watch. David Attenborough has announced a new series which would be perfect.
Don’t forget the food! Cut up some carrots, apples and grab the fruit juice for some healthy and quickly prepared snacks. If your little ones have a kitchen playset, they can get involved too.
Pebble Art…
During the lockdown, lots of us have been testing our creative side. If you walk around the block, windows and homes are decorated with beautiful rainbows. In addition, painting pebbles has become a commemorative mark of lockdown. Pebble art can be a great homemade garden decoration, and a way to remember lockdown in years to come. All you will need is some pebbles, paints and a home for them!
Let’s start with something that costs time but no pennies. A nature hunt is a great exercise for little ones, triggering their imagination and getting them into the fresh air.
Start by grabbing your favorite felt tips and make your own scavenger hunt! There are lots of examples online that you can use for reference, or print out if you would prefer. We love the color scavenger hunt and the mandala scavenger hunt most, but there are so many to pick from. What can you spot in the garden that is green? Or pink?
Next, head out into the garden or a local woodland area and begin the hunt. For extra fun, you can add prizes for those who finish first or are most creative in their finds.
Garden Camp-out…
It is not common that your trips away have been postponed or cancelled, but that does not stop the fun. Set up a tent in the garden and camp out close to home. The kids can pack their bags for a night away and spend the night camping in the garden. You can even add some nature-inspired music for extra entertainment. Even better, smores by the campfire! For a safer option, follow this microwave s’more recipe.
A Documentary Day…
When the weather is not looking great, you can enjoy nature-based learning inside too. Take a look at the recommendations and each pick a documentary you would like to watch. David Attenborough has announced a new series which would be perfect.
Don’t forget the food! Cut up some carrots, apples and grab the fruit juice for some healthy and quickly prepared snacks. If your little ones have a kitchen playset, they can get involved too.
Pebble Art…
During the lockdown, lots of us have been testing our creative side. If you walk around the block, windows and homes are decorated with beautiful rainbows. In addition, painting pebbles has become a commemorative mark of lockdown. Pebble art can be a great homemade garden decoration, and a way to remember lockdown in years to come. All you will need is some pebbles, paints and a home for them!
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Any organism that is said to breathe and feel with its senses is said to be alive
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