
Get Outside This Summer!

Articles, personal stories, multimedia features, and current news and commentary.Read more Stories
Research by our group on nature and its effects on individuals and their relationships.Read more Research
Resources and tools for individuals, families, educators, and professionals.Read more Resources
Depending on where you live, you may or may not be experiencing spring weather! We created a few different activities that you and your family may want to explore this spring. It includes gardening, experimenting, and immersing yourself in nature.
Animals love their outdoor natural habitat where they can thrive and engage in natural behaviors. The outdoors is surrounded by diverse stimuli, allowing animals to play, explore and socialize. Furthermore, being outside provides them with the necessary elements for survival, such as food, water, and shelter. Here are some fun facts about animal behavior in nature.
Read moreThere have been many studies on nature therapy and how it is especially important to individuals struggling with long-term illnesses. The article, “A Review of Design Recommendations for Outdoor Areas at Healthcare Facilities” (Abdul et al., 2012) discusses how hospitals can be a scary and stressful place, particularly for hospitalized children. Research has also found that the entire family can be negatively affected, not only the patient. Incorporating landscaping that is calming and aesthetically pleasing can help to alleviate stress from the hospital environment and provide comfort during an extremely hard time in a child’s life.
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