Program on the Environment

Children are our future and will have the largest impact on the fate of our world. The way they learn about the world around them will significantly alter the way they think, plan, and interact with their environment. As of now, children are disconnected from the natural world. The aim of this study was to understand barriers preventing children from interacting with nature and proposing solutions to overcome barriers discovered. During my internship with Oxbow Farm, I went to several meetings talking to parents, and staff about their student’s involvement in nature. I conducted research by analyzing studies about barriers that prohibit children from interacting with the natural world and potential solutions to this issue. Potential barriers included urbanization, nature degradation, technology, and outdoor access. Not every child will live in a location with nature that is accessible, safe, and abundant. Nature needs to be equitable for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Making nature programs mandatory at all public elementary schools will give children time in nature that may not be available to them elsewhere. There are endless opportunities to teach school curriculum outdoors. If children have time to interact with nature they will build an environmentally conscious attitude which can lead to society making environmentally conscious changes in the future. These outdoor education programs will drive change for the generations to come. Children outdoors will become a societal norm and the center of nature will be discovered once again.