Education

People and nature need one another. Humans benefit measurably from nature, especially when they spend time out of doors where they can interact with the natural world. The impacts of nature on human health and well-being are well documented. Research shows that people viewing natural settings report “feelings of tranquility, peacefulness, or relaxation,” and spending time in nature has positive health impacts. The threats facing nature are largely human-driven, and connecting people with nature provides educational opportunities and enhances community ownership of wild spaces and the natural world.

Engaging the public in land conservation is crucial because most land is in private management. As people learn more about the natural environment, they are more likely to engage with it and protect it. But opportunities to interact with nature are in decline in our increasingly digital lives, and resources to support conservation practices by private landowners are often lacking. Children and adults alike experience a scarcity of exposure to wild living things, and in communities of diversity this deficit is even more pronounced. We address the need for human interaction with nature through community engagement, teaching youth, and improving equity and diversity of the natural resources field.