Nature and the outdoors are integral to our mental health, and therefore time spent learning about and exploring nature in an outdoor environment should be encouraged in schools today. Numerous studies have been conducted on the benefits of nature and the outdoors on one’s health. These studies have further been broken down and explored in areas of concentration that include the effects of nature on our emotional health, our mental health and even on our physiological health. In every instance, research overwhelmingly supports the notion that the inclusion of time spent in nature or outdoors has exponential benefits to our lives. This presentation explores the effects of outdoor education on school-aged children and takes a closer look at the physiological and emotional benefits of time spent outdoors. It will focus particularly on the areas of biological and physiological research and discussion as it highlights the positive effects of outdoor education on general cognition, as well as mental and emotional health.

Mentor: Gay Timken