nature – Humans in Nature

Common and Ambiguous Scents of the Outdoors

February 24, 2023February 20, 2023Terese Choe

According to Jan Holden (2006), “smell influences the brain functions that link memory, behavior, and emotion”. When people smell particular objects from the outdoors, ideas and existing memories flow into their heads. For instance, when people smell flowers, there is a general consensus that it has a pleasant floral smell. We give flowers on Valentine’s day or place them on the graves of our loved ones due to their lovely sight and aroma. Therefore, it isn’t uncommon for everyone to agree that flowers are just floral, blissful plants. However, not all scents conjure the same image for everyone.

Connect with Nature During Winter with Greenhouses

February 22, 2023February 20, 2023Tess Levitt

Throughout the warm months of spring and summer, people spend time in nature by walking and enjoying fresh air, planting flowers, and much more. During the winter months it becomes increasingly hard to spend time with nature like we normally do. Luckily, there may be a solution: greenhouses. With the use of greenhouses throughout the winter months, people can change their winter experiences for the better by increasing their contact with nature even when it’s cold outside!

Personal Story: Victoria

February 15, 2023February 13, 2023Terese Choe

From my own experiences and watching my kids, my husband and I understood nature’s gift to individuals. It really does have the power to calm people mentally while also strengthening them physically.

Spooky Animals & Nature: NOPE!

November 1, 2022Elida V Palomino

Have you ever encountered an odd looking nature phenomenon? Many animals in nature often create their habitats based on the material around them, including man made objects. Nature learns to adapt to its surroundings and often, it can send shivers down your spine. Minerals, rocks and other natural resources often take shape in odd looking things, creating the illusion that it is something sinister. This collection of photographs will certainly make you turn the other way! As spooky festivities come to and end, here is a list of 42 times Nature made us say NOPE (WARNING: This list might be too scary for you)”.

Outdoor Play and Childhood Development

October 26, 2022November 17, 2022Tess Levitt

Modern lifestyles are becoming unhealthier worldwide. Today’s children tend to spend a lot more time indoors than past generations of kids. Whether it is young toddlers being given an iPad to settle them down throughout the day, the constant need of computers for classwork at an increasingly young age, or the persistence of phones everywhere around us, there is an increase in the use of technology in our society, especially at a young age. This is resulting in children having decreased exposures to outdoor environments. In fact, a 2018 study in the United Kingdom revealed that children spent about four hours outside per week, roughly 50% less than their parents had as kids (Kennedy, 2022).