Abstract:
The topic of this research paper is the world of nature based educational institutions and the
impact they have on their students and teachers, as well as the feasibility of making them a more
common occurrence in America. This paper explores the beginnings of using nature to amplify
education, the theorists who use research to support the need for such education, the current
working practices, the impact those practices have had, and the best route for creating more
nature-based schools. Nature-based education is important because it would significantly
improve the way our traditional education system currently treats both students and teachers.
Students spend less time on screens and in classrooms, they foster more creativity, they are more
independent and develop better critical thinking skills. Teachers have less judgement placed on
them based on testing, have more freedom when planning and teaching lessons, and receive a lot
of the same benefits the students do in regard to screen time and exposure to nature. Nature
programs in the United Kingdom allowed for teachers to be their own boss, for students to find
relief from the everyday pressures of the classroom and provided more time for adults and
students to collaboratively plan their explorations. This paper looks for a way to provide these
opportunities to American schools and programs.
