WILDERNESS CONNECTIONSBenefits of Nature

John Beard

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in tune once more.

- John Burroughs

Purpose of Education

Educate the whole childacademicsocialemotionalcitizenshipearth stewards

Rationale Students should gain an understanding and

appreciation for the earth in which we live.

Knowing how we as humans fit into the natural

world will not happen intuitively.

We cannot expect students to care about

protecting and conserving the environment when

they are not exposed to it.

“[What is the] extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?” Naturalist Robert Michael Pyle

Background – The De-naturing of Children

Children spend most free time indoors

Connection to nature suffers or is non-

existent

Lack of outdoor “free” play

Clear link between childhood obesity

and lack of outdoor play

Environmental awareness – having a general understanding of the natural world in which we live and be conscious of the need to conserve its resources & be good stewards of the land.

WHAT IS…..

Description & Mission

Wilderness Connections is an adventure-

based program that features wilderness

backpacking with lessons in regional history,

geography, science, & environmental

stewardship.

Mission: connect students with nature

through wilderness immersion experiences.

Exactly what do we do?

Take groups of ~15 students (boys & girls) to

the Big South Fork for 3 days

Students backpack on trails and cross country

Groups of 4 – 5 build a shelter out of plastic

Cook a group meal over a fire

participate in fire guard

pack up each day & travel to other sites and a

new campsite

Exactly what do we do?

Visit original homesteads

learn about early explorers, settlers, and Civil

War history of the area

Practice reading a topographic map & using a

compass to “read” the land and navigate

Learn natural history & geology by looking at

& interacting with the environment

Exactly what do we do?

Discuss reasons for conserving our land &

resources. Why is living green important?

Students keep a daily journal of their

experience

Natural Novelty

Night hikes / learning about sounds & vision

(“deer ears”)

Stories that teach a life application lesson

Challenges & Benefits

Work as a team to overcome obstacles (e.g.

carrying the pack, building a shelter, gathering firewood, dealing

with weather & 1st–aid issues)

Problem solve

Leadership opportunities (group leaders)

Pushing yourself physically, mentally, &

emotionally

Communicating effectively

Self reliance & self confidence

More Benefits

Stress relief

Restores attentional capacity of the brain (e.g.

ability to focus)

Therapy for ADHD, childhood depression &

obesity

May foster creativeness

Better grades & test scores

Emotionally/spiritually uplifting

Each new year is a surprise to us.We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird,And when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream,

Reminding us of a previous state of existence…The voice of nature is always encouraging.

-- Henry David Thoreau

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF JEFFERSON

References Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods. Chapel Hill: Algonquin

Books, 2005. Palmberg, Irmeli E., & kuru, Jari(2000). Outdoor Activities as a

Basis for Environmental Responsibility. Journal of Environmental Education. 31, 32-39.

Parrish, Deborah and Gabriele Phillips. Effects of Outdoor Education Programs for Children in California. American Institute for Research, 2005.

Taylor, Andrea F, Kuo, Frances E, & Sullivan, William C (2001). Views of Nature and Self-Discipline: Evidence from Inner City Children. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 21, 1-14.

Taylor, Andrea Faber, Frances E. Kuo (2004). A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from a National Study. American Journal of Public Health. 94, 1580 – 1586.