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At this point it seems the evidence is overwhelming-new studies seem to arrive on our desks each week that suggest simply spending time in green spaces can improve our health, both mentally and physically. As avid outdoors people, we instinctively know that, but it's always nice to have science confirm our suspicions. And recently, researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark published yet another study about the outside/good health connection that may provide the most conclusive evidence yet. Getting outside, walking around, hearing the rustle of trees, feeling the wind on our face, the rain on our backs, the sun on our skin-the more we do that as kids, the happier we are as adults, their study suggests. And this was one heck of a study.

From 1985 until 2013, the researchers combed data from one million Danish residents. They looked at everything from income to educational level, history of familial mental illness, as well as how much green space surrounded where the residents had grown up. Because they had so much data to work with, the researchers were able to try and control for socioeconomic factors-kids who grow up wealthier probably have more access to green space, for example. Yet even factoring those discrepancies in, researchers found that being raised surrounded by nature as a child meant a 55 percent lower incidence of developing mental health issues as adults. Even better, it seemed that the more time children spent in nature, the better as far as mental health outcomes were concerned.

If we were talking about a new medicine that had this kind of effect the buzz would be huge-these results suggest that being able to go for a walk in the park as a kid is just as impactful.

The researchers were able to use satellite data to examine how much green space surrounded the residences of the subjects in the study. It was as simple as noting that kids who grew up in areas surrounded by more visible vegetation meant better mental health outcomes as adults. Wilderness, public parks, even urban green spaces, it didn't seem to matter. The ramifications could be massive for future city and regional planning.

"There is increasing evidence that the natural environment plays a larger role for mental health than previously thought," said Kristine Engemann, who led the study. "Green space seemed to have an association that was similar in strength to other known influences on mental health, like history of mental health disorders in the family, or socioeconomic status."

What the study can't show, however, is why this should be the case. Is it simple proximity to trees and vegetation? Or is it likely that kids who had access to more natural environments were more likely to be outside, getting excercise, perhaps doing so in groups and forming strong social bonds that they carried with themselves to adulthood? Maybe spending time in nature taught self-reliance, resilience, patience.

Or could it be that something in nature speaks to us in a way that won't show up on a scientific study? Doctors are prescribing nature walks for patients to help with chronic physical ailments. Mountain biking groups are healing mental illness sufferers. Surfing is a very real salve for veterans with severe PTSD and physical ailments. It probably shouldn't be so surprising that growing up in a natural environment would also have powerful health benefits.

Perhaps there's simply a real physiological connection to being more in tune with the natural world. It's certainly something we feel when camping, when in the middle of the sea, when scaling a mountain peak, or even when lounging next to a lake.

"If we were talking about a new medicine that had this kind of effect the buzz would be huge," said Kelly Lambert, a neuroscientist at the University of Richmond. "But these results suggest that being able to go for a walk in the park as a kid is just as impactful."
Photo by Amy Treasure on Unsplash

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Study: Kids Who Spend Time in Nature Become Happier Adults

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At this point it seems the evidence is overwhelming-new studies seem to arrive on our desks each week that suggest simply spending time in green spaces can improve our health, both mentally and physically. As avid outdoors people, we instinctively know that, but it's always nice to have science confirm our suspicions.

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Anxious teens heed call of the wild in therapy program

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Four students share their experiences at Summit Achievement, a wilderness therapy program in rural Maine. Since 1996, the program has combined mental health care, wilderness expeditions and remote learning to help teens with a range of mental health issues.

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I was doing some thinking about outcomes at various levels

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I was doing some thinking about outcomes at various levels

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Contact List, Survey, Completed Surveys, Introduction Email, CATS Reports

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With deep sadness and heavy hearts, we are announcing that Forest and the Femme is dissolving and will no longer be offering our programming or participant supports beyond the end of 2019.

Since we began in 2012, we've taken 127 women on over 460 outings, which is more than 3,000 hours in nature. Unfortunately, after almost a decade of work, we continue to be unsuccessful in securing core funding, made up of consistent and sustainable funds, that our programming relies on.

We encourage you to read our call to actions to find out more on what could be done to address some of the barriers that Forest and the Femme faced. It is with incredible gratitude that we thank the participants, funders, donors, partners, volunteers and supporters of Forest and the Femme who have made the past many years of programming possible.

Call to Action can be found here HERE
Read more on our Instagram page HERE

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With deep sadness and heavy hearts, we are announcing that Forest and the Femme is dissolving and will no longer be offering our programming or participant supports beyond the end of 2019. Since we began in 2012, we've taken 127 women on over 460 outings, which is more than 3,000 hours in nature.

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Inuit culture is rooted in a deep appreciation for the land. Over time, Inuit have developed many specialized, land-based skills for traveling, hunting, fishing, and living in the beautiful, frozen land and waters of Nunavut. While Inuit now live in permanent communities and Inuit identity is not limited to land-based knowledge and skill, for many, the land continues to play a central role in their lives. Often, the land is a place of comfort and familiarity, a place where people can continue to practice the skills and knowledge that have been handed down across generations. Many Clyde River residents tell us that they feel safer and more open to talking about issues and challenges when out on the land. Because of this, Ilisaqsivik runs many land-based programs that support Clyde River residents in continuing their relationship with the land, land-based skills and knowledge, and with one another.

Summer Healing and Cultural Retreats - Ilisaqsivik holds several multi-day land-based healing and cultural retreats throughout the year to promote intergenerational healing from past traumas associated with settlement and rapid socio-cultural change. The retreats also offer the chance for families, elders, and children to form strong bonds on the land while sharing skills and knowledge. In addition to offering workshops and teaching land-based skills, retreats provide time for relaxation and laughter while enjoying the beautiful land and environment that surrounds Clyde River.

Qimmivut (Our Dogs) - The Qimmivut workshop introduces Clyde River youth and young adults to dog teaming through land-based hunting and camping trips facilitated by experienced mushers, hunters, and Elders. Musher instructors are paired with youth apprentices for several expeditions to traditional camps of historical and cultural importance. Participants learn new skills and develop mentorship relationships with respected hunters and Elders.

Country Foods - Ilisaqsivik recognizes the importance of country foods for nutrition, identity, wellness, and community building. We hire hunters throughout the year to harvest country foods, which we serve in our programs for new and expecting mothers, children, and elders. We also provide country foods for community feasts and celebrations. Many of our land-based programs, such as our Ataata-Irniq program, incorporate the transmission of hunting skills to younger generations.

Youth Justice - Facilitated by Ilisaqsivik's Community Justice Committee, our Youth Justice program takes at risk youth and youth that have been referred by the RCMP or the Nunavut Court on the land to teach them traditional skills and provide counseling and mentorship.

Men's Group and Father/Son Program - Inuit men of Nunavut have seen their community and family roles change significantly in the recent past. Ilisaqsivik runs several programs to support male youth, adults, and elders in their efforts to build meaningful lives and relationships in the context of change. Land based activities provide a safe and empowering environment for Inuit men to share experience and knowledge and build relationships. Our Men's Group organizes hunting and fishing trips on the land, and we also hold an annual Father/Son trip in the winter or early spring for youth and adult mentors.

Arnait (Women's) Retreat - The Arnait retreat was held in September, 2010, as part of an ongoing research project on the changing role of women in Clyde River and the neighboring community of Qikiqtarjuaq. Women of different ages from both communities participated in the retreat, which was held at Kiglapait, a camp located approximately 40 km up the fjord from Clyde River. The purpose of the retreat was to give women the opportunity to spend time together on the land away from their everyday work and caregiving responsibilities to reflect on the impact of social and environmental changes on their lives, and to find ways to support one another in navigating these changes.

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Inuit culture is rooted in a deep appreciation for the land. Over time, Inuit have developed many specialized, land-based skills for traveling, hunting, fishing, and living in the beautiful, frozen land and waters of Nunavut.

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Email Amber if you would liketo borrow anything :)

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Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to "forest bathing." Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition. We build on those benefits and look beyond, to what happens when people remember that we are a part of nature, not separate from it, and are related to all other beings in fundamental ways.

The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs is the most experienced global leader promoting the development and practice of Forest Therapy. Our Forest Therapy Guide Training draws on the latest medical research, new developments in the field of nature connection, and ancient traditions of mindfulness and wellness promotion. Every guided walk is an act of power and beauty, cultivating deep connections with transformational impacts on people and nature.

Forest Therapy is a practice. It is open-ended; there is no prescription for what a person "should" experience, or what benefits they "should" receive. Instead, it is a practice of developing a deepening relationship of reciprocity, in which the forest and the practitioner find a way to work together that supports the wholeness and wellness of each. In Forest Therapy, there is a clearly defined sequence of guided events that provides structure to the experience, while embracing the many opportunities for creativity and serendipity offered by the forest and the individual inspiration of each guide. This practice, developed under the leadership of M. Amos Clifford, our founder, and with contributions from many other guides, has become the most-widely used framework for Forest Therapy in the world; as of the end of 2018 we have trained over 700 guides who are guiding this practice in 46 countries.

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Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs

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Forest Therapy is a research-based framework for supporting healing and wellness through immersion in forests and other natural environments. Forest Therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which translates to "forest bathing." Studies have demonstrated a wide array of health benefits, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and for stabilizing and improving mood and cognition.

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Rediscovery Leadership and Outdoor Education Training 2020 - All Programs CANCELLED!

Dear Rediscovery Friends,

It is with great disappointment that we must share with you our decision to cancel all programs for the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which has gripped our country.

Please visit our website for further updates on programming for 2021.

Contact us by email rediscoveryinternational@gmail.com

Our Philosophy

"Drawing on the teachings of Indigenous peoples and the wisdom of the Elders, with a philosophy of love and respect for each other and the earth, Rediscovery seeks to empower youth of all ages to discover the world within themselves, the world between cultures and the natural world".

What People Say About Us
"...Through Rediscovery camps young people are re-connected to the land, culture and their communities... increase understanding and awareness and to build bridges between cultures".

Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996, Vol. IV,pg.16-19 & 58: (The Search for Belonging: Perspectives of Youth).

"Clearly we need a renewed sense of earth as home; belonging to the land, connected to all other living things. Youngsters today have few, if any opportunities to experience the enormity and beauty of the wilderness - Rediscovery offers them that." "I was lucky to be a young president of Rediscovery...going to the place of your ancestors is a deeply emotional experience...getting a sense of how your ancestors lived... so much beauty in the land. It's a lifelong memory I'll be able to share with children. It's important to take time to reconnect with the places and stories." " Lots of fun and laughter; I embraced the world family and had an amazing time"

Leadership Trainee Participant, Whitehorse, Yukon

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Dear Rediscovery Friends, It is with great disappointment that we must share with you our decision to cancel all programs for the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic which has gripped our country. Please visit our website for further updates on programming for 2021.

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Over view for Dean meeting-Outdoor Behavioral Health –Nature Based Therapy

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Outdoor and Adventure Therapy Skills Survey

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Government plans to introduce national tests for seven-year-olds shows just how far our exam obsession has come. Our kids now face constant assessment as politicians attempt to measure the success of schools. Children have become tiny cogs in a box-ticking government machine. Education has lost its way.

This matters to me a great deal, especially since becoming a father to Ludo, five, and Iona, four. I don't want my children to feel the same sense of failure I did growing up because they're not good at passing tests. Let's be honest, some people are better suited to exams than others in the same way that some of us are more sporty or arty.

There are a few of us whose minds turn to putty under pressure. Exams left me feeling worthless and lacking in confidence. The worse I did in each test, the more pressure I felt to deliver results that never came. When I failed half my A-levels, and was rejected by my university choices, I spiralled into a depression.

The wilderness rescued me. I have been shaped by my experiences in the great outdoors. Feeling comfortable in the wild gave me the confidence to be who I am, not who others want me to be. There is a natural simplicity to nature; it is far more tactile and tangible than the classroom. It's a leveller; it strengthened my character and set me back on track.

It's time to turn everything on its head and classrooms inside out

That's why, instead of pumping time and money into exams, we should focus on wellbeing and encouraging our children to connect with the natural world. I'm not suggesting the abolition of the exam system, but we could certainly cut back to allow more time for children to explore the world around them.

It doesn't need a huge investment either. Even if you don't have immediate access, wilderness camps and schools are waiting to receive inner-city children. Part of the beauty of wilderness schooling is that the overheads are very low. You want a classroom? Build a shelter from nature's store. You want to eat? Forage for it.

And evidence shows connecting with nature really works. Free play in the outdoors is good for social and emotional development, improves self-awareness, and makes children more co-operative. A study by the American Medical Association in 2005 concluded that: "Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors." There is also scientific evidence that the wilderness can reduce hyperactivity and has a soothing effect on children, especially those suffering from attention deficit disorder.

We've got it all wrong. We need to bring positivity, health and wellbeing back into our schools. It's time to turn everything on its head and classrooms inside out.

There are many examples to learn from. German visionary Kurt Hahn was one of the early pioneers of outdoor education. He founded Schule Schloss Salem in Germany and the United World Colleges movement that includes Atlantic college in Wales and Gordonston in Scotland. His educational vision encompassed craftsmanship, community service, outdoor pursuits and physical skills.

The Scandinavians have also led the way in this field for many years, not only ensuring class time in the wilderness, but also replacing teaching by subjects with topics. Wilderness schooling involves a similar approach of non-conformist team work, with kids expected to work together in nature. No longer do they sit in rows while their teachers lecture, lessons are now collaborative. The system is geared towards improving communication, confidence, character and resilience rather than pushing kids through what have essentially become exam factories.

Our once progressive and world-class education system now seems to have ground to a halt. Why are we still using teaching systems that rely on cramming information to be regurgitated in exams?

I want an education system that works inside out. The outdoors becomes a weekly topic - encompassing geography, environment, resourcefulness, home economics, science, and maths - undertaken outside. Classes could be in an inner-city park, scrubland or garden.

As my own children step on to the conveyor belt, I am determined to give them a rounded education. I am in a fortunate position to share some of the wonders of the wilderness with my own kids. But we all have a responsibility to ensure every child has access to the same life-enhancing opportunities. The government should think long and hard before launching another budget-sapping exam and think about investing in the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach. Join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources, comment and job opportunities, direct to your inbox.
Topics

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We need fewer exams and more wilderness in education

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Government plans to introduce national tests for seven-year-olds shows just how far our exam obsession has come. Our kids now face constant assessment as politicians attempt to measure the success of schools. Children have become tiny cogs in a box-ticking government machine. Education has lost its way.

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1. SOCW 4600 Trauma

2. SOCW 3530 Individual counselling skills

3. SOCW 3590 Councilling Diverse Populations

4. HUMS 2000+ Neuro developmental (Not offered)

5. HUMS 1560-Intro to families

6. HUMS Theories-micro? Macro?

7. SOCW 3540/Hums 1770 Indigenous people & Huma services

8. SOCW 4540 Decolonizing social work practice in Secwepemceluew

9. ADVG 4220 Legal liability and Risk Management

10. ADVG  4010 Business Applications (strategic planning)

11. ADVG 4040 Programming Experiential activities

12. ADVG 4130 Trails to reconciliation field school

13. AMBER-SV?

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Lit Review Overview of Adventure Therapy

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Educo students: hike mountains, paddle canoes, and climb rocks while they learn to invite challenge, express themselves, support one another, accept opportunities and participate in the adventures of life.
About Summer Courses

Our School Programs provide wilderness- and challenge-based experiential adventure programs to BC classrooms that foster teamwork, group leadership and personal growth opportunities for individual students.
About School Programs

Educo Canada offers professional team building, leadership development and facilitation support for any group or organization. Our speciality is youth-serving groups and organizations, but can work with any team.
About Educo To You

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Educo Adventure School | No ordinary summer camp

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About Summer Courses About School Programs About Educo To You

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Enviros - Every story has a turning point.

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In the media! A project I (Jeff) have been involved in through practice since prior to my TRU position. Craig has been involved with his reconciliation through trails course and Programing Experiential Activities course. 'Building new paths to resilience and recovery' - Mountain Biking BC article. 

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In the media! A project I (Jeff) have been involved in through practice since prior to my TRU position. Craig has been involved with his reconciliation through trails course and Programing Experiential Activities course. 'Building new paths to resilience and recovery' - Mountain Biking BC article. 

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"These new amenities will greatly enhance the trails for our Nation as well as for visitors when we can re-open and welcome the world back into our community," Tom explained.

The project will employ local community members including underemployed or laid-off forestry workers, providing much needed employment while stimulating the local economy.

The Simpcw Nation and First Journey Trails consider the safety of the trail crew and community residents as their highest priority. The Nation has developed Covid 19 safety protocols and procedures and the trail crew will be working and living in isolation while undertaking the trail work to protect against transmission of the virus. "We're confident we can complete the project and ensure the safety of our crew and the community," Thomas Schoen, owner and trail specialist for First Journey Trails remarked. "We're thrilled and honoured to be working with Simpcw on this exciting project."

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Building New Paths to Resilience & Recovery|MOUNTAIN BIKING BC

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"These new amenities will greatly enhance the trails for our Nation as well as for visitors when we can re-open and welcome the world back into our community," Tom explained. The project will employ local community members including underemployed or laid-off forestry workers, providing much needed employment while stimulating the local economy.